Santa Cruz Cinnamon Rolls

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with Santa Cruz Cinnamon Rolls—soft, fluffy, and irresistibly gooey, these homemade treats are the perfect blend of buttery dough, a rich cinnamon-sugar filling, and a luscious cream cheese frosting. Made from scratch with wholesome ingredients like whole milk, brown sugar, and real vanilla extract, these rolls are a labor of love, requiring time to knead, rise, and bake to golden perfection. The creamy frosting, whipped together with softened cream cheese and powdered sugar, adds a decadent finishing touch that melts into every warm, fragrant bite. Perfect for cozy mornings, festive brunches, or dessert, these cinnamon rolls will fill your kitchen with the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked heaven. Whether you're a seasoned baker or trying yeast dough for the first time, this recipe makes bakery-quality cinnamon rolls right in your own kitchen!

Nutriscore Rating: 46/100

Prep Time:120 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:145 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 cup Whole milk
• 0.25 cup Granulated sugar
• 2.25 teaspoons Active dry yeast
• 6 tablespoons Unsalted butter, melted
• 1 Egg
• 3.5 cups All-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.75 cup Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
• 1.5 cups Powdered sugar
• 4 ounces Cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons Whole milk (for frosting)

Directions

Step 1

Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 110°F. Remove from heat and stir in the granulated sugar until dissolved. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, egg, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and stir to combine.

Step 3

Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Step 4

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 5

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and ground cinnamon for the filling.

Step 6

After the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface into a 12x18 inch rectangle.

Step 7

Spread the softened butter for the filling evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly on top.

Step 8

Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log. Cut the log into 12 equal pieces and place them in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Step 9

Cover the baking dish with a towel and let the rolls rise for 30-40 minutes until puffy.

Step 10

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Step 11

While the rolls bake, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and creamy.

Step 12

Once the rolls are out of the oven, let them cool for 10 minutes, then generously spread the frosting over the top. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1397.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4790.8

Total Fat 198.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 119.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 727.6mg	0%
Sodium 1809.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 692.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.1g	0%
Total Sugars 350.8g
Protein 70.3g	0%

Vitamin D 221.4IU	0%
Calcium 815.5mg	0%
Iron 23.2mg	0%
Potassium 1436.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.0%

Protein: 5.8%

Carbs: 57.2%