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No-Knead Cinnamon Rolls resting on a cooling rack.
Easy Cinnamon Rolls (No knead)
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Proof Time
11 hrs
Total Time
12 hrs 15 mins
 

Try my Cinnamon Roll Recipe for bakery-style, soft, and fluffy buns with gooey icing and sweet cinnamon sugar—minimal effort for max flavors!

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 rolls
Author: Gemma Stafford
Ingredients
Easy Cinnamon Roll Dough
  • 3 ½ cups (1 lb 1 oz/497 g) all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons instant dried yeast
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¾ cup (6 fl oz/180 ml) whole milk
  • cup (2 ½ fl oz/75 ml) water
  • ¼ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) honey
  • ¼ cup (2 oz/57 g) butter
  • 2 large eggs , at room temperature
Cinnamon Roll Filling
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) butter , melted
  • 1 ¼ cups ( 7 ½ oz 213 g) dark brown sugar
  • 2 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) toasted pecans , chopped
Cream Cheese Glaze
Instructions
To Make the Easy Cinnamon Roll Dough (The Day Before)
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast and salt. Set aside.

  2. In a separate jug add the milk, water, honey, and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals until warm and the butter has melted. Then whisk in the eggs.

  3. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until a soft dough forms.

  4. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough proof at room temperature for 2 hours, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours, but preferably overnight.

To Make the Cinnamon Roll Filling (The Next Day)
  1. In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.

To Shape the Easy Cinnamon Rolls
  1. Butter and line a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) baking pan with parchment. Set aside.

  2. Transfer the dough to a floured surface, and roll it into a 22 x 12 inch (55 x 30 cm) rectangle. This is a soft dough so use extra flour if needed.

  3. Spread the cinnamon roll filling evenly over the dough, leaving a ½ inch (12 mm) border along both long edges

  4. Starting with a long edge, gently roll the dough into a log. Don't roll it too tightly; if you do, the centers of the buns will pop up as they bake.

  5. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log into 12 equal pieces, about 2 inches (5 cm) thick. Arrange them, cut side up, in your prepared pan. (At this point you can cover them and refrigerate overnight to be baked the next day).

To Proof the Easy Cinnamon Rolls
  1. Cover the pan with cling wrap and a clean tea towel and allow the rolls to rise for 1 hour or until they have puffed up and are touching each other.

  2. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

  3. Gently brush the tops with egg wash.

To Bake the Easy Cinnamon Rolls
  1. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

To Make The Cream Cheese Glaze
  1. In a medium bowl whisk together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.

To Assemble the Easy Cinnamon Rolls
  1. Allow the rolls to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then generously spread the cream cheese glaze over them.

To Serve and Store the Easy Cinnamon Rolls
  1. Enjoy with a glass of milk! These rolls are best enjoyed fresh but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 300℉ (150℃) oven for 7-8 minutes.

Watch the Recipe Video!

Recipe Notes
  • Don’t let the yeast mix with the salt when pouring in the bowl, salt kills yeast! Once you mix, it should be fine!
  • If you’re rolling your dough, and it springs back, don’t fret! Give it a little more time to rest and within three minutes, it should be good to continue rolling.
  • Rise: When it comes to bread fermenting/ proofing, there is no restricted timeline. The telltale sign you use is how your dough looks: if the dough has doubled in size, almost feels lighter and a finger indent doesn’t spring back right away, then it’s ready.