Description
Make the softest, goo-iest homemade cinnamon buns with a simple cream cheese frosting. This recipe focuses on achieving that perfect fluffy texture, reminiscent of your favorite bakery style.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: 3 cups
- Granulated sugar: 1/2 cup
- Active dry yeast: 2 1/4 teaspoons
- Whole milk: 1 cup, warm
- Unsalted butter: 1/2 cup, melted
- Eggs: 2 large
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- For the Filling:
- Unsalted butter: 1/2 cup, softened
- Brown sugar: 3/4 cup, packed
- Ground cinnamon: 2 tablespoons
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Cream cheese: 4 ounces, softened
- Powdered sugar: 1 1/2 cups
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
- Milk: 1-2 tablespoons
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add the melted butter, eggs, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk well.
- Gradually mix in the flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the risen dough gently. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 18×12 inches.
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough surface.
- Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Sprinkle this mixture over the buttered dough.
- Roll the dough tightly, starting from the long edge, creating a log.
- Cut the log into 12 equal rolls. Place them snugly in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Cover the pan and let the buns rise again for 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) during this time.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While the buns bake, prepare the frosting. Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until you reach a thick, spreadable consistency.
- Remove the buns from the oven and immediately spread the cream cheese frosting generously over the warm rolls. Serve warm.
Notes
- For extra soft buns, ensure your milk is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast correctly.
- Do not overbake; slightly underbaking them keeps them gooey inside.
- If you prefer a less sweet frosting, reduce the powdered sugar slightly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bun
- Calories: approx. 450
- Sugar: approx. 40g
- Sodium: approx. 300mg
- Fat: approx. 22g
- Saturated Fat: approx. 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: approx. 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: approx. 58g
- Fiber: approx. 2g
- Protein: approx. 8g
- Cholesterol: approx. 60mg