These Overnight Cinnamon Rolls are an easy, make ahead breakfast dish that’s topped with cream cheese frosting. Made from scratch, they are soft, fluffy, and bursting with just the right amount of cinnamon. They’re the best homemade cinnamon roll recipe for a crowd!

cinnamon roll with a bite on a fork

Now don’t flip out, guys, but when I was younger, I didn’t really like Cinnabon cinnamon rolls all that much.

Sure, I would eat one if my parents’ bought a four pack from the mall after a long day of shopping, but it just wasn’t my favorite. Even though I have always been a huge fan of cinnamon, those rolls just didn’t appeal to me. And if I had a choice between a cinnamon roll or cookie, I always picked the latter.

Stop shaking your head now, because guess what? I finally discovered my love of cinnamon rolls years later. I’m just a teeny tiny bit late to jump on the bandwagon, but I do love those ooey gooey treats. And while I never buy Cinnabon rolls just for myself, I will gladly eat one if offered to me.

But up until now, I didn’t discover a true cinnamon roll. You know, the home-made kind, with thick frosting, a warm center, and cinnamon-y goodness oozing out of it.

Sure, Cinnabon rolls are good for the store-bought kind, but the ones that you make in your own kitchen are even better. They really are! And I can prove it to you with these Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting.

cinnamon rolls in a blue dish

I was in the mood for some home-made cinnamon rolls one weekend.

The kind that takes some prep work and sits overnight. Do you get into kicks like that? I’m all about whipping up easy treats (that’s mainly what my blog focuses on), but once in a while, you just gotta make those time-consuming dishes that are totally worth the effort.

And because the hubster and I whipped up those canned cinnamon rolls that you just pop into the oven several days before, my cinnamon cravings weren’t quite satisfied.

Enter in these Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting.

What Makes These Overnight Cinnamon Rolls So Great

  • They’re soft, fluffy, and bursting with just the right amount of cinnamon.
  • You can make them ahead of time! Prep them the night before then bake them in the morning.
  • They just ooze with flavor and have a super easy cream cheese frosting.

cinnamon roll on a white dish with a fork

And while these Overnight Cinnamon Rolls do take a little bit of preparation, it’s definitely worth it, friends!

Cooking Tips

  • Make sure you’re in a nice warm spot when you’re making these rolls. The dough will rise better this way.
  • Use a serrated knife when cutting the dough into 12 pieces. It will make it easier to cut so the dough won’t snag or tear.
  • When rolling out the dough, a rectangular shape is best, but don’t worry if it’s more of an oblong shape. The rolls will still taste just as good!

Variations

  • Sprinkle some toasted and chopped nuts on top of the frosting! Pecans or walnuts would work well.
  • Get a little more fiber out of this dish by substituting 1 cup of white flour for 1 cup of whole wheat flour.
  • Try adding a few raisins into the filling for a burst of fruity flavor!

overnight cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting in a blue dish

How To Make Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

I’m going to walk you through step by step on how to make these super delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. It may look like a lot of steps, but I promise it’s simple. 

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Dough

  • In a large bowl, combine the yeast and warm water. Stir until the yeast dissolves.
  • Add milk to the yeast and stir to combine. Next add in the sugar and egg, mixing thoroughly.
  • Gradually stir in 1 cup of flour and mix well. Pour in the melted butter and salt and combine by hand.
  • Add in the rest of flour (2 1/2 cups) and combine by hand until dough forms a large bowl and pulls away from sides of bowl.
  • Cover the dough and let rise for about an hour.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, lightly flour on a working surface. Turn the dough out and knead several times, adding flour to top and bottom of dough to ensure that it doesn’t stick, if needed.
  • Roll dough out to be about 1/4 inch thick, into a large rectangle or oblong shape, then move on to the filling.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Filling & Prep the Rolls

  • Spread the softened butter all over dough, coming right to edges.
  • Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over top of butter.
  • Using the long edge, roll dough all the way up. Using a serrated or other sharp knife, cut dough into twelve pieces.
  • Place into a lightly greased 9×13 baking pan with swirl side up. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 8 hours).

How To Bake Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

  • In the morning, remove rolls from refrigerator and uncover. Let rest for about 45 minutes in a warm place.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Bake cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and frost with cream cheese frosting.

How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting

  • While cinnamon rolls are baking, cream together butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer or stand mixer with fitted paddle attachment.
  • Slowly add in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Once everything is combined, beat in heavy cream and mix until smooth.
  • Frost cinnamon rolls once they’re done baking.

 Once these cinnamon rolls come out of the oven, prepare to be amazed. Move over Cinnabon, there’s a new roll in town! Buttery, full of sweet cinnamon and sugar, and slathered with cream cheese frosting, these cinnamon rolls will be your new favorite breakfast, guaranteed!

 cinnamon roll on a white plate

Looking for more breakfast recipes? I’ve got you covered!

did you make and love this recipe? give it your review below and make sure to follow along with me on facebook and instagram to get other great recipe ideas!

cinnamon roll with a bite on a fork

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Yield: 12 rolls
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
These Overnight Cinnamon Rolls are an easy, make ahead breakfast dish that's topped with cream cheese frosting. Made from scratch, they are soft, fluffy, and bursting with just the right amount of cinnamon. They're the best homemade cinnamon roll recipe for a crowd!
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Ingredients
 

DOUGH

  • 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) dry active yeast
  • 2 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 cup milk, any kind
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3½ cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

FILLING

  • ½ cup (1 stick) butter softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 5 tablespoons ground cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

DOUGH:

  • In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm water. Stir to dissolve. Add milk to yeast and combine. Add in sugar and egg, mixing thoroughly.
  • Gradually stir in 1 cup of flour and mix well. Pour in melted butter and salt and combine by hand.
  • Add in rest of flour (2 1/2 cups) and combine by hand until dough forms a large bowl and pulls away from sides of bowl.
  • Cover the dough and let rise for about an hour.
  • Once dough has doubled in size, lightly flour on a working surface.
  • Turn dough out and knead several times, adding flour to top and bottom of dough to ensure that it doesn't stick, if needed. Roll dough out to be about 1/4 inch thick, into a large rectangle or oblong shape.

FILLING:

  • Spread the softened butter all over dough, coming right to edges. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over top of butter.
  • Using the long edge, roll dough all the way up. Using a serrated or other sharp knife, cut dough into twelve pieces.
  • Place into a lightly greased 9x13 baking pan with swirl side up. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 8 hours).
  • In the morning, remove rolls from refrigerator and uncover. Let rest for about 45 minutes in a warm place.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and frost with cream cheese frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

  • While cinnamon rolls are baking, cream together butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer or stand mixer with fitted paddle attachment.
  • Slowly add in powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Once everything is combined, beat in heavy cream and mix until smooth. Frost cinnamon rolls once done baking.

Notes

Lightly adapted from Taste of Home.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 525kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 246mg, Potassium: 137mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 917IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 91mg, Iron: 2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast
Author: Gayle
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