Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Take the stress out of the ultimate breakfast treat with an easy recipe for Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Few store-bought sweets captivate my attention like Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

There’s just something about the freshness factor of the cinnamony swirls, whether I spot them at a kiosk in my local mall, or smell the aroma of that classic frosting from 14 gates away at airports across America.

No matter the Cinnabon locale, I concede to my cravings, approach the counter, and greet the friendly face that’s rolling, filling, slicing and icing cinnamon roll after cinnamon roll after cinnamon roll. The rolls are fresh. I mean F-R-E-S-H fresh.

There’s only one other option when it comes to achieving that level of fresh: the DIY route!

Are homemade cinnamon rolls a labor of love? You bet! But with a few simple tricks for how to successfully start and then stop the prep, you can in fact master Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls, a.k.a. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls.

Check out the swirled beauties below. They’re all ready for stashing in your fridge, which means you’re 90% of the way there.

Then all that’s left to do in the morning is pop them into the oven and start sippin’ on your mimosa while you whip up the topping.

Warm cinnamon rolls, meet the lightest, tangiest cream cheese frosting to ever slather your buns.

And that right there is a big-time breakfast win. Cinnamony, swirly, buttery, better-than-Cinnabon perfection.

To really master DIY dough, tune in below to discover the surprising place where I proof my cinnamon roll dough!

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Top down view of Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

For the cinnamon roll dough:

1
cup
whole milk
1/2
cup
(1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2
cup plus 1 Tablespoon
sugar, divided
2 1/2
teaspoons
(one 3/4-oz. packet) active dry yeast
4 1/4
cups
all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
2
large eggs, at room temp
1
teaspoon
cinnamon
1
teaspoon
kosher salt

For the filling:

3
Tablespoons
unsalted butter, melted
1
cup
packed light brown sugar
1/4
cup
sugar
1 1/2
Tablespoons
cinnamon

For the cream cheese frosting:

2
teaspoons
vanilla extract
1
(8-oz.) package cream cheese, at room temp
1/2
cup
(1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
2
Tablespoons
buttermilk
1/4
teaspoon
kosher salt
1 1/3
cups
confectioners’ sugar

Make the cinnamon roll dough:

Warm the milk and butter on the stovetop or in the microwave until it is warm but not hot to the touch (it should be below 110°F). Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and the yeast to the milk, stirring to combine, then set it aside for 5 minutes.

In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, mix together the flour, cinnamon, salt and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Add the yeast mixture and eggs and mix for 8 minutes until dough is smooth. (The dough will be slightly tacky.) Place the dough in a clean, greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm, dark place to proof until it has doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

Lightly flour your work surface then scrape the dough out, and using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle that is 1/4-inch thick.

Brush the melted butter generously over the dough.

In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, sugar and cinnamon then sprinkle it atop the melted butter. Starting at the long edge of the rectangle, roll the dough up into a tight log, then using a sharp knife, slice the log into 12 2-inch rounds.

Arrange the rounds in the prepared baking sheet (discarding any smaller ends). Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and place the baking sheet in a warm, dark place to allow the cinnamon rolls to rise a second time for about 30 minutes. (Note: This is the point at which you can cover the pan securely with plastic wrap and refrigerate the rolls overnight. Continue with the recipe as directed on the day of baking.)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake the cinnamon rolls for about 15 minutes or until they are pale golden. (Note: If you are baking the cinnamon rolls directly from the fridge, add about 10 minutes to your bake time.)

While the cinnamon rolls bake, make the cream cheese frosting.