These cinnamon rolls are golden on top, tender in the middle, and topped with cream cheese frosting. And the best part? They can be made in an hour.
I’ve never met a breakfast dish that I didn’t like. Morning foods are my jam (as evidenced by the fact that we have over 50 breakfast and brunch recipes living on the pages of this site), but I’d argue that nothing tops homemade warm-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls. I first shared this recipe for 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls in 2015 (it’s been updated with new tips and photos to share today).
Since 2015, I’ve tried so many other cinnamon rolls including these, these, and these. All are fantastic and absolutely worth the effort, but I find myself coming back again and again to this 1-hour recipe. The quick rise time is just right to create the light, fluffy rolls that cinnamon roll dreams are made of. You can form the rolls quickly and without being too precise, and they still seem to bake up into a beautiful pan of golden rolls all topped with creamy just-sweet-enough frosting.
The only change I’ve made to this recipe since it was first published is that I now prefer to bake the rolls in two 8-inch round cake pans (you can also use one 9x13 baking dish). One 8-inch pan makes just enough for our family on a Saturday morning and the second pan can be frozen. If we’re hosting or if we know we’ll want to snack on the rolls all weekend, I go ahead and bake the entire batch.
How to Make 1 Hour Easy Cinnamon Rolls
If you have never made cinnamon rolls from scratch, this is a great place to start. It uses my all time favorite 1 hour dough (also seen in the 1 Hour Light and Fluffy Dinner Rolls) which is the easiest dough I’ve ever worked with. I have abused this dough, forgotten about it, made it by hand and in a mixer, and the results are always great.
The secret, especially if you’ve only got an hour, is not to overthink it. These are the steps for making cinnamon rolls:
- Make dough.
- Roll out on a floured surface into a square that is approximately 9"x18"
- Spread softened butter over dough.
- Sprinkle dough with cinnamon sugar.
- Starting with the side closed to you, roll into a tube and slice.
- Let rise briefly and then bake.
- Top with frosting!
Saigon Cinnamon in Cinnamon Rolls
There is one true secret when it comes to great cinnamon rolls. Saigon Cinnamon. Ever wonder what makes those shopping mall cinnamon rolls so fragrant and irresistible? It’s Saigon Cinnamon. The flavor is more intense and exotic than the traditional ground cinnamon that most of us have in our pantry. If you’re going to make homemade cinnamon rolls, this is well worth adding to your spice drawer.
If you don’t have Saigon Cinnamon, increase the amount of regular cinnamon you use so that you get some extra flavor (see recipe for tips).
More Baked Breakfast Recipes
- Slow Cooker Bagel Breakfast Casserole
- Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
- Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake
- No-Knead Cinnamon Crunch Bread
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Crispy Baked Cinnamon French Toast Sticks {Video}
- Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
- One-Bowl Pumpkin Cider Bread
- Apple Cider Donut Mini Muffins
Favorite Tools
- 2 8"Round Cake Pans or 1 9x13 Baking Pan
- Large Glass Measuring Cup or Microwave Safe Bowl
- Stand Mixer
- Rolling Pin
- Hand Mixer
- Large Mixing Bowl
1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- Microwave Safe Bowl
- Rolling Pin
- 2 8" or 1 9x13" Baking Pan
- Stand or Hand Mixer
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 ½ cups Milk (any type will work)
- 2 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1 Tablespoon Instant Yeast
- 2 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour, plus more for rolling (500 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Filling:
- 3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, softened
- ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Saigon Cinnamon
Icing:
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 2-4 Tablespoon Milk (any type will work)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F / 200 C.
- Spray two 8-inch round cake pans or one 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat 1 ½ cups milk in the microwave until warm to the touch. Combine milk and 2 Tbsp. melted butter in the bowl of a standing mixer. Stir in yeast and 2 tablespoon sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- To the yeast mixture, add flour, and salt. Mix on low until the ingredients come together. Increase speed to medium and mix for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic and begins to make a slapping sound as it hits the sides of the bowl.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and cover the dough with a dish towel. Let dough rise (preferably near the warm oven), until the surface is smooth, about 15 minutes.
- Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll it into a rectangle (approximately 9"x18") with the long side facing you.
- Spread 3 Tbsp. softened butter over the dough. Combine ¼ cup sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar-cinnamon mixture over softened butter.
- Starting with the side closest to you, roll up the dough. Slice roll of dough in half. Slice each half into 9 rounds (you should have 18 rolls total). Place the slices in the prepared baking dish(es) and let rise uncovered in a warm place (preferably near the warm oven) until the edges of the rolls are touching, 15 minutes.
- Bake until light golden brown on top, 15 to 18 minutes.
- While the rolls are baking, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. While beating, add milk a little at a time, until the mixture is smooth and pourable.
- When the rolls come out of the oven, let them cool for 5 minutes before drizzling icing over top.
- Serve immediately (of course...who could wait!).
Notes
Nutrition
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David Folstad
I have enjoyed your posts and photos immensely this year. You write in a a warm manner and the recipes are well organized for the reader. I hope your new year will be a wonderful one for yourself and your whole family.
Jess
Dave - it's been so great to get to know you through blogging these past years. Sending you best wishes for the new year as well!
Monica
So great to hear your twins had a lovely Christmas. We are doing much the same as you described right now...enjoying family time. : )
Your cinnamon rolls look amazing and I love the 1-hr factor. Not long ago, I discovered a small-batch recipe from Oh LadyCakes and I've been using it ever since. In fact, I have a batch sitting in the fridge for breakfast tomorrow right now! Now that I've seen yours, I will have to try it when I need a somewhat bigger batch. Sounds easy and looks incredible! Happy New Year!
Jess
Thanks so much, Monica - enjoy the time with your sweet fam! And I love Oh LadyCakes - I've got to give her recipe a try!
Jean Olson
I love your recipes, Jess! And I always look forward to the pictures of little ones! The brownie elf cookies were a big hit this year for friends I shared with. Chance moment that I connected with you when looking for a cooking class in Bangkok! And what an incredible visit we had to Thailand! Jean
Jess
So good to hear from you Jean, and I'm thrilled to hear you had a great trip!
Shadi
Just saw your recipe on FG and made it right away! I also added pecans and made some tiny changes! Wonderful recipe! Thank you and happy new year!
Jess
Shadi - thanks so much for your note - I'm so glad you liked it! We had these again on New Year's morning. Great idea to add pecans - I'll definitely try that next time.
kimmylou53
Just read over the recipe for the cinnamon rolls and they sound delicious and easy to make! You also have beautiful babies!
Paige
We made these on Monday for family night, and we have another batch in the fridge ready to go for tomorrow morning. Thanks for a great recipe that my family loves, and that doesn't take half a day to make!
Paige
https://thehappyflammily.com
aya
how many days it will stay soft?
aya
How much the yeast in gram? is it 15gr? please help thanks
Gayathri
I have made this recipe so many times and it's a winner. I make a big batch of dough and mix and match cinnamon rolls, soft dinner rolls and rolls filled with raspberries /pizza sauce even. Love the simplicity of this recipe
Andrea
This is hands-down the best cinnamon roll recipe I have tried! My family and I each devoured two after they had cooled. We made them vegan simply by using vegan butter and almond milk in the dough and filling, and I subbed 3 ish tablespoons in for cream cheese in the glaze recipe, while upping the vanilla. A total winner for us lactose intolerant and vegan folks!
Jess Smith
Oh how wonderful to hear! I'm so glad you liked them and that the vegan swaps worked so well!