Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting

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Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

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Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting are everything good about fall baking. Buttery, sweet brown sugar frosting atop soft, fluffy, cinnamon-and-sugar-stuffed rolls; great for breakfast, brunch, holiday gatherings, and more. 

When you need to get your breakfast roll fix on, I’ve got your back. Try my Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls, Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, or my Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls With Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.

a cinnamon roll with brown sugar frosting with a bite missing and a fork on the side both on a plate.

This post is sponsored by Fleischmann’s® Yeast. All opinions are my own.

If there’s one thing I can’t get enough of, it’s cinnamon rolls. And the easier the better, like my Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. Pumpkin, red velvet, cinnamon toast, French toast, or eggnog; made in a slow cooker, overnight, or stuffed in apples; or in crepe, muffin, or dipper form, I cannot stop. I will not stop.

Really, there’s no reason to. Just writing about cinnamon rolls conjures up about five more ways to make them. (But I’ll save those for later.) Despite their specific shape and multi-layered taste, they aren’t that hard to make. My secret ingredient is Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast, because while I’m not going to stop making these rolls any time soon, I do like to speed up the process whenever possible and Fleischmann’s yeast certainly helps with that. In fact, it’s the only yeast I use when making breads, rolls, and even pizza crusts.

So if you were on the fence about making cinnamon rolls for the upcoming holidays (or any time, really), let this be the recipe to get you over to the other side. They will not disappoint even the pickiest guests or family members. No time for baking before breakfast? They make a great dessert too!

WHAT EXACTLY IS YEAST?

That’s a great question. We use so many ingredients without questioning, isn’t it fun to learn a little something once in a while?

Yeast is of utmost importance when making breads and doughs. It’s what makes the bread rise, after all. Yeast is a living organism. (Though saying that makes me feel a bit bad about it living in my pantry in a dark envelope.) When added to your flour, and given some warm water, it will eat the starches in the flour, developing the gluten and producing carbon dioxide. The C02 makes the gluten proteins expand in the flour and makes it expand and rise. Fascinating, right? Yeast also gives breads that yummy, well, “yeasty” flavor.

Without yeast in these rolls, you’d have a flat, cardboardy, hard mess of dough and sugar and cinnamon. I’d probably still eat it in all truthfulness because, well, sugar and cinnamon, but I wouldn’t enjoy it even half as much.

top view of cinnamon rolls with brown sugar frosting in a baking pan with packages of RapidRise yeast on the side.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN CINNAMON ROLLS ARE DONE?

If, after the 25-30 minutes I suggest for baking, you’re still not sure if these Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls are done, you can test them. Take them out of the oven first. Use a fork or a butter knife to gently lift up a roll in the center. If the dough is still looking a bit raw, but it back down in its spot and into the oven for another 5-10 minutes.

When they are done, they should all look golden brown on the top and centers all baked through. Nothing’s more disappointing than biting into a cinnamon roll and finding the center isn’t done. It’s not like cookies or brownies where you’d probably power through and still enjoy it. Raw bread dough isn’t so delicious when it’s not cooked thoroughly.

top view of cinnamon rolls with brown sugar frosting with some missing and a roll on a spatula in a baking pan.

WHAT KIND OF ICING IS GOOD ON CINNAMON ROLLS?

If you’d like other options for your cinnamon rolls, icing-wise, you’ve come to the right place. Use the recipe here for Brown Sugar Frosting or try any of these other delicious icings.

  1. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting
  2. Cream cheese frosting with eggnog
  3. Brown butter cream cheese frosting
  4. Maple glaze (used on my Easy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing)
  5. Almond glaze
  6. Cinnamon drizzle

If you haven’t added these Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting to your holiday baking list yet, what are you waiting for? They’re so delicious and easy to make thanks to Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast. Make them once and I promise you’ll be back for more!

top view of a hand lifting a cinnamon roll with brown sugar frosting with a spatula from a baking pan.
Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting | lecremedelacrumb.com
5 from 10 votes

Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Sugar Frosting

Quick-and-easy cinnamon rolls are so chock full of gooey cinnamon goodness you’ll never question what to make for breakfast again. These homemade cinnamon rolls only take about an hour to make — which makes them easier to have again and again!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Rising Time: 1 hour
Total: 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 12 cinnamon rolls
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Ingredients 

  • 4 ½-5 cups all-purpose flour
  • cup sugar
  • 2 packets Fleischmann's® RapidRise Yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 egg

Filling

  • cup sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons butter, very soft

Brown Sugar Frosting

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
  • ¼-⅓ cup heavy cream , (or milk)
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions 

  • Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large mixer bowl and stir until blended. Place water and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm but not too hot to touch. (Butter won't be completely melted) Add to flour mixture, then mix in the egg.
  • Mix the dough 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add 1 cup flour, mix 2 minutes at high speed, then stir in just enough remaining flour so that the dough will form into a ball.
  • Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Cover with a towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • To make the filling, stir together sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, set aside.
  • Roll the dough into a 15×10-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch gap from the edges. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture over buttered dough.
  • Beginning at the long end of the rectangle, tightly roll the dough into a log, pinching the seams to seal. Cut into 12 equal pieces, place pieces cut side down in a greased 9×13 inch pan. Cover with a towel and place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool 15 minutes before frosting.
  • To make the frosting, melt butter in a medium sauce pan and boil for 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, reduce heat to medium-low and boil for 2 minutes. Stir in milk, remove from heat and pour into a large bowl. Add milk and powdered sugar, whipping with an electric mixer medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Spread on cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Pro Tip: Double the filling portion if you love a really ooey gooey cinnamon roll!

Nutrition

Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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21 Comments

  1. Kim says:

    5 stars
    So easy, so delicious! You must try them! Thank you for a great recipe, this is a keeper!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Thank you for your review! 🙂 So glad you love them!

  2. Ariel says:

    Love the idea of the brown sugar frosting, however your instructions do not make sense. Says to add milk and powdered sugar twice. That doesnt seem right to me.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Sorry for the typo- it should be fixed now!

  3. Pam says:

    I would love to try this recipe but it is not showing up on your site. Thanks for any help!!

    1. Tiffany says:

      It is at the bottom of the page 🙂

  4. angela says:

    5 stars
    the first time I made this recipe, it was outstanding–the best i’ve ever made! when i went to re-make, I couldn’t remember if i added the 1/3 cup sugar listed in the ingredients to the yeast mixture at the beginning, as it’s nowhere in the instructions. can you confirm? thank you!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Angela! Sorry about that typo. The recipe is updated! The sugar goes in with the flour, yeast and salt!

  5. Cloe says:

    5 stars
    THIS RECIPE IS FANTASTIC! IT’S EASY TO FOLLOW AND DELICIOUS. THE BEST CINNAMON BUNS I’VE EVER EATTEN!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Yesssss! So happy to hear how much you enjoyed this recipe!

  6. hgf says:

    Nice response in return of this difficulty with firm arguments and describing the whole thing on the topic of that.

  7. Janet Herrera says:

    5 stars
    Very easy recipe to follow. Turned out great. Thank you!

    1. Tiffany says:

      You’re welcome!

  8. Slitherio says:

    I would love to have it for dessert. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

  9. Rosie says:

    Cinnamon rolls is one of my favorite! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  10. marilyn warren says:

    HI I want to make your cinnamon roll recipe but you refer to a packet of yeast. we live in the uk so could you please let me know what the weight of yeast is that you use. Either the total weight for the recipe or the weight per packet. I have had trouble enlarging the packets but it does look like 1/4ozs per packet but would prefer if you could confirm to me. many thanks

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Marilyn! You are correct- each packet is 1/4 oz.