Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

If you’ve ever craved warm, gooey cinnamon rolls but shied away because you thought they took all morning to make, this Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe is about to become your new best friend. Imagine soft spirals of buttery dough, swirled with brown sugar and cinnamon, all crowned with a velvety glaze — and ready to pull from your oven in just sixty minutes from start to finish. Whether you’re whipping these up for a brunch, weeknight dessert, or just to treat yourself, there’s no reason something this delicious should take all day. This is the cinnamon roll recipe to keep in your back pocket for every craving!

Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe are simple pantry staples, but each one plays a crucial role in building flavor, achieving that pillowy texture, and creating the irresistible aroma you want wafting through your kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a few insider tips on why each is important.

  • Warm milk (1 cup, about 110°F): The warmth helps wake up the yeast, ensuring a soft and fluffy dough.
  • Active dry yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons or 1 packet): The secret to that classic cinnamon roll rise and tender bite.
  • Granulated sugar (¼ cup): Not just for sweetness, but also to help the yeast activate fully.
  • Egg (1): Adds richness and structure to the dough for a soft crumb.
  • Unsalted butter, melted (¼ cup): Gives the dough a buttery flavor and tender texture.
  • All-purpose flour (3 cups): Provides body — spoon and level for best results.
  • Salt (½ teaspoon): Brings out all the sweet, rich flavors and keeps the dough balanced.
  • Unsalted butter, softened (⅓ cup, for filling): The base for the gooey cinnamon interior.
  • Brown sugar, packed (½ cup, for filling): Delivers that classic caramel flavor and helps create a sticky, sweet swirl.
  • Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon, for filling): A must for that spicy, aromatic burst in every bite.
  • Powdered sugar (1 cup, for glaze): The foundation for your dreamy, drizzly glaze.
  • Milk (2 tablespoons, for glaze): Loosens the glaze for the perfect drizzle consistency.
  • Vanilla extract (½ teaspoon, for glaze): Rounds out the sweetness and heightens the flavor.

How to Make Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Start by combining your warm milk, yeast, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Give it a quick stir and let it sit for five to ten minutes. You’re looking for it to get a bit foamy — that’s how you know your yeast is alive and well! When that sweet, slightly bread-like aroma starts drifting up, you’re on the right track.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

Next, add your egg, melted butter, all-purpose flour, and salt to the bowl. Stir everything together until a soft dough forms. If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, let it knead for five to seven minutes, or give it some love by hand. The dough should be smooth, stretchy, and just a bit tacky — kind of like the softest pillow!

Step 3: First Rest

Cover your bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rest for ten minutes. It won’t puff up a ton during this short time, but it’ll relax and be much easier to roll out (and this is the secret to keeping things quick in the Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe).

Step 4: Prepare the Filling

While the dough is taking a breather, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Make sure your butter is soft enough to spread easily — this ensures every inch of dough gets the buttery treatment before you swirl in that aromatic, sugary cinnamon mix.

Step 5: Roll Out and Fill the Dough

Sprinkle your counter with flour and roll the dough out into a rectangle about 14 by 9 inches. Spread the softened butter generously over the entire surface, then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly. There’s no such thing as too much filling here!

Step 6: Roll Up and Slice

Starting from the long edge, roll the dough up tightly into a beautiful log. Use a sharp knife (or even dental floss for a super clean cut) to slice the roll into twelve even pieces. Each slice will reveal those irresistible cinnamon spirals.

Step 7: Second Rise

Place your rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving just a little space between each one. Cover the dish and let it rise in a warm spot for about twenty minutes, until the rolls are slightly puffed and cozy. Need to speed things up? Try the tip in the notes: a warm oven with a bowl of hot water creates the perfect steamy environment to help them along.

Step 8: Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Slide the pan in and bake for eighteen to twenty minutes until the rolls are golden brown and your kitchen smells absolutely dreamy. Keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake — you want the centers soft and gooey.

Step 9: Make the Glaze and Frost

As soon as the rolls come out, quickly whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for the glaze. While the cinnamon rolls are still warm, drizzle or spread the glaze all over so it seeps into every swirl. There’s nothing quite like watching the frosting melt into those freshly baked rolls.

How to Serve Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe - Recipe Image

Garnishes

To really make your Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe special, try a sprinkle of extra cinnamon on top after glazing, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a quick zest of fresh orange peel for citrusy brightness. If you want to get decadent, a handful of toasted pecans or walnuts add a lovely crunch and nutty flavor.

Side Dishes

Serve these warm cinnamon rolls alongside a bowl of fresh berries or a fruit salad for a refreshing contrast. They also pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, chai, or frothy cappuccino, making breakfast or brunch feel like a cozy café experience right at home.

Creative Ways to Present

Arrange your cinnamon rolls in a spiral pattern on a big serving platter for a showstopping centerpiece at brunch. Stack them on a cake stand and drizzle extra glaze right before serving, or serve individually on small plates with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top dessert. For festive occasions, tie a pretty ribbon around the baking dish and gift a batch to a friend or neighbor — they’ll thank you!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you somehow manage to have leftovers, store your cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to five days. They’ll stay soft and delicious, especially if you reheat them a bit before serving.

Freezing

These rolls freeze beautifully! Wrap cooled, unglazed rolls tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge, then glaze and warm before serving for that fresh-from-the-oven taste.

Reheating

To refresh cinnamon rolls, pop individual rolls in the microwave for 15–20 seconds, or warm larger batches in a 300°F oven covered with foil for about 10 minutes. Add a touch of extra glaze if you like — no one will ever guess they weren’t just baked!

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, fill, roll, and slice it the night before. Place the unbaked rolls in the baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Let them rest at room temperature for about 30–45 minutes before baking fresh in the morning.

What if I don’t have active dry yeast?

You can use instant yeast in the Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe, just be sure to skip the proofing step and mix it right in with the flour. The dough may rise a bit faster, so keep an eye on it.

Can I add nuts or raisins to the filling?

Definitely! Chopped pecans, walnuts, or even raisins can be added to the cinnamon-sugar mix for a little crunch or chew. Just sprinkle them evenly over the buttered dough before rolling it up.

Why didn’t my rolls rise?

Check that your yeast isn’t expired and that your milk was warm (but not hot) to properly activate it. Also, give your rolls a warm, draft-free space to rise — using the slightly warm oven trick can work wonders!

Can I double this Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe?

Yes! Simply double all the ingredients and use two 9×13-inch pans. It’s the perfect way to feed a hungry brunch crowd or to make extra for freezing and sharing.

Final Thoughts

One bite of these soft, cinnamon-swirled rolls and you’ll never want to wait hours for bakery-style cinnamon rolls again. The Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe is the quickest road to fresh, homemade comfort food — and it’s as fun to make as it is to eat. So preheat your oven and treat yourself or loved ones to a batch; you’ll be amazed at how easy and rewarding from-scratch baking can be!

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Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls Recipe


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4.6 from 16 reviews

  • Author: admin
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 rolls 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls are a quick and delicious treat perfect for breakfast or dessert. With a soft, fluffy dough and sweet cinnamon filling, topped with a vanilla glaze, these homemade rolls are sure to be a hit with your family.


Ingredients

Scale

Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the filling:

  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

For the glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add egg, melted butter, flour, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms.
  3. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
  5. Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a 14×9-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
  6. Roll tightly from the long edge and slice into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  8. Bake rolls for 18–20 minutes until golden brown. In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for the glaze.
  9. Drizzle over warm rolls before serving.

Notes

  • To speed up the rise, place the rolls in a slightly warm oven (turned off) with a bowl of hot water underneath.
  • These rolls are best served fresh but can be reheated gently in the microwave.
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 roll
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 16 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 42 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 35 mg

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