How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a delicious treat for breakfast or any time. Baking your own is easy and the aroma throughout your house will be delicious. You can make both traditional rolls or healthy variations with this guide; the first variation is plain cinnamon, the second variation allows for the addition of walnuts and raisins and has a different glaze and is a little bit healthier.

This recipe serves approximately 6 –8 people; preparation time is around 20 minutes, with 2 hours rising and baking time.

Ingredients

Plain Cinnamon

2 ¹⁄₂ cups (590 ml) flour
25 g / 5 teaspoons fresh yeast or 8.5 g / 1/2 tablespoon of dry yeast
70 g / 2 ½ oz (5 tablespoons) melted butter
1 cup (240 ml) milk
75 g / 5 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1 pinch salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
200 g / 1 cup brown sugar
85 g / 3/4 stick of butter, kept at room temperature
Egg wash – 1 egg with 2 tbsp milk beaten together
1 handful flour for extra dusting

Raisins and Walnuts

2 tablespoons / 30 g sugar
1 teaspoon / 5 g salt
2 3/4 cups / 650 g bread flour
2 teaspoons / 10 g active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm / 60 milliliters (2 fl oz) (not hot) water
1 egg
1/4 cup / 60 g butter
7/8 cup / 200 ml milk
1/4 / 60 g cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
1/4 cup / 60 g raisins (optional)
Filling: 1 tbsp / 15 g cinnamon, 1 tbsp / 15 g melted butter, 2 tsp / 10 g icing/powdered sugar.
Sugar Glaze [1 cup / 235 g sifted powdered (confectioner) sugar, 2 tbsp / 30 g butter, softened not melted, 1/2 tsp / 5 ml vanilla extract]

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Plain Cinnamon

1
Add the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, eggs, milk, and butter into the bowl of your mixer. Start the mixer slowly until the ingredients start to combine.
- Mix the ingredients on low for 5 minutes until the dough becomes shiny in appearance. If the dough looks too wet, add about 2 tablespoons more of flour to the bowl and mix again.
2
Turn off the mixer. Scrape the dough from the hook.

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3
Knead the dough. Place your dough inside a bowl you have lightly floured and begin spreading it out with your palms, folding it back in on itself and spreading it out again. Add flour as needed.
- Return the dough to the bowl.
- Cover it and let it rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled its size.
4
Make the filling. While the dough is rising, place the brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter into a small mixing bowl. Mix with a spoon until combined, and set it aside.
5
Preheat the oven to 190°C/ 375ºF.
6
Roll the dough. Once the dough has risen, remove the cover and punch the air out of the dough.
- Sprinkle a flat, clean work surface with flour and place the dough on it. Sprinkle the dough with some flour.
- Roll out the dough to a 1/2 cm (1/5 inch) thickness, making sure there is enough flour to prevent it from sticking to the table.
7
Spread the filling on the dough.
- Carefully roll the dough into a log.
- Cut the roll into slices of about 3 cm (1.18") in thickness.
8
Place the sliced rolls on the greased baking tray or sheet, leaving enough space for the rolls to rise. Cover again and allow them to rise for 15-20 minutes.
9
Add the egg wash. Take the egg wash and using the pastry brush, paint each roll individually.
10
Put the tray into the oven. Let the rolls bake for 12-15 minutes.
11
Let the rolls rest for 10 - 15 minutes to cool.
- Your cinnamon rolls are now ready to serve! They can be eaten cold but they taste especially good warm. Try them both ways!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Raisins and Walnuts

This version can be made either in a bread machine or by hand. Instructions are provided for both.

1
Sift the flour three times. Measure 2 3/4 cups of flour from the final sifting.
2
If using a bread machine, do the following:
- Measure all ingredients into the bread pan, placing the wet ingredients in first. Make a "well" or indented spot for the yeast on top of all the other ingredients. Place the bread pan into the bread machine.
- Select dough setting.
- Press start/stop
- When the time reaches 0:00, press start/stop and remove the dough.
3
If making by hand, do the following:
- Mix all dry ingredients, except yeast in a large bowl after sifting and measuring the flour.
- Combine water, yeast, milk, and egg together in a bowl until well blended.
- Add egg mixture to dry ingredients.
- Add butter.
- Add any extra ingredients (see "Tips").
- Stir until mixture is smooth and slightly sticky.
4
Work with the dough. The remaining steps apply for both methods.
- Place dough into a clean bowl and knead it, using oiled or floured hands to move the dough around several times.
- Cover the dough and let it sit in a warm or room temperature spot for at least 30 minutes. The dough should double in size before shaping. A clean tea towel makes a good cover.
5
Mix the filling ingredients together in a bowl while you wait and set aside. Lightly grease baking pans while waiting.
6
Preheat your oven to 375* F / 190* C.
7
Place dough on a clean, lightly floured surface. Punch the dough down with clean hands. Place down on the surface and pound down or roll out until you get the shape of an even rectangle.
8
After it forms a rectangular shape, apply the melted butter to one side of the dough. Brush on or apply with another tool. Make sure it's evenly applied and use all of the butter. Apply cinnamon evenly coated and then add the sugar on top.
9
Roll it up evenly from the longest side and roll down towards you. You should have a long cylinder.
- Cut the dough up into pieces. You may get about 6 to 8 pieces, using the ends as well. Place in the lightly greased baking pan(s).
- Cover and let rise about 20 minutes, and preheat the oven about 10 minutes prior to adding the rolls.
10
Bake in the oven at 375ºF / 190ºC for 20 to 25 minutes.
11
Mix the sugar glaze ingredients together while you wait. For every 1 cup of sugar, add 1 tablespoon and a 1/2; for 2 cups you need 3 tablespoons of milk. If you need more milk to make it soupier, feel free to add more, but only add a little bit in at a time. Blend until smooth.
- Spread or drizzle the glaze over the rolls after you take them out of the oven. Enjoy!
12
Finished.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

1
Spread butter over a piece of bread.
2
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the butter and bread.
3
Roll the bread the short way.
4
Cut three or four pieces of the bread.
5
Put the pieces on a plate.
6
Repeat for however many rolls you want to make.
7
Put the plate in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. It seems like not enough time, but, honestly, it's a little too much time.
8
If you have glaze around, you can drizzle that over the rolls.
9
Serve and enjoy!

Community Q&A

Question

Can I use oil instead of melted butter?

Ruah

Community Answer

Yes, you can use oil as a substitution for butter. Any oil will work for this recipe.
Question

Can I use soy milk instead of normal milk?

Community Answer

Yes. The texture may differ a bit, but it should still look and taste basically the same.
Question

Would it taste different if adding a little bit of brown sugar?

Ann Hupe

Community Answer

To the sophisticated taste buds, yes, there is a flavor difference, and brown sugar makes it taste better!