Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2024)

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (1)

When you ask most kids what their favorite Christmas tradition is, they'll reply with the usual...

opening presents

decorating the tree

attending parties

making holiday crafts

But not my daughter. When asked, her answer is always the same...eating homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.

Since I only make them a few times each year, these ooey-gooey treats are like a sweet memory on a plate for her. As she eats them, she slips into a gentle sugar coma and remembers Christmases past. We munch, we reminisce, we linger long at the table savoring the meal and each other.


(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.)

If asked, she'd tell you that these are the best cinnamon rolls ever! And I'd have to agree. (But maybe with a little less punctuation because I'm 37 and with age comes a measure of self-control...or so I've been told.)

They are the best. But not just because they taste like Cinnabon goodness, but also because you can make them the day before in the bread machine, serve half of them for breakfast the following morning, and freeze the rest for another day!!!!!!

Make it once and serve it twice. That right there is kitchen gold!

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2)

To make these Cinnabon knock-offs...

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (3)

Add the following ingredients into your bread machine in this order: 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup hot-to-the-touch water (not boiling), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 stick of softened butter, 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup sugar.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (4)

Next, add 5 cups of flour creating a mound. Use your finger to create a well in the center of the flour. Pour 3 teaspoons of active dry yeast into this well.

Follow the directions of your bread machine for the "dough" setting.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (5)

When the bread machine has completed the dough cycle, turn the finished dough out onto a floured surface. It should be slightly tacky and elastic, but not sticky.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (6)

Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. Form into a large ball and set in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl lightly with a cloth and let sit until the dough has doubled in size.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (7)

While the dough is rising, prepare your cinnamon filling. Soften 1 stick of butter and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup packed brown sugar and 4 tablespoons cinnamon. Sift together with a fork until completely combined.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (8)

When dough has doubled, turn it out onto a floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle (approximately 14 x 24 inches). Sprinkle flour onto your rolling pin as needed to prevent sticking. Be sure not to over flour the dough.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (9)

Coat the rolled dough surface with softened butter.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (10)

Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the butter. It's gonna seem like you're adding a loooooootof sugar. If it looks excessive, it's probably just perfect!


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (11)

Starting at one of the short ends of the rectangle, begin to roll the dough into a large log.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (12)

Use a serrated bread knife or unflavored dental floss to slice the rolled log into 1 inch-wide disks.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (13)

Place disks onto one large, greased jelly roll pan or two greased 9x13 casserole dishes.

At this point, you can cover the rolls for 45 minutes to let them rise and then bake them immediately, OR cover them with plastic wrap and store overnight in the refrigerator to be baked in the morning, OR cover them in heavy foil to be placed in the freezer for a later date. I usually store one casserole dish's worth in the fridge for the following morning and freeze the other one for up to three months.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If baking refrigerated rolls, remove the plastic wrap cover and set them out on the counter 30-40 minutes prior to baking in order that they may rise completely. If baking frozen rolls, keep the foil on and set them out on the counter the night before to allow them to defrost and rise overnight.


Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (14)

While the rolls bake, mix together 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 stick of softened butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/8 teaspoon of lemon extract (optional). Since I only bake one casserole dish's worth of rolls at a time, I cut all of these ingredients in half and make the frosting fresh when I make the other casserole's worth of rolls at a later date.

When the rolls are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes. Then, top with dollops of cream cheese frosting. Spread the frosting smoothly onto each roll. Serve warm and enjoy!

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (15)

Rolls

1 c. milk

1/4 c. hot-to-the-touch water (not boiling)

1 t. vanilla extract

1 stick of softened butter

2 beaten eggs

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. sugar

5 c. white flour

3 t. yeast

Cinnamon Filling

1 stick of softened butter

1 c. packed brown sugar

4 T. cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. softened cream cheese

1 stick of softened butter

2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. of vanilla extract

1/8 t. of lemon extract (optional)

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Add the first 7 ingredients into the bread machine in the order that they are listed. Next, add the flour on top creating a mound of flour. Use your finger to create a well in the center of the flour. Pour the yeast into the well.

Follow the directions of your bread machine for the "dough" setting.

When the dough setting is complete, the dough should be slightly tacky and elastic, but not sticky. Turn the finished dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. Form into a large ball and set into a greased bowl. Cover the bowl lightly with a cloth and let sit until the dough has doubled in size.

While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. Soften the butter and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Sift together with a fork until it's completely combined.

When the dough has doubled, turn it out on a floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle (approximately 14 x 24 inches). Sprinkle flour onto your rolling pin as needed to prevent sticking. Be sure not to over flour the dough. Coat the entire dough surface with softened butter. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the butter.

Starting at one of the short ends of the rectangle, begin to roll the dough into a large log. Use a serrated bread knife or unflavored dental floss to slice the rolled log into 1 inch-wide disks.

Place disks onto one large, greased jelly roll pan or two greased 9x13 casserole dishes.

At this point, you can cover the rolls for 45 minutes to let them rise and then bake them immediately, OR cover them with plastic wrap and store overnight in the refrigerator to be baked in the morning, OR cover them in heavy foil to be placed in the freezer for a later date.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If baking refrigerated rolls, remove the plastic wrap cover and set them out on the counter 30-40 minutes prior to baking in order that they may rise completely. If baking frozen rolls, keep the foil on and set them out on the counter the night before to allow them to defrost and rise overnight.

Mix all of the frosting ingredients. When rolls are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes. Then, top with dollops of cream cheese frosting. Spread the frosting smoothly onto each roll. Serve warm and enjoy!

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is bread flour or regular flour better for cinnamon rolls? ›

Bread flour is hands down the best option when making cinnamon rolls. Any good cinnamon rolls recipe is going to usually call for bread flour instead of other kinds of flour. This is because bread flour is high in protein, usually containing 11% to 13% more protein than other kinds of flour.

How do I make my bread machine bread better? ›

Some recipes will advise adding sugar, which, in addition to making the bread a little sweet, helps the yeast to rise better. Others also suggest adding a little oil, such as olive or vegetable oil. This helps the dough form, preventing it from sticking to the sides of the pan, and makes the bread more tender.

Why are my cinnamon rolls not fluffy? ›

There are a lot of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even down to the weather and humidity. But the most common reason cinnamon rolls don't turn out fluffy is because the dough didn't have enough time to rise.

Why use bread flour instead of all-purpose? ›

Bread flour produces baked goods with more structure and chew than all-purpose flour, as all-purpose only has a protein content of 10 to 12 percent, versus the 12 to 14 percent of bread. All-purpose flour produces tender baked goods (as opposed to chewy ones) and is ideal for cakes, muffins, biscuits, piecrust, etc.

What is the healthiest flour for homemade bread? ›

The healthiest bread flour is 100% whole grain flour. Whole grain flour could be rye, barley, spelt, oat, or wheat flour - the key is that the flour is made from 100% whole grains. Whole grain breads provide essential nutrients that are lacking in bread made from white flour.

What does pouring heavy cream over cinnamon rolls do? ›

The heavy cream absorbs the cinnamon, sugar, and butter that leaks from the insides of the rolls as they bake to create a glorious cinnamon sugar syrup for the bottom of your rolls.

What happens if you add too much flour to cinnamon rolls? ›

ONLY add as much flour as needed to handle the dough. It's better for the dough to be sticky at the start than to add too much flour and wind up with dense rolls, instead of light and fluffy ones.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Evaporated milk can be used as a substitute in recipes in which heavy cream is used as a liquid ingredient, such as in baked goods, but it doesn't whip well. Substitute the heavy cream in your recipes with an equal amount of evaporated milk.

What is one drawback of using a bread machine? ›

One disadvantage of using a bread maker as opposed to your hands is that the paddles are typically fixed, meaning they remain in the dough when baking, often leaving a hole in the middle of the loaf. Whilst this is not the biggest hinderance, it can be an annoyance to those who aim for gold standard loaves.

Is it cheaper to buy bread or make it in a bread machine? ›

Making bread from a machine is marginally cheaper than buying it, as long as you eat bread frequently enough to offset the cost of the appliance. Specifically, I see this as an investment that's smart for households that go through bread quickly, like large families or homes with multiple roommates.

What is the best order to put ingredients in a bread machine? ›

Adding Ingredients to the Bread Machine

Manufacturers usually recommend adding the liquids first, followed by dry ingredients, with the yeast going in last. This keeps the yeast away from the liquid ingredients until kneading begins.

What is the secret ingredient in Cinnabon? ›

Cinnabon's Secret Ingredient

This special Indonesian cinnamon, called Makara, is trademarked by Cinnabon. And because of that trademark, you won't find this product in your local grocery store spice aisle.

Is melted butter or softened butter better for cinnamon rolls? ›

It can definitely be tempting to just stick that butter in the microwave if you've been storing it in the fridge, which can easily lead to accidentally melting it, but ensuring that your butter is softened will make all the difference: It will make it easier to evenly spread the filling on top of the dough.

What kind of flour is best for rolls? ›

Bread Flour

The extra protein holds together the porous, chewy texture and browned crisp crust beloved in yeasted breads. Use it for: breads like bagels, dinner rolls, pizza dough, and pretzels.

Is cinnamon rolls made from bread dough? ›

The dough for cinnamon rolls is an enriched bread dough, meaning it is made with butter and milk, and in some recipes, eggs.

What is the best flour for buns? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

What flour is good for buns? ›

All-purpose flour and whole wheat flour – This combination yields really soft buns with a lovely whole wheat flavor. Active dry yeast – It's what makes these buns so puffy!

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6742

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.