Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Glaze (Printable)

Soft, fluffy spiraled buns filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with creamy vanilla glaze. Ideal for breakfast or treating yourself.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet active dry yeast (2¼ teaspoons)
03 - 1 cup whole milk, lukewarm
04 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
05 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1 large egg, room temperature
07 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Filling

08 - ½ cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
10 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Glaze

11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
13 - ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Combine lukewarm milk and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until mixture becomes frothy and bubbly.
02 - Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add melted butter, egg, and activated yeast mixture. Stir until dough begins to form.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
04 - Punch down risen dough and roll into a 16x12 inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
05 - Spread softened butter evenly over dough surface. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle mixture over buttered dough.
06 - Starting from the long side, tightly roll dough into a log. Slice into 12 equal pieces using a serrated knife or dental floss.
07 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy and noticeably expanded.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
09 - Bake rolls for 22–25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - While rolls cool slightly, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle glaze generously over warm rolls before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dough rises into these impossibly tender pillows that make store bought rolls seem like they were made with actual cardboard
  • That moment when the cinnamon sugar caramelizes against the pan creating these sticky gooey edges that everyone fights over
  • The glaze transforms into this crackly sugary shell that gives way to vanilla infused softness underneath
02 -
  • Letting the dough rise in a slightly warm spot is crucial, and I once made the mistake of putting it near a drafty window which resulted in the saddest smallest rolls ever
  • Do not be tempted to slice the rolls before the second rise because they need that final puff to achieve maximum fluffiness in the oven
  • The glaze consistency matters immensely, and adding the milk one tablespoon at a time prevents you from ending up with a thin sugary soup instead of a proper glaze
03 -
  • Brush the baked rolls with a little extra melted butter right before glazing for an over the top finish that makes people think you have a culinary degree
  • The glaze should be applied while the rolls are still slightly warm so it melts into every crevice rather than sitting on top like a thick blanket
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