Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

These fluffy, moist cinnamon rolls made from scratch, complete with a sticky cinnamon filling and gooey frosting, are the best homemade cinnamon rolls ever!

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (1/4 ounce) package rapid-rise yeast
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients.
2 To make the cinnamon rolls: Heat milk, water, and 1/4 cup butter together in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbling, about 5 minutes. Let cool to 120 to 130 degrees F (49 to 54 degrees C), 1 to 2 minutes.
3 Mix flour, white sugar, salt, and yeast together in a separate bowl. Mix egg into warm milk mixture.
4 Pour milk mixture and 1/3 of the flour mixture into a mixing bowl; beat using an electric mixer until moistened. Add remaining dry ingredients slowly until a dough has pulled together.
5 Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8 minutes. Place in a covered bowl and let rise in a dry, warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
6 Punch dough down. Roll on a lightly floured surface into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread 1/4 cup softened butter evenly over dough.
7 Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl and sprinkle evenly over dough.
8 Roll up from the short side; cut into 12 even rolls.
9 Place rolls into a greased 9x13-inch glass baking dish. Cover and let rise in a dry, warm place, 8 hours, to overnight. When ready to bake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
10 Bake cinnamon rolls in the preheated oven until golden, about 17 minutes.
11 Meanwhile, make the icing: Beat cream cheese, 1 tablespoon butter, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy; slowly mix in confectioners' sugar until smooth.
12 Remove cinnamon rolls from the oven and flip out onto a cooling rack; let cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
13 Cover the tops of the rolls with icing.