Soft Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls

The school hallway smelled faintly of coffee and freshly printed flyers the morning the PTA announced a weekend breakfast fundraiser. Parents stood in small circles comparing schedules, kids rushed past with backpacks, and someone mentioned the event needed homemade baked goods. A teacher nearby joked that cinnamon rolls would disappear faster than anything else on the table. That comment stayed in my head all the way home.

Later that evening, my neighbor stopped by to return a baking dish and mentioned her family was visiting for the weekend. At the same time, my kids were already planning Saturday morning cartoons and asking for something special for breakfast. Between the fundraiser and the promise of a cozy weekend morning, cinnamon rolls felt like the perfect answer.

By sunrise the next day, the kitchen filled with the scent of rising dough and warm cinnamon. My daughter carefully spread the cream cheese filling while my son insisted on being in charge of the glaze drizzle. When the rolls came out of the oven, golden and soft, the whole house gathered around the counter before I even called anyone to the table.

Short Description

Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls are soft homemade rolls filled with cinnamon sugar and creamy vanilla cream cheese, finished with a sweet glaze.

Key Ingredients

For the dough

• 3½ cups all purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2¼ tsp instant yeast
• ¾ cup warm milk
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp salt

For the cream cheese filling

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the cinnamon sugar filling

• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ cup softened butter

For the glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tbsp milk or cream
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Tools Needed

• Large mixing bowl
• Rolling pin
• Baking dish
• Hand mixer
• Whisk

Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the dough
In a large bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add melted butter, egg, salt, and flour. Mix until soft dough forms. Knead 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Step 2: First rise
Place dough in greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled in size.

Step 3: Prepare the fillings
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon.

Step 4: Roll and fill
Roll dough into a 14×10 inch rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture, then gently spread cream cheese filling across the surface.

Step 5: Roll and slice
Roll dough tightly from the long side into a log. Slice into 10 to 12 rolls using a sharp knife or dental floss. Arrange in greased baking dish.

Step 6: Second rise
Cover and let rolls rise 30 minutes until puffy.

Step 7: Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 22 to 25 minutes until lightly golden and cooked through.

Step 8: Glaze and serve
Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over warm rolls before serving.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect for weekend breakfasts or brunch gatherings

Soft texture with creamy filling

Budget friendly ingredients

Great make ahead option

Crowd pleasing flavor

Mistakes to Avoid & Solutions

Using hot milk
Heat can kill the yeast.
Solution: Milk should feel warm but not hot.

Skipping kneading
Dough may become dense.
Solution: Knead until smooth and elastic.

Overfilling rolls
Filling may leak during baking.
Solution: Spread thin, even layers.

Cutting uneven slices
Rolls bake unevenly.
Solution: Use dental floss for clean cuts.

Glazing too early
Glaze melts and disappears.
Solution: Wait until rolls are warm, not hot.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

Serve warm with coffee or tea.

Pair with fresh fruit for brunch.

Arrange on platters for breakfast gatherings.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Store in airtight container up to 3 days.

Reheat in oven at 300°F for 8 minutes.

Freeze baked rolls up to 2 months.

FAQs

1. Can I prepare dough overnight?
Yes, refrigerate after first rise and bake next morning.

2. Can I freeze unbaked rolls?
Yes, freeze after slicing and thaw before baking.

3. Can I use active dry yeast?
Yes, increase rise time slightly.

4. Can I add nuts?
Chopped pecans or walnuts work well.

5. How do I keep rolls soft?
Store covered to prevent drying.

Tips & Tricks

Use dental floss for clean slicing.

Let dough rise in warm draft free area.

Add pinch of nutmeg for extra spice.

Recipe Variations

Orange Glaze Version: Replace milk with orange juice in glaze for citrus flavor.

Chocolate Chip Version: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over filling before rolling.

Pumpkin Spice Version: Add ½ tsp pumpkin spice to cinnamon mixture.

Caramel Version: Drizzle caramel sauce before serving.

Final Thoughts

These rolls turn simple mornings into cozy kitchen moments and make busy weekends feel a little slower. Their soft layers and creamy filling never last long once the baking dish hits the table.

Passing them along to neighbors and bringing them to community gatherings always leads to recipe requests and happy messages later. Seeing the pan empty and hearing talk about making them again keeps this recipe in regular rotation.