Cinnamon Rolls are a weekend favorite in our house—soft cinnamon rolls topped with a cream cheese frosting. Bread machine or not – this recipe is simple to make.

Learn how to make the cinnamon roll dough in your bread machine. No bread machine? No worries! Trust me you’ll want to make a batch every weekend.

single cinnamon roll with frosting

To make these easy cinnamon, I use a bread machine. If you don’t have a bread machine, don’t worry you can still make these. But the bread machine sure does make it easier. Soft cinnamon rolls topped with a decadent frosting are easy to make; they will not last long!

This recipe for homemade cinnamon rolls is a classic, partly because it is one of my family’s favorite recipes. Whether it’s the sweet, creamy frosting or mouth-watering rolls, it’s bound to be your family favorite, too.

overhead shot of baking pan filled with frosted cinnamon rolls

Using a bread machine makes this recipe a breeze. The machine does all the hard work in mixing and kneading the bread, freeing you up to do other things. When it’s ready it’s as simple as rolling out the dough, adding the filling, and slicing it. Bread machine cinnamon rolls are the easiest way to make this favorite breakfast treat.

Life is good when you eat cinnamon rolls (yes … plural not singular)! Here in Fort Collins, CO there are plenty of places to get a good cinnamon roll. BUT there is nothing like a homemade one, especially when you use this bread machine recipe. Baker beware: this pan will disappear as soon as it is frosted.

single frosted cinnamon rolll on wooden plate

Ingredients

For the dough, it’s as easy as placing all of the ingredients in the machine. Be sure to add the ingredients in the order listed for best results.

Instant pudding mix is my special ingredient – it adds a wonderful vanilla flavor to the dough but it also gives the rolls a perfectly soft and tender texture.

  • Melted butter
  • Water
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix
  • Milk
  • Beaten egg
  • Sugar 
  • Salt
  • Bread flour
  • Active dry yeast

How to Make Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Dough

For the dough, it’s as easy as placing all of the ingredients in the machine. Be sure to add the ingredients in the order listed for best results.

photo showing ingredients in the bread machine

I recommend using bread flour for this recipe – it makes the best cinnamon rolls because your rolls will be softer and fluffier. If you only have all-purpose flour it will work, but the texture will be a little different.

For the yeast, be sure to check the expiration date on the package. If it’s expired you don’t want to use it because it might not work properly. You want the dough to rise and puff up so double check before you make the rolls.

Once you have all of the ingredients in the machine, just follow the instructions for your model. The machine will mix, knead and proof the bread with no work required from you.

photo of the finished dough in the machine

No Bread Machine, No Problem

  • Just whisk together yeast, 1 cup flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Add milk, water, and butter to a measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl. Heat it up until it’s warm (between 120-130°F), making sure it’s not too hot to touch.
  • Combine milk and butter mixture with dry ingredients, add one egg, stir until smooth. Mix in remaining flour until fully incorporated.
  • Tip Mix the dough on a floured surface until it’s smooth and stretchy. Let it chill for 10-30 minutes, loosely covered with a kitchen towel.. 4
  • Next, just follow the rest of the recipe directions.

Baking Cinnamon Rolls

Turn the dough onto a work surface and roll it into a rectangle approximately 17×10 inches.

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon add the melted butter and stir to combine. Spread butter and cinnamon mixtures over the dough.

Roll the dough tightly, starting with one long end. Pinch the edges closed after it’s rolled up. Slice dough into 1/2 inch thick slices (I do a little thicker as I like my rolls bigger). Place into a greased 9×13 baking dish.

 Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let them rise until they have doubled in size. Then bake them in a preheated oven, at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Add your Frosting

I can’t imagine a cinnamon roll without a generous slather of cream cheese frosting on top. Here’s what you need to make it:

  • Softened cream cheese
  • Softened butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Milk

Mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and then spread it over the hot rolls.

Serve them warm from the oven with all that decadent frosting on top. They truly are one of our favorite ways to celebrate the weekend whether it’s for a holiday or just an average Saturday. My kids give it five enthusiastic stars – they just love all the drippy frosting. I know you will love this recipe, too.

Recipe Tips

  • Can I make the dough in advance? Once the dough has finished the cycle in the bread machine you can refrigerate it until you are ready to use it. It will continue to be proof in the refrigerator but at a much slower rate. Plan to use the dough within a few days. When ready, roll out the dough, add the filling, and slice the rolls. They may take longer to rise in the pan since the dough will be cold, so just account for that extra time.
  • You can also assemble the rolls and then pop them in the refrigerator until you can bake them. Because the filling may start to leak out, only keep the unbaked rolls in the fridge for one to two days and then bake them as instructed.
  • Suppose you want to make and assemble the rolls the night before you can do that, too. Just pop them in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, let them rise until they have doubled in size, and then bake as instructed.
  • Any leftover cinnamon rolls will be kept at room temperature for up to two days. Beyond that, they will start to dry out. Properly store them in an airtight container.

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collage image of homemade cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Prep: 1 hour
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 471 kcal
These Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting are a classic breakfast recipe. Easy to make and even easier to devour. They will not last long!
overhead shot of cinnamon rolls in pan froster

Ingredients
 

Rolls

  • 4 tablespoons butter melted
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups flour bread flour is preferred
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Filling

  • 10 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon

Frosting

  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon milk

Instructions
 

Rolls

  • Place ingredients as listed above in order into a bread machine. Set for dough cycle. 
  • After complete on dough cycle, remove from machine and roll out to a rectangle about 17×10 inches.

Filling

  • Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon add the melted butter and stir to combine. Spread butter and cinnamon mixtures over the dough.
  • Roll the dough tightly, starting with one long end. Pinch the edges closed after it’s rolled up. Slice dough into 1/2 inch thick slices (I do a little thicker as I like my rolls bigger). Place into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  • Let rise until doubled. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Do not overbake!

Frosting

  • Mix all ingredients together; spread over hot cinnamon rolls.

Video

Serving: 1rollCalories: 471kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 124mgFiber: 1gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 660IUCalcium: 66mgIron: 2.2mg
overhead shot of cinnamon rolls in pan froster
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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21 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These cinnamon rolls look incredible!! I love that you made them in the bread maker!!

  2. 5 stars
    I tried these easy cinnamon rolls over the weekend, and they were a delight! Soft, gooey, and packed with cinnamon goodness.

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