Freshly baked cinnamon rolls are always a hit any time of year. Swirls of cinnamon in soft rolls topped with a light sweet drizzle.
A delicious tradition
We have a tradition in our house; Christmas morning we always have homemade cinnamon rolls on the table for breakfast. Christmas breakfast is a pretty big deal. My mom always sets the table the night before. It always looks beautiful and festive.
The actual breakfast is a sit down affair with all 20+ of us. On the menu: eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, homemade hot chocolate, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, and homemade danish. Sometimes the menu will vary slightly. But I don't think there has ever been a year without the sweet rolls.
On the years we don't travel to my parents' house for Christmas, I bake these for our breakfast too.
Cinnamon rolls are my mom's specialty! These do double duty for other special occasions. Easter, family events or any other time she feels like baking. We often bake these the day before a big breakfast.
On Christmas morning, they are wrapped in foil and heated in the oven for about 15 minutes. If you are reheating before serving, add the glaze after they are reheated.
Making cinnamon rolls is fun - .especially the rolling out part! I try to roll as thin as possible so I can get as much cinnamon and sugar in there as possible.
This isn't a really sweet dough. I let all the sweetness come from the cinnamon sugar and the glaze.
Are you a glazed cinnamon roll person, or an unglazed? I'm all about the glaze, as long as it is thin!
I don't want a thick frosting to overshadow the cinnamon roll. The cinnamon roll is the star here - the glaze is just a supporting flavor!
More delicious baked goods
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
If you loved this recipe you'll LOVE all the others in this category. Check out all my baking recipes here!
Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (warmed)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (or one package)
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 3 whole eggs
- ½ cup butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 ½ cups all purpose flour
Filling
- ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup butter (melted)
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 3 Tablespoons milk.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl add milk, yeast and sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes until yeast is bubbly.1 cup milk, 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast, 3 Tablespoons sugar
- Add eggs, butter, salt and 2 cups of flour. Mix3 whole eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, 5 ½ cups all purpose flour, ½ cup butter
- With mixer running, continue adding flour 1 cup at a time. You might not need all the flour.
- Knead for 5 minutes in a stand mixer or 10 minutes by hand.
- Place in a well greased bowl and cover.
- Let stand until doubled, 60-90 minutes.
- Punch down and place on a flat surface.
Forming the Rolls
- Roll out into a 12 x 18" rectangle.
- Brush with melted butter⅓ cup butter
- Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. Sprinkle entire mixture on top of rolled dough.½ cups granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Roll dough into a log and seal seam.
- Cut into 1" slices and place in a greased baking dish.
- Let rise 30-45 minutes
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool in dish slightly in baking dish.
- Mix glaze ingredients together and pour over baked cinnamon rolls while still slightly warm.1 cup confectioners sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla, 3 Tablespoons milk.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in December 2015. The pictures have been updated.
Auntie von says
So good and tender. I usually make cin rolls out of my bread dough but these are a real treat.
Kathy says
Thank you! 🙂
Lucie says
Such a beautiful recipe, just a quick question. I live in England and was wondering if you could give me the amounts in grams and what type of sugar do you use for the roll? Thank you so much.
Kathy says
Hi Lucie,
Thanks so much! These are one of my families favorites and we make them again and again. The sugar is white granulated sugar. I am afraid I don't have a way to convert and display grams in my recipe. I did find this web site that may be helpful. I hope it works! Thanks 🙂
Manali@CookWithManali says
such a classic..love them! wishing you a very happy new year Kathy..
Cheryl says
Yum! I was just thinking this morning that I want to make cinnamon rolls too. Maybe put them together tomorrow afternoon.
Kathy says
That's my plan! Merry Christmas!!!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I make an insanely huge Christmas breakfast every year but always serve sweet breads with it (pumpkin, cranberry orange, and lemon poppy seed). Forget the breads, I'm making your cinnamon rolls this year!
Kathy says
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas...and a scrumptious breakfast!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
I can picture your table and the aromas all around...just beautiful! And I'm with you - a glaze-girl all the way!
Kathy says
Just a touch of sweetness to bring out the cinnamon.
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
Cinnamon rolls are one of the my all-time favourite treats! These are beautiful! Perfect for Christmas day!
Kathy says
Perfect for Christmas...or any day!
GiGi Eats says
Cinnamon Rolls are like the anti-depressant in the food world!
Kathy says
No wonder I'm so happy! 🙂
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning sounds perfect! I can only imagine how delicious your house smells! The glaze is my favorite part!
Kathy says
The smell is the bonus you get when you make these!
Ashley says
Same here!! My parents (well, let's be honest, my mom) always made them as a treat for Christmas and it's a tradition I still adore today! These look delicious!
Kathy says
I hope you get some delicious cinnamon rolls this Christmas!
geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
I love cinnamon rolls but have never made them. Will definitely need to try now. Love how you've made them in to a round shape vs square. Your house must smell delicious when you make these, Kathy. Happy holidays!
Kathy says
The smell is very delicious! Happy Holidays to you too, Geraldine!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Homemade cinnamon rolls is a fabulous tradition! I would LOVE to wake up to these delicious babies.. only problem, I wouldnt want to share!! cheers, my friend!
Kathy says
Just make a double batch and you will have plenty for sharing!
David @ Spiced says
We have the same tradition in our house, Kathy! Except we do homemade coffee cake (topped with cinnamon crumble). I'm thinking we need to do both this year! 🙂
Kathy says
Coffee Cake and cinnamon rolls...I think that makes a complete meal!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Your Christmas breakfast sounds AMAZING! And I love that you can make these ahead, I don't want to be spending Christmas morning in the kitchen. I like a glaze on my cinnamon roll, and I am even ok with a thick frosting too 🙂
Kathy says
Glaze or frosting...your tastes are versatile. I'm just not a frosting gal on my cinnamon rolls.
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
Insanely jealous of your Christmas breakfast ~ that's it, I'm popping over. I love the ideas of homemade, real cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. I'm just envisioning the smell wafting out of my kitchen right now. Love cinnamon is desserts in particular as I'm hyperglyemic and cinnamon helps regulate my blood sugar. So I can eat them! Yay. But that doesn't mean I'm not coming to your house, 8 a.m. okay? Not kidding =) hehe. Merry Christmas.
Kathy says
8 a.m. is just perfect! Don't forget to bring gifts!