The Best Cinnamon Rolls {Extra Moist, Soft, and Fluffy}

The most irresistible soft, and fluffy cinnamon rolls! They're chewy, gooey, filled with delicious brown sugar and cinnamon filling, and generously slathered with tangy cream cheese icing.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Make the roux (tangzhong)

Step 2

In a small saucepan, whisk together bread flour and milk until free of lumps. Cook it over medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens like a pudding, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

Note: The roux is ready once the whisk leaves drag lines on the base of the pan, or when an instant-read thermometer reaches 65°C (149°F). Do not overcook.

Step 4

Scoop the roux into a mixing bowl. Let it cool for a bit, 15 minutes at room temperature or quicker in the chiller, as long as it’s not hot.

Step 5

Make the main dough

Step 6

Whisk the eggs and remaining milk into the cooled roux until the mixture is free of lumps. (Note: If using active dry yeast in place of instant yeast, only whisk the eggs into the cooled roux, and use the milk to activate the active dry yeast in the next step).

Step 7

In a stand mixer, combine 455 g / 16 oz of bread flour (save the balance and only add as much as you need to if needed later), instant yeast, sugar, and salt. Give it a good stir to mix well.

Step 8

Note: If using active dry yeast, sprinkle over the remaining milk that’s slightly warmed to 40°C /110°F (anything hotter than 46°C/115°F will kill the yeast). Allow the yeast to activate - it will look frothy and smell yeasty - a good sign! This may take about 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the temperature of the milk. Add this with the roux mixture and melted butter in the next step.

Step 9

Add the roux mixture and melted butter. Paddle the mixture on low speed until barely combined. Then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to allow the flour to absorb the liquids.

Step 10

Scrape the dough off the paddle and switch it out for a dough hook. Start the mixer at medium speed and knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 -7 minutes.

Step 11

Important tip: The dough should feel tackyNote 4 and leave the sides of the bowl mostly clean with bits still sticking to the sides, but the dough will stick to the bottom - this is OK! Do not be tempted to add more flour at this point. If you touch the dough and bits of it stick to your fingers, this is the time to add a bit more flour, 1 - 2 tbsps at a time, and knead it in for a minute to allow the dough to absorb it, and check again. Stop when it feels sticky but you can pull away your fingers cleanly.

Step 12

Test for 'windowpane': Lightly grease your fingers and palms with some oil, take a small ball of dough and gently stretch it. The dough is ready for proofing when it can be stretched to a thin, translucent layer (‘windowpane’) without breaking. Otherwise, knead for a few more minutes and test again.

Step 13

First rise: Gather the dough into a ball and place it in a large greased mixing bowl. Cover with a clean tea towel and place in a warm area. Let it rise for 25 - 30 minutes or until doubled in volume.

Step 14

Make the cinnamon roll filling

Step 15

While the dough is proofing, stir together brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in a large mixing bowl until well mixed. Mix in the softened butter with a spatula until well combined.

Step 16

Alternative method: Mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, but leave out the butter.

Step 17

Make the rolls

Step 18

Roll out the dough: Once doubled in volume, overturn the bowl to tip out the dough. Lightly flour the countertop (or a pastry mat) and rolling pin. Roll the dough into a rectangle measuring 24" x 15" (60 x 38 cm).

Step 19

Note: The dough will be thin when rolled flat to the suggested size - this is OK. You also don't need to be exact here - so long as you get a good rectangular size to work with.

Step 20

Spread the filling: With a rubber spatula, spread the cinnamon roll filling over the rectangular dough, leaving 0.5"/1-cm on one of the long edges clean. Brush this clean edge with some water to help seal the end when you complete the roll.

Step 21

Alternative method: Spread the softened butter all over the dough with a rubber spatula, leaving 0.5"/1-cm on one of the long edges clean. Then sprinkle the cinnamon mixture, covering the butter evenly. Brush the clean edge with water.

Step 22

Shape into rolls: Starting on the long edge, roll up the dough tightly, Swiss-roll style. Cut a bit off both ends of the roll. Then cut into 12 rolls.

Step 23

Tip: Use a sharp, non-serrated knife or dental floss. To get 12 equal rolls, cut the long roll into two halves. Again, halve each of the 2 rolls so you now have 4. Then cut each of the 4 rolls into 3 equal rolls, so you end up with 12.

Step 24

Second rise: Place the rolls in a greased 9" x 13" x 2" (23 x 33 x 5 cm) baking pan, spacing them a bit apart. Cover with a tea towel and proof in a warm place for 20 - 25 minutes.

Step 25

Bake the rolls

Step 26

While the rolls sit, preheat the oven to 190°C (374°F) Optional: Just before putting the rolls into the oven, warm the heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat. Heat only until the chill is off - not to the point of simmering/boiling. Pour over the top and all around the rolls. Allow the cream to soak in for 1 minute.

Step 27

Bake on the middle rack for 20 - 22 minutes or until the rolls have turned golden brown and the center ones are cooked through. Once out of the oven, let the rolls cool completely in the pan.

Step 28

Note: Baking times will vary, depending on the size of the rolls, the type and size of baking pan used, how the rolls are packed in, the type of oven, etc. Check at the 20-minute mark and if the rolls are not all baked through, extend the baking time by 3 - 4 minutes.

Step 29

Make the cream cheese frosting

Step 30

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle or using handheld beaters, beat softened cream cheese and butter at medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Step 31

Beat in the salt (omit if using salted butter), vanilla extract or lemon juice, and icing sugar. until smooth, about 1 minute. Set aside.Note 3

Step 32

Frost the cinnamon rolls

Step 33

Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled rolls (I personally like the frosting a bit melty and spread them over slightly warm, not hot, rolls so it melts into the gaps in between the folds. For a thicker finish, set aside some frosting to spread over the rolls once more when they've completely cooled.)

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