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Mini Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 127 reviews

These Mini Cinnamon Rolls are soft, fluffy, and bursting with a rich cinnamon sugar filling, topped with a creamy vanilla butter icing. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat, they are made from scratch using a yeast dough that rises beautifully, rolled tightly, and baked to golden perfection. The warm heavy cream added before baking keeps them extra moist and tender.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 1/3 cup milk
  • 6 tbsp salted butter
  • 1 tbsp yeast
  • 1/3 cup warm water
  • 3 tbsp + 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 4–5 cups flour
  • 2 tsp salt

Filling

  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, warm

Icing

  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Warm Milk and Melt Butter: Warm the milk in the microwave for 1 minute, then melt the salted butter and combine with the warm milk. Set this mixture aside to cool slightly.
  2. Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the yeast, warm water, and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly and foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
  3. Mix Dough Ingredients: Once the yeast is ready, add the milk and butter mixture into the mixer along with the remaining granulated sugar, eggs, 2 cups of flour, and salt (in that order). Use the dough hook attachment to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
  4. Add Remaining Flour: Gradually add 2 more cups of flour, mixing slowly, and then add more flour as needed until the dough is soft but not sticky when tapped with your finger. The dough should not stick to your finger.
  5. Let Dough Rise: Cover the dough and allow it to rise in a warm place for 1 hour until it has doubled in size.
  6. Prepare Work Surface and Roll Dough: Flour your counter and gently transfer the risen dough. Flip it once to coat all sides with flour. Roll the dough out into a 15 by 24-inch rectangle.
  7. Apply Filling: Brush the dough with melted butter, leaving about a 1/2 inch border unbuttered on the long edges. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the butter, then sprinkle the cinnamon on top. Press the cinnamon and sugar mixture lightly into the dough using a rolling pin.
  8. Cut and Roll Strips: Cut the dough lengthwise in half using a pizza cutter, then cut into 1-inch strips. Starting in the middle of each strip, roll towards the unbuttered edge, brushing a little water on the plain dough to help it seal. Roll tightly to form each mini roll.
  9. Arrange Rolls and Preheat Oven: Place the rolls seam side down on a greased cookie sheet, fitting 5 rolls across and 6 down. Cover and place in a warm spot to rest while the oven preheats to 375°F.
  10. Add Cream and Bake: Once the oven is preheated, pour the warmed heavy cream over the cinnamon rolls. Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
  11. Prepare Icing: While rolls are baking, cream the salted butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time, alternating with enough heavy whipping cream to blend it smoothly. Mix in vanilla extract thoroughly, and adjust cream to your desired icing consistency.
  12. Frost and Serve: Once the cinnamon rolls are warm out of the oven, frost them generously with the prepared icing. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Make sure the milk and butter mixture is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
  • The dough should be soft and slightly sticky but manageable; adjust flour quantity accordingly.
  • Allowing the rolls to rest before baking helps develop a tender crumb.
  • Pouring warm heavy cream over the rolls before baking keeps them moist and rich.
  • Adjust the icing thickness by adding more or less heavy cream to suit your preference.
  • You can store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
  • Reheat gently before serving to restore softness.

Keywords: Mini Cinnamon Rolls, cinnamon rolls, breakfast pastry, sweet rolls, homemade cinnamon rolls, easy cinnamon rolls, yeast dough rolls

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/mini-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/