Baking · serves 2

Cinnamon Rolls

A weekend morning that smells better than almost anything else you can bake.

150 min A proper cook Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 4 cups maida
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1 egg
  • 60g soft butter
  • Filling: 100g soft butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp cinnamon
  • Frosting: 100g cream cheese, 50g butter, 1 cup icing sugar

Method

  1. Enriched dough: mix, knead, butter in last, knead 10 minutes until smooth. Rise 1 hour.
  2. Roll into a large rectangle, 5mm thick.
  3. Spread the soft butter right to the edges, then brown sugar and cinnamon pressed in.
  4. Roll up tightly from the long side. Cut with dental floss or thread slid under and pulled — a knife squashes the spiral flat.
  5. Pack cut side up in a tin with gaps. Second rise 45 minutes until touching and puffy.
  6. 180°C for 25 minutes. Frosting spread on while still warm so it melts into the crevices.

Questions people ask about Cinnamon Rolls

How long does Cinnamon Rolls take?

About 150 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a proper cook. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of maida in Cinnamon Rolls?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Cinnamon Rolls ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Cinnamon Rolls vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Cinnamon Rolls?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Cinnamon Rolls?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

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