These one hour cinnamon rolls are soft, delicious and slathered with a melt-in-your-mouth frosting. Just like a classic cinnamon roll recipe, but done in half the time!

Cinnamon rolls in a glass dish.

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Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

One of my all-time favorite things to make around the holidays is overnight cinnamon rolls (and my sweet orange rolls). They are so fun to make with my kids and are such a yummy treat.

Let’s be honest though they just take way too long unless your making this cinnamon roll casserole or cinnamon roll pancakes. But I have finally come up with a homemade quick 1 hour cinnamon roll recipe that tastes just as yummy and is done in HALF the time!

They are perfect for my family of 6. We really don’t need more than 1 cinnamon roll each…so 8 is the perfect amount for us! Feel free to double the recipe though if you have a bigger family or want leftovers.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Recipe

  • Fast: That’s right, no need to prep the night before, these quick cinnamon rolls are ready in an hour (plus a few minutes)!
  • Flavorful texture: They have a soft, chewy and buttery texture with the best cinnamon sugar flavor that would rival any bakery.
  • Perfect for the holidays: The best comfort food for a Christmas breakfast or Easter brunch!

How to Make 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls

  • Proof the yeast: Add warm water (bath temperature), yeast and 1 Tablespoon of sugar to a small bowl (I like to use a large measuring cup) and stir. Cover with paper towel and let sit until bubbly (about 5 minutes).
Yeast in measuring cup.
  • Make the dough: Stir together the butter, milk, sugar and salt in a separate bowl. When the yeast mixture has bubbled, add to the bowl with the butter mixture and stir. Add one cup of flour and mix until smooth. Then add remaining flour in 1/2 cup increments.
  • Knead: Knead for a few minutes. Add more flour if dough is still sticky. You want the dough to be slightly sticky, but not to the point where it covers your hands in dough. When the dough is soft, cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in warm spot. Let dough rise for about 20 minutes.

Rising tip: If you don’t have a warm spot in your house, turn on the oven to 200°F and then turn it off. Then place the dough inside to allow to rise.

Dough rising in a bowl.
  • Making filling: Combine the melted butter, sugars and cinnamon to a bowl and mix.
  • Roll and cut: When dough has risen, punch it down and roll the dough on a floured surface into a large rectangle that’s about 10×12 inches. Using a pastry brush, spread the cinnamon-sugar mixture onto the dough (I didn’t end up using all of the filling). Then roll the cinnamon roll dough up and cut into 1″ pieces with a large knife or dental floss.
Cinnamon sugar on cinnamon roll dough.
  • Bake in oven: Add dough pieces to a buttered pie dish (about 1″ apart) and let rise for 20 minutes. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 350°F. You want them to be golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

Frosting

The creamy, thick and rich cream cheese cinnamon rolls frosting is what takes these rolls over the top. You could also make a thinner cream cheese glaze if you want a more subtle taste and texture. A tangy sour cream frosting is also a good alternative if you don’t have any cream cheese on hand.

Cinnamon rolls in a glass dish.

FAQ’s

What type of yeast do you use for one hour cinnamon rolls?

You’ll need highly active yeast (or rapid rise yeast). That’s what makes this recipe so quick. The rolls won’t rise as fast if you use traditional yeast.

Can you make them the night before?

You can make these up to 12 hours ahead of time. Simply roll them out and place on a baking sheet. Let sit for 30 minutes to rise and then cover tightly with foil that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Refrigerate overnight. Then in the morning, remove from the fridge and let rise about 1-2 hours before baking. Then bake as directed.

Can I freeze cinnamon rolls?

Yes, to freeze unbaked homemade cinnamon rolls place them in a pie dish and cover tightly with foil. Store in freezer for up to 2 months. Remove from freezer when ready to bake and let them thaw and rise on the counter for 4 to 5 hours. I like to let them rise in the oven during the last hour. Then bake according to directions.

You can also freeze baked rolls. Let cool completely, then place in a freezer container. When ready to enjoy, set out to thaw overnight.

Homemade cinnamon rolls with frosting.

Want more yummy breakfast recipes? Check out these chocolate cinnamon rolls, my favorite pumpkin cinnamon rolls or this simple liege waffle!

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes

cinnamon roll recipe

1 Hour Cinnamon Roll Recipe

4.96 from 62 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8
These one hour cinnamon rolls are super soft and delicious slathered with an amazing melt-in-your-mouth frosting. Just as yummy as the classic cinnamon roll recipe, but done in half the time!
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Ingredients 

Filling

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon  ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Rolls

  • ⅓ cup warm water
  • 1 Tablespoon highly active yeast
  • 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar , divided
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter , melted
  • ¼ cup warm milk
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 to 2 1/2  cups all-purpose flour , or more or less as needed
  • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature

Frosting:

  • ¼ cup salted butter at room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Tablespoon milk

Instructions

Filling

  • In a small bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Cinnamon Rolls

  • In a small bowl, stir together the warm water, yeast, and 1 Tablespoon sugar. Cover with a paper towel. Let sit 5 minutes, or until bubbly.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with a dough attachment, stir together melted butter, milk, salt, and the remaining 4 Tablespoons sugar. Stir in yeast mixture until combined. Add 1 cup flour and stir until smooth. Add the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time. Knead 1 to 2 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour until smooth and soft..
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot. Let rise about 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a pie dish.
  • Once your dough has risen, punch it down and roll out on a floured surface. You want to form a rectangle, approximately 10×12 inches. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Spread softened butter onto the dough with a brush and then sprinkle the filling evenly over the top. Gently press the sugar down into the butter. Roll the doll, length-side, into a swirl.
  • Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces with floss or a large knife. Place rolls, swirl-side up, into pie dish, about 1 inch apart. Let rolls rise about 15 minutes.
  • Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.

Frosting

  • In a large bowl, beat together butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. You can add more milk or powdered sugar to reach your desired consistency. Spread over the top of the rolls.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storing and reheating: Store in an airtight container. Reheat one roll in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Rising tip: Heat the oven to 200°F and place a small pan of water on the lowest rack. Turn off the oven and let the dough rise in the oven. 
Making the night before: You can make these up to 12 hours ahead of time. Simply roll them out and place on a baking sheet. Let sit for 30 minutes to rise and then cover tightly with foil that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Refrigerate overnight. Then in the morning remove from the fridge and let rise about 1 to 2 hours before baking. Then bake as directed.
Freezing cinnamon rolls: You can freeze the rolls after they have been baked and cooled. Simply place in a freezer container, then set out to thaw overnight. You can also freeze the rolled dough. Simply place the rolls on the baking sheet and then cover tightly with foil. Then freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake allow to thaw and rise for about 4 to 5 hours. I usually let them rise in the oven for the last hour. Once they have risen, bake according to directions. 

Nutrition

Calories: 486kcal, Carbohydrates: 75g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 201mg, Potassium: 85mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 43g, Vitamin A: 595IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Cinnamon rolls with icing.