Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Fluffy cinnamon rolls bake snugly together under a generous swoop of cream cheese frosting.

Let’s make something lovely.
Close-packed rolls support one another as they rise, giving soft sides and tall spirals. The white-frosted tray in the photograph inspires this classic yeasted version.
There is no need to rush the dough. Watch for it to become puffy and light rather than following the clock alone, especially in a cool kitchen.
Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
What you’ll need
Dough
Cinnamon filling
Cream cheese frosting
Let’s do this
- 1
Mix the dough
Combine 480 g flour with the yeast, sugar and salt. Add the warm milk, melted cooled butter and egg. Mix into a shaggy dough, then knead for 8–10 minutes by hand or 6–8 minutes on low speed until smooth and elastic. It should feel soft and slightly tacky. Do not taste raw dough.
- 2
First rise
Place in a lightly buttered bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for 60–75 minutes, until roughly doubled. Allow longer if the room is cool.
- 3
Roll and fill
Grease a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) pan. Lightly flour the worktop with the reserved flour. Roll the dough into a 12 × 18-inch (30 × 45 cm) rectangle. Spread with the soft filling butter. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon and scatter evenly over it.
- 4
Shape
Starting from an 18-inch edge, roll into a log. Cut into 12 equal pieces, about 1½ inches (4 cm) wide. Arrange in the pan in three rows of four.
- 5
Second rise
Cover and leave for 35–40 minutes until puffy and nearly touching. Toward the end, heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), or 320°F (160°C) fan.
- 6
Bake
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden and the center rolls are baked through. An instant-read thermometer in the dough at the center should read about 190°F (88°C). Loosely cover with foil if the tops brown before the middle is done.
- 7
Frost
Cool for 15 minutes. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then beat in the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Spread over the warm, not hot, rolls.
Wheat, Eggs, Milk. Check every ingredient and substitute for your own needs.
Before the happy first bite.
Milk that is too hot can damage the yeast; use a thermometer if you have one.
Dental floss without flavoring makes neat cuts without squashing the dough.
If the dough springs back while rolling, cover it and rest for 10 minutes before trying again.
Because of the cream cheese frosting, cover and refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or colder within 2 hours. Keep for up to 4 days. Warm individual rolls briefly before serving, or freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the refrigerator.


