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We’ve been making these melt-in-you-mouth overnight cinnamon rolls on the regular but there’s something new and wonderful about this recipe. Did you notice the fluffy cream cheese crown of irresistible decadence on the top? That my friends is the same frosting I used on my wildly popular pumpkin cake and it will change your life.
The part that touches the cinnamon rolls melts a bit, sinking into every groove and the top stays whipped and gorgeous.
This is also an overnight cinnamon rolls recipe (meaning, there is a make-ahead option!) I’ve had so many curious folks asking if my maple cinnamon rolls would work overnight, so I’m sharing my tips and tricks (and it couldn’t be easier!). These are perfect for holidays, house guests, and you of course ;).
I’ll always remember the first time I brought a batch of my cinnamon rolls to my sister’s house and how quickly they were eaten by the children (and my sister!). They’ve been in high demand ever since ;).
Ingredients for Overnight Cinnamon Rolls:
1 cup warm milk (not hot)
1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast (we use Red Star Brand)
4 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
3 cups (plus 2 to 4 Tbsp) all-purpose flour *measured correctly, divided (*see notes below)
1 large egg, room temp
2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted (1 Tbsp for batter and 1 Tbsp to grease pans)
1/2 tsp salt
For the Cinnamon Roll Filling:
7 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened, divided (6 Tbsp for filling and 1 Tbsp to brush tops)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
How to Make the Best Overnight Cinnamon Rolls:
1. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, add 1 cup warm milk and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbsp yeast. Let sit uncovered for 7 minutes at room temp. Add 1/2 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar and whisk until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 35-45 min (or in a 100˚ oven for 25 min). It will look puffy (**See Important Note Below).
2. Whisk in 1 egg, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp melted butter and 1/2 tsp salt.
3. Using the dough hook on speed 2, add remaining 2 1/2 cups flour (1/2 cup at a time) letting it blend with each addition. Add more flour 1 Tbsp at a time just until dough is no longer sticking to fingertips or the walls of the bowl as it mixes then knead/mix for 10 min. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp 2 hours (or in a 100˚ oven for 1 hr). Dough should double in size.
4. Generously dust flour over a clean work surface and place dough in the center. Sprinkle dough with flour (just enough to keep the rolling pin from sticking) and roll into even 17″x10″ rectangle. Dot the top of dough with 6 Tbsp softened butter and spread it out gently with a spatula.
5. Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon and sprinkle ALL OF IT evenly over buttered dough. Roll the dough up starting with one of the longer sides, keeping a tight roll. Once it’s rolled up, push ends in slightly to make them a little more uniform then slice into 12 equal sized cinnamon rolls.
This tip is GOLD: use unflavored floss to prevent squishing your rolls. Slide it under the roll, then bring it up, cross it at the top and pull both ends to cut through the roll easily then repeat.
6. Butter sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter and evenly space cinnamon rolls in pan, cut-side down. If making overnight cinnamon rolls, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate (up to 18 hours). Remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or in a 100˚F oven for 35 min) or until puffy.
7. Brush tops with 1 Tbsp melted butter and bake at 350˚F for 22-24 mins or until tops are light golden brown. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then frost warm buns generously with the cream cheese glaze (instructions below).
How to Make Cream Cheese Icing:
1. Using an electric mixer, cream together 4 Tbsp softened butter, 4 oz soft cream cheese and beat on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Beat in 1/2 Tbsp vanilla then add 1 cup powered sugar and continue mixing until fluffy (3-4 min), scraping down the bowl as needed.
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for Overnight Cinnamon Rolls:
- 1 cup warm milk, not hot
- 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast
- 4 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided* (plus 2 to 4 Tbsp)
- 1 large egg, room temp
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted, divided
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the Cinnamon Roll Filling:
- 7 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened, divided
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
For the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioners, powdered sugar
Instructions
How to Make Overnight Cinnamon Rolls:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, add 1 cup warm milk and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbsp yeast. Let sit uncovered for 7 minutes at room temp. Add 1/2 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar and whisk until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 35-45 min (or in a 100˚ oven** for 25 min). It will look puffy.
- Whisk in 1 egg, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp melted butter and 1/2 tsp salt.
- Using the dough hook on speed 2, add remaining 2 1/2 cups flour (1/2 cup at a time) letting it blend with each addition. Add more flour 1 Tbsp at a time just until dough is no longer sticking to fingertips or the walls of the bowl as it mixes then knead/mix for 10 min. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp 2 hours (or in a 100˚ oven for 1 hr). Dough should double in size.
- Generously dust flour over a clean work surface and place dough in the center. Sprinkle dough with flour (just enough to keep the rolling pin from sticking) and roll into even 17″x10″ rectangle. Dot the top of dough with 6 Tbsp softened butter and spread it out gently with a spatula.
- Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon and sprinkle ALL OF IT evenly over buttered dough. Roll the dough up starting with one of the longer sides, keeping a tight roll. Once it's rolled up, push ends in slightly to make them a little more uniform then slice into 12 equal sized cinnamon rolls.***
- Butter sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter and evenly space cinnamon rolls in pan, cut-side down. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (up to 18 hours). The following day, remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or in a 100˚F oven for 35 min) or until puffy.
- Brush tops with 1 Tbsp melted butter and bake at 350˚F for 22-24 mins or until tops are light golden brown. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then frost warm buns generously with the cream cheese glaze (instructions below).
How to Make Cream Cheese Icing:
- Using an electric mixer, cream together 4 Tbsp softened butter, 4 oz soft cream cheese and beat on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Beat in 1/2 Tbsp vanilla then add 1 cup powered sugar and continue mixing until fluffy (3-4 min), scraping down the bowl as needed.
Notes
**Oven should not be hotter than 100˚F or you will cook and ruin the yeast.
***Use unflavored floss to prevent squishing your rolls. Slide it under the roll, then bring it up, cross it at the top and pull both ends to cut through the roll easily then repeat.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
The start of September is when I roll up my sleeves, pull out the baking tools and incorporate cinnamon in as many desserts as possible! I think it’s the best way to welcome Autumn :).
Q: Which food is the heart of Autumn for you?
I love all your recipes, the ingredients I mostly have in my cupboard and the instructions are clear. 👍❤️
Any idea how long I would have to bake this and at what temperature for a 8×8 glass baking dish? Thanks in advance!
Hi Samra, I haven’t tried this recipe in that size pan, but I recommend using THIS Adapt Baking Recipes to Fit Different Pan Sizes Guide.
I made these for the first time to great success! Everyone in the family loved them! I’ve heard about the instant mashed potato trick and will try that next time! Thanks for an excellent recipe!
I’ve been eyeing up trying these for MONTHS now and finally took the plunge. I was very nervous, as I’ve never made cinnamon rolls before. I followed the recipe exactly (more cinnamon next time, as I LOVE the cinnamon) and they turned out fantastically. My wife and kids loved them as well, with my wife fawning over the cream cheese frosting. Thank you so much!
Hi Nick! That’s so great to hear. Thank you for sharing.
They turned out great! They were a hit at the coffee party. I like that there’s less sugar and butter than other recipes I have used. Even a novice baker can’t go wrong with your instructions and photos. I added 3 tbsp of plain instant mashed potatoes to the dough; it makes for a fluffier bun. When I do an overnight rise, I place a paper towel loosely on top of the buns to absorb any condensation. But maybe it’s my fridge.
I usually make these on Easter (the past 3 or 4 years). This year I’m late making them but my kids won’t let me skip out on it completly. I made a huge mistake and added 2 sticks of butter instead of 1Tbs… oops. I guess we’ll see how it turns out. I’m sure it will still taste good.
We made these for Easter, AMAZING. We always double fillings for cinnamon roll recipes, and did for this one as well. We are printing this to put in our favorites binder.
These are delicious! I made them several times over the holiday season. I need to make them a few days ahead of time for another event. Can I freeze these raw and bake later?
Hi Marie! I’m glad you love the recipe!
I haven’t tried freezing these, but I think it could work to freeze them fully assembled, then thaw and bake them. If time permits, I would thaw in the fridge overnight then follow the instructions in the post above: “Remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or in a 100˚F oven for 35 min) or until puffy.” I hope that helps
I want to make one batch for Saturday morning and one for Easter Sunday. I would like to make all the dough on Friday. How would I save the one batch of dough until Easter morning, the recipe says to only refrigerate for 18 hours?
Hi Emma, if you try to refrigerate the dough for longer than 18 hours, it can exhaust the yeast and your final rise will be flat and result in dry cinnamon rolls. For this reason, I recommend making this as overnight cinnamon rolls rather than 2 days ahead.
Emma, I made these for Christmas. I made them on Friday. Then cooked them on Sunday. No one says anything about dryness. I will say, I made a double batch of Natasha’s cream cheese frosting. That might have helped <3
I’ve been making these for years, they come out perfect and pillowy and delicious every time 🙂 I make a 1.5x batch for the frosting due to my perversions, but the recipe is faultless!!
Can I make this night before ?
I won’t have time to make it that morning.
Hi Joanna! You can follow my other recipe for Easy cinnamon rolls if you’d like to bake them on the same day. It takes about 2hrs.
Was CRAVING cinnamon rolls yesterday and made these so they’d be ready for breakfast this morning. Perfect. Five stars. 10/10 will make again.
These are so yummy! I’m so glad you loved them.
I made these Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve! Always a hit with the family. What changes would I need to make to have bake these same day? Without refrigeration?
Hi Susie! I’m so glad you loved them. You can use my Easy Cinnamon Rolls recipe for that.