Better than Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Craving a gooey, fluffy Cinnabon roll, but you're nowhere near a Cinnabon location?  No problem.  I've tested this amazing recipe 4 times, and it's come out delicious every single time!  Once you try this recipe, you'll agree with my family that this recipe makes cinnamon rolls that taste even better than the Cinnabon ones.

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Questions

What ingredients are in Cinnabon rolls?

There are several ingredients in my copycat Cinnabon roll dough.  Let's go through each ingredient and see how it makes them so delicious.

• Bread Flour: gives them the fluffy, chewy taste we love.  All-purpose just won't work here.
• Yeast: makes the dough rise and gives it an amazing smell.
• Salt: keeps the yeast from growing too quickly and adds flavor.
• Honey: gives a soft texture, encourages the yeast to grow, and sweetness.
• Butter: adds softness, richness, and flavor.
• Lard: you might be wondering about this one!  Lard in bread makes it even softer and fluffier than with just butter.
• Eggs: adds richness and fluffiness to the bread and also encourages the rise in the oven.
• Milk: adds richness and softness.

What kind of cinnamon does Cinnabon use?

There are two kinds of cinnamon, Saigon and Ceylon.  Cinnabon uses Saigon cinnamon, so I've opted to use that kind for my recipe.  Saigon definitely has a richer, spicier flavor and more reddish color than Ceylon.

Can I use margarine instead of butter?

Please, don't use it!  Margarine is full of chemicals and you should never be eating it.  You need real butter for the best flavor.

How do you activate yeast?

Activating or proofing yeast is only necessary if you're using active dry yeast.  I recommend using fast-action or "instant" yeast, which does not need to be activated before using.

• Dissolve 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar in ½ cup of warm water.  Make sure the water is no hotter than 115 F.  Use a thermometer.
• Add the yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved in the water.
• Let the mixture stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add the foamy yeast mixture directly to the flour and other ingredients.  You may need to decrease other liquids in the recipe because you're adding water along with the yeast.

Why do you let dough rest after kneading?

Letting the dough rest (also called proving or rising) after kneading it is a crucial step that you should never skip.  This resting time allows the yeast to add lots of flavor and gives the gluten time to rest, making it easier to shape.

Does rapid rise yeast need to rise twice?

Yes.  Contrary to what it says on the yeast packet, dough made with rapid rise or fast-action yeast does need to rise twice.  One rise simply will not give you the desired flavor and texture.

Why are my cinnamon rolls not rising?

There are several reasons why this is happening.  Let's explore the most common causes and how to remedy them.

• The yeast is dead or stunted. Be sure that your yeast isn't past its expiry date.  If you're using active dry yeast, make sure to proof it first in warm water and a little sugar to see if it's still active.  Use liquids that are at 115 F or below; hot temps will kill the yeast.  If the yeast makes direct contact with salt, that can also kill it.
• The room is too cold. Cold temperatures slow down the yeasts' growth, while warm temperatures speed it up.  If you're working in a cold room, place the bowl of dough or pan of rolls in a cold oven.  Put a casserole dish full of boiling water on the shelf underneath and close the oven door.  The steam will encourage it to rise.
• The rolls didn't rise long enough before being baked.  Next time, gently poke the risen dough with your fingertip to see if it's proved enough.  When it's ready, it will quickly spring back to its original position.

How do you know when dough is done rising?

When you're letting it rise (also called prove), it can be tricky to know when it's done!  Here's how to tell.

• For the first rise, the dough is in a bowl.  It's done rising when it has at least doubled in size.  You can snap a photo with your cell phone or tablet before and after it rises to double check that it's grown enough.
• For the second rise, the rolls are in a pan.  They are done when they have noticeably increased in size.  Most importantly, it should spring back when you poke it gently with your fingertip.

How do you make cinnamon rolls fluffier?

There are several ways you can do this!  Here's some top tips.

• Sift the bread flour.  This sounds unusual, but it helps them have a soft, thin crust and fluffy interior.
• Use a combination of butter and lard.  Butter adds flavor, while lard gives the dough an extra soft and light texture.
• Use eggs in the dough.  Eggs add richness, improve the texture, and encourage a higher rise in the oven.
• Let the dough rise long enough.  Underproved rolls will be dense and doughy instead of light and fluffy.  They are proved long enough when the dough springs back when prodded with a fingertip.

Do they need to touch when baking?

Technically, they don't need to touch when they're baking.  However, I do like them to touch, because it keeps them softer and more gooey.  If you like a firmer outer crust, then use a larger pan and space the rolls farther apart.

Why do they shrink after baking?

If you've noticed that the spiral has shrunk a little after baking, that's nothing to worry about.  When bread is baked, it is full of steam, and when it is cooled, it slowly releases that steam, causing the bread to contract.  If the bread shrinks a lot, it means that your rolls may have proved too long before being baked.

How do you reheat cinnamon rolls?

You can reheat up to 4 rolls in the microwave on a plate, although our family prefers to warm the rolls individually right before we eat them.  The spiral shape heat them up quickly, so you should be fine with microwaving each roll for 30 seconds.

Can you freeze homemade ones?

Yes, you absolutely can and should freeze them.  Don't leave them on the counter overnight or put them in the fridge.  Simply seal them inside of zip-top freezer bags, pressing out the extra air, and freeze for up to 1 month.  Defrost at room temperature or microwave individual buns for 45-60 seconds.

Can vegetarians eat cinnamon rolls?

Yes, they are okay for vegetarians to eat, since they contain no meat.

What are the calories in a Cinnabon cinnamon roll?

According to Cinnabon, their classic roll contains 880 calories, 37g of fat, 127g of carbs, and 58g of sugar.  By comparison, my homemade ones have only 432 calories, 17.8g of fat, 62g of carbs, and 30.4g of sugar.  Making your own is definitely so much healthier and easier on the wallet.

Are the bad for you?

Any way you slice it, cinnamon rolls aren't the healthiest dessert out there.  However, homemade ones made from scratch are actually a lot healthier than the canned Pillsbury ones or Cinnabon ones.  If you make the rolls yourself, you know that they don't have any artificial flavors, food coloring, preservatives, or dough enrichers.  Plus, they're lower calories and tastier than store bought ones!

How can I make cinnamon rolls ahead of time?

There are a few ways you can make them in advance to save time on Christmas morning.  Choose the method that suits your schedule the best.

• Method #1. Mix and knead the dough, then place it in a buttered bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Let it rise in the fridge overnight, or at least 8 hours.  Let it warm up in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours before rolling out and shaping.
• Method #2. Mix and knead the dough, let it prove until doubled in size, roll the rolls, and place the covered pan in the fridge.  Prove in the fridge overnight, or at least 8 hours.  Let it warm up in a warm place until springy to the touch before baking.  This can take up to 2 hours.
• Method #3. Bake and frost them in advance, then freeze them and reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.  This is the easiest method for our family, and what we will be doing this year.

How to Make

Make the bread dough.  Gather the ingredients before you begin.  You'll need bread flour, fast-action yeast, salt, honey, eggs, butter, lard, and milk.

Heat the milk to 115 F.  If you're microwaving the milk, put a glass or wooden skewer in the milk to break the surface tension, preventing explosions.

Sift the bread flour into a mixing bowl.

Add the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl.

Mix in the salt and yeast with your finger.

Dump in the softened butter, lard, and honey.

Mix everything together with your hand until it has a dry, crumbly texture like in the photo below.

Add the two eggs and half of the warm milk.

Mix the ingredients together with your hand, gradually adding more warm milk as needed to create a slightly sticky dough.  See how there's still some flour left at the bottom of the bowl?  That means that you need a little more milk.

This is what the dough should look like once you've added the right amount of milk.  You may not need it all, as the brand of flour and humidity affect the amount of liquid needed.

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 10-15 minutes.  Check to see if it is kneaded enough by tearing off a piece and stretching it as thin as you can.  If you can read through the dough like in the photo below, it has been kneaded sufficiently.

Shape into a ball, place in a buttered bowl, and cover with plastic wrap.

Set the bowl of dough in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Make the cinnamon sugar mixture.  While the dough is proving (also called rising), grab some Saigon cinnamon, softened butter, and dark brown sugar.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together until well mixed, then set aside.

Shape the cinnamon rolls.  Once the dough has doubled in size, flip it out onto a floured surface and punch it down all over to knock out the big gas bubbles.

Roll out the dough until it measures at least 19x19 inches.  I couldn't fit the whole thing in this photo, but here it is with a ruler.  The dough should be quite thin, and make sure that the edges are the same thickness as the middle.

Spread the softened butter all over, except leave a border of about 1 inch on three sides.  Using an angled spatula, as in the photo below, makes this process easy and accurate.

Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the buttered dough, using your fingers to smooth it out.

The side of the dough closest to you should have the butter and sugar all the way to the edge.  That's where you want to start rolling.  Fold over the edge just a little, then keep rolling until you have a log.

Turn it over so the seam is exposed, and pinch it tightly to seal.  This step keeps the log from unrolling.

Chop off the uneven ends of the log with a bench scraper and use the scraper to mark the dough in 12 equal pieces.  I nicked mine about every 1 ½ inches.

Now, cut the log into 12 rolls.  I like to use a piece of thread for this, because a knife tends to flatten the roll and make it look unattractive.  To cut with a thread, place the thread under the log and draw it tightly around the log until it cuts through.

Place the 12 cinnamon rolls in an unbuttered 11x14-inch pan.  It's crucial to use an extra large pan here to give the rolls room to rise out.  They'll grow a lot!

Cover the pan with plastic wrap and set aside to prove in a warm place until they are springy to the touch, about 30 minutes.

Make the cream cheese frosting.  Grab some softened cream cheese and butter, along with some powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.

Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth.

Sift in the powdered sugar.  Don't skip this step, or you'll have lumpy frosting.

Beat the frosting until smooth, then add the vanilla extract and a little cream to make it spreadable.  Taste and add more powdered sugar if desired.

Check on the cinnamon rolls.  They should have noticeably increased in size, and the dough should spring back into place if you gently prod it with your fingertip.

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Cover the pan of rolls loosely with aluminum foil and bake at 400 F for 25 minutes, then uncover them and bake for another 5 minutes to brown them slightly.  They are cooked when the center rolls have an internal temperature of 190 F on a thermometer.

Immediately after they come out of the oven, spread on the cream cheese frosting.

Variations

• Skinny. If you're trying to cut calories, omit the icing or use a lower-fat cream cheese.  You can also make the rolls smaller.
• Vegan. Use vegan butter and almond milk, and omit the eggs and honey.  Use a glaze of powdered sugar and lemon juice instead of the cream cheese frosting.
• Gluten Free. Making successful gluten free bread is a challenge!  I'd highly recommend this tested recipe from Let Them Eat Gluten Free Cake.

Pro Tips

• Always, always, always use bread flour. All-purpose flour simply will not give you the light, fluffy rolls you crave, because it has a lower protein content than bread flour.
• Measure the ingredients by weight. This is much faster and more accurate than using measuring cups.
• Knead thoroughly.  One of the keys to high rising, fluffy rolls is kneading long enough.  Use the windowpane test as described in the recipe card below to make sure that your dough has been sufficiently kneaded.
• Don't under-prove.  The first prove should be long enough to allow the dough to at least double in size.  The second prove should be long enough to make them springy when pressed with a fingertip.  Under-proved rolls will not rise well and will taste doughy.
• The rolls are done when the center ones have an internal temperature of 190 F.  Do not simply go on baking time, because each oven cooks differently.

Recommended Tools

• Kitchen Scale: quickly and accurately measure ingredients with this digital scale.
• Digital Thermometer: you'll always know the temperature with this affordable thermometer.
• Set of 4 Sieves: effortlessly sift your flour and powdered sugar with these strainers.
• Angled Spatulas: spreading butter is easy with these spatulas.
• Saigon Cinnamon: this is the kind that Cinnabon uses in their rolls.

Other Sweet Cinnamon Breads

• Kanellängd
• Swedish Tea Ring
• King Cake
• Cardamom Buns
• Sticky Buns

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated.

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