The ultimate viral cinnamon bun recipe!

Indulge yourself in the plump glazed swirls of cinnamon and sugar, drenched in a sticky sweet icing begging to be soaked up by fluffy baked dough. The sweet mixture melts in your mouth as you immerse your tastebuds in the sugary, aromatic blend of brown sugar, salted butter, and cinnamon: a perfect breakfast, coffee snack, dessert, or any time in between meals.

Ah, cinnamon buns! I just love them. With velvety frosting and sweet cinnamon flavor, you’ll savor every morsel of these cinnamon buns. Delicious and satisfying, you’ll want to make these homemade cinnamon buns part of your dessert ritual. Grab a couple for breakfast, and always keep a few in your refrigerator for a perfect afternoon tea snack.

I know what you are thinking right now. The idea of making cinnamon buns from scratch may seem a little daunting, and I won’t lie to you; it is. But I promise these bakery-style cinnamon buns are worth the labor and sweat. With such a soft and fluffy texture and rich cream cheese icing, these cinnamon buns are nothing short of a perfect Holiday dessert.

What is the difference between cinnamon buns and cinnamon rolls?

Both these sweet treats are made with cinnamon and are similar in appearance, but they are slightly different types of desserts. A cinnamon roll is a baked good consisting of a spiral dough, the center of which is a combo of soft butter, cinnamon and powder sugar mixture. On the other hand, cinnamon buns are made with yeast dough that is rolled up with sweet cinnamon, salted butter, and brown sugar mixture and baked.

Another significant difference between these pastries is their removal from pans after baking. Cinnamon rolls are removed from the pan after baking and glazed with cream cheese icing, while cinnamon buns are turned upside down, allowing the brown sugar-butter mixture to leak out of the pastry during baking resulting in a sweet crust. In addition, cinnamon buns are frosted with tangy cream cheese frosting.

What you’ll need to make cinnamon buns

Cinnamon Buns Dough Ingredients:

Milk – Whole milk is your best option if you desire extra rich and fluffy cinnamon buns; however, you can also opt for low-fat milk options like almond or coconut milk.

Yeast – Use quick rise or instant yeast for a faster rise. Active dry yeast is also an option, but cinnamon buns may rise somewhat slower.

Sugar – helps to sweeten the buns and activate the yeast

Salted butter – I have used salted butter in this recipe; feel free to use unsalted according to your taste preference.

Sour Cream – It gives a thicker and creamier texture to the dough.

All-Purpose Flour – Cinnamon buns are light and fluffy, thanks to all-purpose flour. Furthermore, it improves their texture by making them lighter.

Cinnamon Buns Filling Ingredients:

Cinnamon – The show’s star that imparts sweet cinnamon-y sweet notes makes these coffee snacks an out-of-the-world dessert.

Salted Butter – For a creamy tang in the filling.

Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds an extra layer of flavor to the filling of cinnamon buns. You can use dark brown or light brown sugar for those cinnamon bun swirls; dark brown sugar imparts a robust, molasses-sweet flavor.

Cinnamon Buns Icing Ingredients:

In a blender, combine the Cream Cheese, Butter, Vanilla Extract, Milk, and Powdered Sugar, and blend until smooth. You’ll love how the swirls of cinnamon buns will soak up this filling.

How to make cinnamon buns from scratch

These are the best homemade cinnamon buns you will ever try! Soft and fluffy buns with a sweet gooey filling. I’ve been making them for YEARS, and they are ALWAYS a hit! The dough can also be prepared the night before and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to minimize the hassle of your big day.

If you’re going to make cinnamon buns, go all out and make them from scratch. They are amazingly fresh out of the oven. You can roll them out the following day, prepare the filling, and then bake them! It’s worth the effort. Here’s how to make soft and fluffy cinnamon buns at home.

Prepare the Dough:

To prepare the dough, mix milk, yeast, sour cream and sugar in a bow. Let it sit for 10 min. Stir in 1/2 cup salted butter and 4 cups of flour and mix until combined well. Cover with plastic wrap and rest for an hour. After an hour, take out the dough from the bowl and knead the dough on floured surface (with remaining 1cup of flour and add 1 tsp baking powder). Knead for 10 min.

Prepare Cinnamon Buns filling:

Combine 1 cup salted butter softened, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp cinnamon or less I love cinnamon so I used 2.

Prepare Icing

Blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, milk and powdered sugar in a blender.

Prepare the Buns

Roll out the dough and spread mixture over it. Tightly roll the dough. Cut using a string or with a serrated knife.

Transfer the rolls to a baking sheet and let them rest for 15 min.

Bake Cinnamon buns

Bake for 30-35 min at 350F or until turned golden brown. Let them cool for about 10-15 minutes before adding icing.

Add Icing Over the Cinnamon Buns

Pour icing over them. Enjoy!

Pro Tips:

• To ensure the buns can rise, leave about 1 cm space between them when you place them in the baking pan.
• You must warm your milk as it helps the yeast to activate.
• Cook the buns covered with foil if they are browning too quickly.

Storage Instructions:

Cinnamon buns can be kept at room temperature for up to three days after they are baked. Alternatively, they can be refrigerated for up to five days. Keep them in an airtight container and avoid heat and moisture.

How to Freeze?

Cinnamon buns are best eaten fresh, and you should only freeze them when making a large batch for a special occasion when you have to serve a large gathering. Wrap each bun in wax paper and place it in a zip-lock freezer bag. You can freeze cinnamon buns for up to 3 months this way.

How to reheat?

Reheat them in a microwave for a few minutes until the filling becomes melty again.

Cinnamon Buns FAQs:

Why my cinnamon buns are not fluffy?

Adding the correct amount of each ingredient is crucial when making cinnamon buns. Insufficient flour will result in dense buns with too much stickiness. Using too much flour results in tough and crumbly buns. To prevent either extreme, accurately measure the flour you use and mix the dough only until just combined. The secret to fluffy cinnamon buns is to use the precise amount of flour in the recipe.

How do I deal with sticky dough?

Be careful while working with the dough. It’s supposed to be sticky on the hands but not too sticky that you can’t work with. Add a tablespoon or two of flour while rolling out the dough so it doesn’t stick to your counter. If you noticed that the dough is not sticky at all add a fourth of a cup of milk in the baking dish when baking your buns.

What can I add to the cinnamon bun filling for flavor?

You could add chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, dried fruits, raisins, nuts, coconut flakes, nutmeg, etc.