This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Quick Soft Cinnamon Rolls are super fluffy and light, and are made with a simple homemade dough. Smother them with the easiest cream cheese icing and devour them! These homemade cinnamon rolls are just as soft, if not softer than our Easy Soft Dinner Rolls and pulling them apart is absolute heaven!
It’s actually surprisingly easy to make them, and they taste way better than those store-bought cinnamon rolls. For me, Sunday mornings are all about whipping together a warm, gooey batch of homemade soft cinnamon rolls, topped with a generous coating of cream cheese glaze!
These rolls are right up there on the top of my list of favourite sweet treats, alongside my Best Fudgy Brownies and my Chocolate Chip Cookies, and once you give them a try, you’ll know why.
Why this Recipe Works
I won’t hesitate to say that these quick soft cinnamon rolls are life changing! They turn out incredibly soft and fluffy every single time, and yes – they’re made completely from scratch with a fast rise dough thanks to my special oven proofing method.
Once you give them a try, you won’t go back to any other recipe- it’s a promise.
If you love cinnamon-sugar inspired recipes, also check out my Cinnamon Star Bread and Cinnamon Cheesecake Swirled Pumpkin Brownies, which are perfect to feature on your table when you’re hosting.
What Goes into this Recipe
- Yeast: Use instant yeast or quick rise yeast for best results. If you’re looking for a shortcut version that skips yeast altogether, try these easy no-yeast cinnamon rolls instead.
- Butter: Melted butter, for the icing, filling and the yeast.
- Sugar: You’ll need granulated sugar (for the yeast), powdered sugar (for the icing) and brown sugar (for the filling).
- Egg: To lend the cinnamon rolls that structure and lots of richness.
- Flour: Just your regular all purpose flour.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon, for the filling.
- Cream cheese: For that rich, irresistible icing.
- Vanilla: For the sweet aroma.
- Milk: For the icing and a little to help the yeast bloom.
- Cooking oil spray: To grease the bowl.
Note: please see recipe card at the bottom for list of full ingredients and measurements
Substitutions & Variations
- You can use any kind of milk here, but I would recommend using whole milk to get that rich, creamy flavor.
- If you have high protein flour or bread flour, try using it instead of all purpose flour to get even softer cinnamon rolls.
- For a deeper flavor, use dark brown sugar for the cinnamon sugar mixture.
How to Make Quick Soft Cinnamon Rolls
- Warm the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (100°C). This gentle heat will help the dough rise later. Once heated, turn it off but keep the oven warm inside.
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes, until it becomes foamy and fragrant.
- Make the Dough: Add the whisked egg, flour, and salt to the milk mixture. Mix until a soft, sticky dough forms. Turn it onto a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes, adding flour only as needed.
- Let Dough Rise: Grease a bowl with cooking spray. Place the dough inside, turning it once to coat. Cover with a damp towel and place in the oven. Let rise for 30 minutes, then punch and rest another 30 minutes until doubled.
- Shape: Roll dough on a floured surface into a 19×13-inch rectangle. Brush with butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, and rub the mixture in.
- Roll and Slice: Starting from a long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log and pinch the seam to seal. Trim uneven edges and cut into 12–15 even rolls.
- Second Rise and Bake: Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover with a damp towel and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Uncover and bake for 25 minutes.
- Make the Icing: While baking, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat again until creamy. Spread icing over warm rolls before serving.
Enjoy these quick soft cinnamon rolls on their own as a sweet treat whenever you want to, or make them a part of a breakfast spread when you’re entertaining. I love teaming them up with my Dalgona Whipped Coffee, a hearty Breakfast Casserole with Bacon or Sausage and some easy Egg Muffins.
Recipe FAQ’s
If your cinnamon roll dough isn’t rising enough, it could be because the yeast isn’t active or fresh enough. Make sure you use fresh instant yeast for this recipe for the most soft, light and fluffy rolls.
To test if the yeast is fresh and active, simply check the date on the package or look for bubbles and frothiness when you let it bloom.
You can! If you’re sensitive to dairy, try using a plant based milk like almond milk as a swap, and use coconut oil as a replacement for butter in the recipe. And of course, skip the cream cheese icing and just use some vegan frosting instead.
Watch It Made
You might also like
Get a free eBook!
Subscribe to Cafe Delites FOR FREE and receive recipes straight into your inbox!
Soft Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
YEAST:
- 1 cup milk warmed to the touch, NOT HOT – temp at 110°F or 45°C
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2-1/2 teaspoons quick-rise yeast or look for instant or rapid-rise yeast
ROLLS:
- 1 large egg lightly whisked
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose or plain flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 spray cooking oil spray
FILLING:
- 3/4 cup brown sugar loosely packed
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
ICING:
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Heat oven to 200°F (100°C).
FOR THE YEAST:
- Combine the warm milk together with the melted butter, sugar and yeast in a large bowl. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, until frothy.
FOR THE ROLLS:
- Add the whisked egg to the milk mixture. Add in EXACTLY 3 1/2 cups flour and salt, and mix until a soft dough forms (the dough will be sticky). Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 2 minutes kneading), occasionally rolling into the flour on your bench top to prevent the dough sticking to your fingers.
- Lightly coat a large bowl with cooking oil spray and transfer the ball of dough to the bowl, turning once to coat in the oil. Cover with a damp towel. TURN OVEN OFF and transfer bowl of dough to the warm oven. Allow to rise for 30 minutes. (To check if dough is ready, gently press two fingers into dough. If an indentation remains, dough has not risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rest for an additional 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface, into a 19-inch x 13–inch rectangle. Brush the melted butter over the dough and sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and cinnamon. Gently rub the cinnamon mixture into the butter. Beginning at one long side, roll up dough tightly like a jelly-roll; then gently pinch the seam down to seal. Trim the ends for even slices, and cut dough into 12 or 15 slices.
- Arrange the rolls in a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover with the damp towel and allow to rise for a further 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- While rising, preheat oven to 175°C | 350°F.
- Uncover rolls; bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool slightly before glazing.
FOR THE ICING:
- Prepare icing while rolls are baking. Beat together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla, until smooth and creamy. Beat in the powdered sugar until lump free. Spread icing over rolls. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these today and i could say it wasn’t quick but it sure was the best recipe I’ve ever used!
Hi, I’m french and not very used to the cup system so it might be a dump qestion but when you say 3 1/2 cups, do you mean 3 cups + 1/2 cup or 1/2 cups 3 times (for the flour) and same question for the yeast, is it 2 teaspsons + 1/2 ?
Thank you very much, it looks delicious and I really want to try !!
No problem at all! I am so grateful for you and following along with me! Thank you! When it says 3 1/2 cups it means 3 cups and 1/2 cup. Same with the yeast. Enjoy your cinnamon rolls! Let me know if you have any other questions that I can help you with!
This a great recipe. Me and my husband followed the recipe exactly. And came out PERFECT. was delicious.
Hi, I love your recipes.. and today Im trying to make these cinnamon rolls.. but i cant preheat the oven to 100 as my oven starts with 150. what should i do?
thanks
150* will be okay. Just watch them a little closer. Thanks so much for choosing one of my recipes to make! Good luck! It will turn out yummy!
Hi Karina, I’m very new in baking and just rely on tried and tested (like yours) to teach myself and I just want to confirm this : “To check if dough is ready, gently press two fingers into dough. If an indentation remains, dough has not risen enough”. I’m a bit confused because other sources say that if an indentation remains if you press two fingers, then the dough is ready. Thank you so much.
For these cinnamon rolls, yes, that is correct! If you follow the recipe they will turn out more than perfect, I promise! Enjoy one for me!
Hi Karina ,
I know you stated to follow the recipe as it is but I was wondering if I can omit the egg or add something else ? Thank you and I’m looking forward to try it.
You are welcome to omit the egg and anything that you need to alter the recipe to your liking. It may change the cinnamon rolls in how they bake and/or rise. These are so delicious! I hope you enjoy them!
Baked twice in two days❤️ Just a question Can I freeze the cinnamon rolls and bake them later
You are welcome to try that! That sounds like a great idea and would save you some time. Let me know how they turn out! Thanks for following along with me!
Hi there! I have made these cinnamon buns a few times and they turn out so good!! I’ve made cream cheese frosting to top these off, and have also made them into sticky cinnamon buns by adding butter and brown sugar to the pan before baking! My question is this: can this dough be used to make donuts also?? Let me know if you’ve tried making donuts with this dough recipe, or if you have one you like to use. Thanks so much!!
That sounds delicious! I have not tried making this for donuts before but that is a great idea. I am not sure how it work out but you can always try frying it on low in a skillet. I do have a few donut recipes here: https://cafedelites.com/?s=donuts that you are welcome to try and see which one is your favorite! Thanks so much for following along with me!
What is love? I asked myself this morning.
After making these buns, I believe I have found it. When they see my smile, the will ask, ‘Are you seeing someone?’ And I will answer ‘Yes, I am’ (seeing someone eat these delicous cinnamon rolls and that person is me)
So yum and worth the wait! ; )
LOL! This is the best comment ever! I love you and am so grateful to have you following along with me! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Karina,
I can admit to being a most experienced cook, 43 years to be exact. However, since I made your light and airy cinnamon rolls
you have knocked off my crown. Firstly, the dough itself was amazing light as you said. Following your recipe “exactly” my rolls baked up to perfection. They were as simple to make as you declared. Next time,and there will be a next time, I may play them up a bit to make say chocolate chip buns with a vanilla icing. I have bookmarked your website for further recipes.
Great recipes thanks again.
Kathy
PS my grandbabies thank you too.
This recipe was fantastic! The rolls came out so soft and fluffy. Loved them! Thank you for sharing.