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4.66 from 32 votes

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls Copycat

These cinnamon rolls are pillowy soft, ooey-gooey, and honestly better than Cinnabon cinnamon rolls! Topped with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting, my Cinnabon copycats beat the mall version every time!
Prep Time18 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Rise Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time2 hours 13 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Servings: 30 cinnamon rolls
Calories: 332kcal
Author: Eden Westbrook

Ingredients

Cinnamon Rolls

  • 6 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups whole milk scalded
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 4 ½ teaspoon 2 packets dry active yeast
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar for yeast
  • 8 cups all-purpose flour may need one additional cup
  • 2 large eggs

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temp
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 pack 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp
  • 1 stick 8 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened to room temp
  • 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice optional

Instructions

  • To Make Cinnamon Rolls
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add scalded milk, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and kosher salt and mix together on low speed using the paddle attachment. Let the mixture cool to a lukewarm temperature.
  • In a microwaveable measuring cup or bowl, warm the 1 cup of whole milk to 110-115 degrees F or 43-48 degrees C (no hotter or you'll kill your yeast), stir in the teaspoon of granulated sugar, and add your yeast to the bowl. Set aside. As the yeast proofs for ten minutes, it will bubble and foam up and smell strongly of yeast. That's how you know it's alive and ready to use.
  • Once the butter/milk mixture is cooled to lukewarm temperatures, add 2 cups of the all-purpose flour and the proofed yeast then mix well on low speed. Beat in the eggs until well combined.
  • Add the remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring on low with the dough hook with each addition. Knead with the dough hook for 7-8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and not sticky when you press it lightly with your finger. If your dough seems very sticky while it's kneading add in another cup of flour, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough begins to pull away from the bowl and doesn't look wet.
  • Place the dough into a large, oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let double in size in a warm environment for up to one hour.
  • Mix the ground cinnamon, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
  • After the dough has risen, remove from the bowl and divide it in two.
  • Working with one half at a time, roll the dough into a large rectangular shape that's ¼ inch thick and about 20 inches in length.
  • Spread half of the softened butter over the dough, leaving a ½ inch border around the edges. Cover the butter evenly with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  • Roll the dough tightly letting the long part of the rectangle be the length of the cinnamon roll log. Cut the rolls about 2-3 inches thick using dental floss or thread (or a very sharp chef's knife).
  • Repeat last 3 steps with the other half of the dough.
  • Place the cinnamon rolls in two well-buttered 9 x 13 baking pans, leaving two inches or so of space between the rolls so they have room to rise. Cover the baking dishes with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise until double in size, for about 30-45 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes or until cinnamon rolls are golden brown on top and sound somewhat hollow when tapped with a butter knife.
  • Remove pans from oven and let rolls cool enough to touch.

To make cream cheese frosting:

  • Beat the room temperature cream cheese until smooth with no lumps in a stand mixer bowl or medium sized bowl on medium speed using an electric hand or stand mixer.
  • Once smooth, add the softened unsalted butter and mix until well combined.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar while mixing. Add in vanilla and lemon juice, if using. Beat for 5-7 minutes, or until the cream cheese frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Frost both pans of warm cinnamon rolls generously.
  • Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

How to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls 

Freezing unbaked cinnamon rolls: These are best frozen in those disposable aluminum pans so that you can just put the rolls in the pan and freeze. After you have cut the cinnamon roll log into pieces, put the rolls into the disposable pans, wrap the pans tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze them before the second rise. They'll last for about 1 month in the freezer.
To bake them, bring them to room temperature overnight and go through their second rise. Bake according to the recipe once risen. 
To freeze baked cinnamon rolls (frosted or unfrosted), place the cooled cinnamon rolls in freezer-safe zip top bags.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g