Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls are one of my favorite recipes of all time! I could eat a whole pan (and sometimes do)! We make these every Christmas and every special occasion for breakfast.

CINNABON CINNAMON ROLLS

I love making these rolls for breakfast because these can be made the night before and then just thrown in the oven in the morning while you open presents.

I always serve these cinnamon rolls with this yummy savory breakfast casserole to balance the sweetness which can also be prepared the night before.

Yes, these rolls taste so much like the original that the first time I made them I was almost giddy that I actually made THE “Cinnabon” rolls! Cinnabon’s cinnamon rolls are heavy on the cinnamon which I love.

I’ve learned over the years that you can even make them the night before and let them rise while you sleep! This is what I woke up to.

The other secret is to frost them with half the frosting right when they come out of the oven and with the other half after they’ve sat a couple of minutes.

That way the frosting kind of oozes down into all of the cracks.

Pictures don’t do these cinnamon rolls justice!

MAKE AHEAD

If you want to make these the night before, shape the rolls and cut then into slices and let them rise on the counter covered overnight. Bake in the morning according to the directions.

CINNAMON LEVEL

Cinnabon is known for their intense cinnamon taste. They use 2 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon which is a lot. If you’re not sure you can reduce it to 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

OTHER BREAKFAST RECIPES:

• French Toast recipe
• Cream Cheese Cinnamon Casserole
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
• Fluffy Pancakes
• Confetti Bacon Hash Brown Casserole
• Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Bake
• Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
• One-Pan Bacon, Egg, Potato Skillet

Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

4.64 from 109 votes

These Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls are one of my favorite recipes of all time! I could eat a whole pan (and sometimes do)!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 2 hours hrs

Rising Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 12 rolls

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons), (see note for Instant yeast substitution)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour or regular flour, (bread flour makes for a lighter cinnamon roll)

Filling:

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon, (see Note)
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened

Icing:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 - 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

 

• Microwave milk for 45-60 seconds in the microwave (about 110 degrees F). Dissolve yeast with a pinch of sugar in warm milk in a large bowl and let it bubble and react for about 5 minutes. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Knead dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour or with a stand mixer for about 5 minutes. Put in a bowl sprayed with cooking spray and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. *Our house is so cold I have a hard time getting things to rise. If I turn on the oven and then put the rolls on top of the stove, the oven generates enough heat for them to rise.
• In a small bowl, thoroughly combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Spray surface with cooking spray or sprinkle flour on it. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread dough with 1/3 cup softened butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough starting with the longer side and cut into 12 large rolls (or 18 smaller rolls). Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch glass baking dish (or you may need 2 dishes if you make smaller ones). Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30-60 minutes. If making the night before I let them rise covered with a dish towel on the counter overnight.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes or until center of the roll is cooked. Add more time if not cooked. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread half the frosting on them while they are still warm so that the frosting melts into the roll and the other half after they've sat for a couple of minutes. That's what the Cinnabon people do (I asked them). Makes 12-18 rolls.

Notes

Instant yeast substitution: If you are using instant yeast, reduce the yeast to  1 3/4 teaspoons of instant yeast and you do not need to proof the yeast, just add it to the dry ingredients.

If you want to make these the night before, shape the rolls and cut then into slices and let them rise on the counter covered overnight. Bake in the morning according to the directions.

Cinnabon is known for their intense cinnamon taste. 2 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon is a lot but if you're not sure you can reduce it to 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.
Source: my friend Amanda

Cuisine: American

Course: Breakfast

Author: Christy Denney

Christy Denney

Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!

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