These are the best Cinnamon Buns you’ll ever make! They are soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls, and have the best gooey caramel sauce in the bottom of the pan. They’re easy to make ahead and freezer friendly!
Can’t get enough Cinnamon Buns? Try this Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole recipe next!
Table of Contents
Cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon roll bites…. these are a few of my favorite things.
A few of my favorite things that I rarely ever make, because I know all too well what happens when they’re in my house. I could sit down and eat a dangerous amount of these Cinnamon Buns!
They are perfectly soft and fluffy, and my family’s top secret (not really) cinnamon bun sauce coats the bottom of the pan, taking them over the edge. The sauce really is the key to making these the best cinnamon buns you’ve ever had!
I’ve made some cinnamon roll recipes that have a simple butter and sugar mixture in the pan, and the end result is just sticky, and it firms up as it cools and it sticks all over your teeth and is, dare I say, almost an unpleasant experience.
This sauce is not like that. I know it’s an extra step, but let’s face it — you’re already spending a few hours committed to making cinnamon buns. Don’t start cutting corners now!
How to make Cinnamon Buns:
- Start with your dough: take your time, and read through the instructions carefully. You want to make sure that your water isn’t too warm or too cold, or it won’t activate the yeast. Thankfully, you can see if your yeast is blooming before you add it to your dough. If it doesn’t bubble and froth, then you may want to start again with a fresh packet of yeast.
- Let it rise: you don’t want to skimp on the rise time, as this is what makes your Cinnamon Buns fluffy and soft. I like to place my dough, covered, in the oven with the light on. It provides a warm, draft-free environment that is optimal for proofing dough.
- Roll it up tight: You want to try to keep the dough tight when you’re rolling so that alllllll of that sugary cinnamony goodness will stay inside and not leak out.
- Use the right knife: I prefer to use a serrated knife for slicing cinnamon rolls as there will be less squishing and your rolls will be rounder and hold in more of that cinnamon sugar filling.
How to store Cinnamon Buns:
On the counter:
The baked Cinnamon Rolls can be stored on the counter for 3-4 days without frosting. Because I use a cream cheese frosting, that can’t be left out.
If you want to store them at room temperature, simply leave the frosting in a container in the fridge and frost them only when serving.
In the refrigerator:
You can place your pan of rolled, unbaked cinnamon buns in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap, up to 24 hours before baking. Place in the refrigerator before the second rise.
When ready to bake, simply leave on the counter for 20-30 minutes while your oven preheats, then bake as directed.
You can refrigerate the baked cinnamon buns up to 1 week with frosting in the fridge. But I bet they won’t last that long 😉
How to freeze Cinnamon Buns:
You can freeze the prepared pan of unbaked cinnamon buns for up to 3 months, but I actually don’t recommend this because I’ve never found them as fluffy as baking them right away.
You can freeze the baked cinnamon rolls, with frosting, covered tightly, up to 3 months. This is the way I prefer to freeze them! You can also leave the frosting off, and reheat them gently in the oven at 225 degrees F for 20 minutes, and they will taste fresh out of the oven!
Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls or Cinnamon Buns:
There is really only one answer here: it’s gotta be cream cheese. The way the tanginess of the cream cheese complements the sweet, sticky, gooey sauce…. it’s just unreal. Crazy good.
If you want it to sink into all of those crevices, be sure to spread it on while the cinnamon buns are still warm and let it get a little melty all up on those rolls.
Since these are so ridiculously good, you can skip the frosting and just eat them as is, and I’m pretty sure you’ll have no complaints 😉
The Best Cinnamon Buns
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
Dough
- 1/2 cup warm water (between 105 and 110 F is best)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 package)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar 50g
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg room temperature
- 3-4 cups all purpose flour 500g
Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar 85g
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Filling
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar 128g
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 oz cream cheese room temperature (¼ package)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Cinnamon Bun Dough
- Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- In a medium bowl, combine milk, butter, sugar, and salt and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Whisk until butter is melted. Set aside until it is lukewarm in temperature.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or you can mix and knead by hand), combine milk mixture and yeast mixture. Stir in egg (be sure it is not cold!).
- With the mixer on low speed and the dough hook on, gradually add in just enough flour so that a soft dough ball forms. It should be soft and slightly tacky, but not sticky.
- Drizzle some oil over a large glass bowl. Place dough ball in bowl, and turn so that the dough is lightly coated in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a towel if desired. Let sit in a warm, draft-free place for 1.5 hours or until doubled in size (the inside of the microwave or the oven with the light on are great options!)
Cinnamon Bun Sauce
- Just before your dough is ready to roll, make the sauce.
- In a medium saucepan, combine cream, corn syrup, sugar and butter. Heat over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Lightly grease a 9×13″ pan and pour prepared sauce into the bottom. Set aside.
Cinnamon Bun Filling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Once the dough has risen, remove from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a roughly 12″ by 18″ rectangle (you can really make them as large or small as you want — a wider rectangle or square will give fewer, larger rolls. A long skinny rectangle will give more, smaller cinnamon buns).
- Spread butter over the dough and sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and cinnamon
- Roll the rectangle up tightly, starting at the long end. Pinch the dough together to form a seam at the end.
- Trim the ends and slice log in half. Slice each half in half, so you have 4 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 3 equal sections so you have 12 buns. Place in prepared pan on top of sauce.
- Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel or piece of plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 23-27 minutes, until light golden brown on top and bubbling at the edges.
- If desired, turn out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let the caramel sauce run down into the buns. (If you are frosting them, I recommend leaving the gooey sauce at the bottom).
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Add the vanilla and sugar and beat until combined and fluffy. If desired, add a touch more sugar for a thicker frosting.
- Spread over cinnamon buns. Serve warm.
Nutrition Information
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Jolin Dhillon says
These are hands down the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had! I use honey instead of syrup and it reminds me of a bee sting cake 🤤 Amazing job!
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear, thank you Jolin!
Shari Clough says
Thinking of doubling the recipe since my kids are home from college! We’d love extras! I usually would make cinnamon rolls and have one13x9 and two round pans!
The Recipe Rebel says
Enjoy!
Alyson R says
Made these today and they didn’t seem to rise a ton before baking. Your video you don’t show the rising step after rolling and slicing but in the recipe it states to do such. Just curious if I did something incorrectly. Also, you used dark corn syrup in the video, recipe doesn’t state light or dark. I used light today. Have you noticed a difference between light and dark??
The Recipe Rebel says
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Alyson. It would be really hard for me to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you. A few factors to why the buns don’t rise. It could be the yeast. Was it fresh? Did it proof correctly? During the rising time was the dough in a warm place? This helps with the first and second rise. The only difference you may see using light or dark is the color of the caramel topping when you flip them over. The light would give you a lighter color, the dark gives a darker color. This won’t affect how your buns rise. Hope this helps!
Kiran matharu says
Hello! How can i make these ahead of time overnight and bake in the morning? Thank you
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kiran! Yes you can! I’ve written about it a little in the blog post! Hope you enjoy them!
Barbara Lochmondy says
Can I do steps 1-4 of the dough portion in my bread maker on the dough setting? (Recipes for bread makers would be appreciated!)
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Barbara! I’m sorry I don’t have a bread machine so I can’t advise if it would work or not and that’s why I don’t have any recipes for it because I don’t want one. If you decide to experiment let me know how it goes!
Kate says
Can you please explain how you would freeze them? Are they baked first or can you freeze the rolled buns ready to bake? Thanks! I am sure this will be a hit!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kate! Yes! I actually have a section in the blog post called “How to Freeze Cinnamon Buns” that goes in detail on what to do. Hope this helps!
Reggie T says
I have made these buns many times. They are certainly a go to. Always compliments! Great recipe.
Thanks so much!
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks Reggie!
Nikki says
Hi Ashley,
These cinnamon buns are absolutely amazing!! My only concern was not adding sugar into the yeast mixture for the activation process, I added a tblspn anyway to be safe. But going forward, is the sugar necessary in this stage of the recipe or no?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Nikki! I test my recipes multiple times before they get to you guys. I’d follow the recipe as written.
Alisha says
What can you use instead of heavy cream? Would whipping cream or regular milk work instead?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes whipping cream and heavy cream are pretty much the same 🙂
Karrie says
Made these and they turned out amazing! I definitely recommend!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Karrie!
Robin Yanke says
Would there be a substitute for corn syrup? I’m not really a fan.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Robin! I’ve only tested the recipe as written. If you decide to experiment with something else, let me know how it goes!
Nikki L says
I made these today using liquid honey and they turned out amazing. They say brown rice syrup is also a good sub for corn syrup but keep in mind different sweetners may add a slightly different taste to the recipe. Stick to a mild flavoured honey if you go that route.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Nikki! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this review!
AM says
These turned out as good as the best cinnamon buns I’ve ever had. Thanks so much for the recipe.
I used 1 cup of milk and no water, yielding very soft rolls, which I really liked. I imagine using 1:1 water:milk gives the bread a bit more structure. I’ll try it next time.
I noticed a few things about the ingredient list that could be corrected or clarified. First, 1/4 cup sugar is 50g, not 100g. Second, I notice in the video you use dark corn syrup; I just added a bit of molasses to my light corn syrup. Finally, it looks like the brown sugar is loose rather than packed based on the gram equivalents; maybe that could be made clear.
Thanks again!
Ashley Fehr says
You’re right! I will update the weight of the granulated sugar. The rest of the recipe is as written 🙂
Eddy says
Hi, it really is the best recipe !!! Thank you Ashley
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Eddy!
Megs says
I have never made cinnamon buns before, but it was a request for my sons birthday…OMG! I ate 2 in the first couple minutes after they were baked, they are so delicious. Soft and fluffy, delicious gooey sauce, I added raisins to the mix..these are purely amazing buns of perfection. Thanks so much!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Megs! I’m so glad they turned out well for you!
Heather says
Ive made cinnamon buns off and on for years and this is by far the easiest best recipe I’ve ever come across. The sauce stays goey and doesn’t turn to hard candy. The buns are soft and don’t dry out. The flavour is balanced and yummy! I didn’t have corn syrup so used maple syrup instead. Now I use the maple trip every time. I did reduce the sugar a wee bit for our personal taste and I don’t ice. Thanks for this recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Heather! I’m so happy to hear you loved them!
Carly says
Can you use instant yeast?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! I often use instant yeast and don’t change anything about the recipe.
Afnan says
Hi there,
I always hear and see cinnamon rolls but I never wanted to try them out. I personally don’t like the spice cinnamon that much as it’s too strong for me.
But one day in lockdown haha I was scrolling down insta and I saw your video. I was forced to give a try and my my my !!! They were the best thing I had in a long time. So fluffy, yum and tasty and oh the baked smell was just heaven ?
My family and I loved it and it became a star overnight. Can’t wait to try again !
Thank you so much for recipe and such elaborate explanation and spreading such lovely and heartwarming recipe ?
Thank you once again. Lockdown days just got better .
Ashley Fehr says
I am so happy to hear that! Cinnamon Buns are a big hit around here too!