The most amazing cinnamon rolls recipe – Delicious – Easy – Sustainable
These are not the fluffy, tasteless, overly sweet cinnamon rolls you may be used to. These are the cinnamon rolls where every ingredient adds flavor. That make you think of the old fashioned, homemade ones that your Grandmother used to make. Ok, that my Grandmother used to make.
This recipe truly is amazing. We wanted to create the best cinnamon rolls recipe ever. After a little research, we realized that the best flavor was achieved by using all the best ingredients, and then using a method that allowed the flavors to develop. The flavors develop during a slow rise, which comes from putting the dough in the refrigerator for twelve hours. We were surprised to find that this also made the recipe easier. By using a long slow rise, we had made the recipe super easy. And since we measure by weight, there is no sifting or scooping, and no inaccurate measurements. Everything is measured into one bowl. Easy to make and easy to clean up.
Updated:
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Table of contents
Ingredients
The key to improving flavor is to use all the best ingredients.
- All-Purpose Flour – King Arthur Organic All-Purpose flour King Arthur responsibly sources the wheat for their flours, and it pays off in the taste and quality. They have a “never bleached” guarantee, which means their flours don’t have an off taste or unpredictable results that can be caused by bleaching. They also carefully calibrate the protein content, so the flour gives you the same results everytime.
- Sugar – Wholesome regenerative organic sugar produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Burning sugar cane fields contributes to air pollution, climate change, and is also a major cause of the destruction of the rain forest.
- Milk, Cream, Butter – Horizon Organics – Milk, Cream and Butter that are produced organically, sustainably, and responsibly. You can taste the difference.
- Yeast – SAF-Instant Red – for Hearth Bread and SAF-Instant Gold for Enriched Bread – Instant yeast is easier to use and more reliable so the results are better.
- Salt – Diamond Kosher tastes cleaner and measures differently.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Sustainability
Choosing sustainable products makes baking a small but meaningful act of sustainability. Sustainability is at the heart of this recipe: choosing high-quality pantry staples, supporting responsible growers and brands. High quality products don’t just taste better, they are usually produced sustainably as well.
Method
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out Master Bread Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight and mix together
- Chill the dough overnight
- Shape the dough and let it rise
- Bake
This recipe uses our Master Bread Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making bread.
RECIPE
Equipment
- stand mixer optional
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
SWEET DOUGH
- 480 grams Horizon milk or oat milk
- 5 teaspoons Saf-Instant Gold yeast
- 120 grams Horizon butter Browned and cooled
- 1 zest of one organic lemon finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup dark
- 800 grams King Arthur all purpose flour
- 85 grams Wholesome regenerative organic sugar
- 14 grams Diamond Crystal kosher salt
FILLING
- 100 grams Horizon butter browned and cooled
- 150 grams Terrasoul pecans toasted and chopped
- 200 grams Wholesome regenerative organic sugar
- 3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
FROSTING
- 20 grams Horizon butter browned and cooled
- 85 grams Wholesome powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Maple syrup Dark
- to taste Diamond Crystal kosher salt
Instructions
DOUGH
- Heat the milk to 110° F, using a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature. Pour it into the mixing bowl for the stand mixer and sprinkle in the yeast, stirring to combine. After two minutes, the yeast should start to bubble.
- With the mixing bowl on the kitchen scale, measure in the butter, lemon zest, maple syrup, flour, sugar, and salt by zeroing the scale before each measurement.
- Using the mixer with the paddle attachment, mix on low speed for 1 minute. Switch to the dough hook, increase the speed to medium-low and mix for 4 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 2 minutes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
ON BAKING DAY
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it rest on the counter for 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, cut the dough in half. Roll out each half into a 12 by 15 inch rectangle. If it resists, let it rest for a few minutes and then continue rolling.
- Into a small bowl on the kitchen scale, measure the chopped nuts, sugar and cinnamon, and stir to mix.
- Brush with the dough with the butter. Sprinkle the chopped nuts, sugar and cinnamon evenly over the two rectangles.
- Line a glass or ceramic baking pan with parchment paper. Roll up each rectangle into a tight log and cut into 1 inch slices. Lay the slices down in the baking pan about an inch apart. Cover them with plastic wrap. Let them rise for 2 hours or until they have swelled up and are touching, and a poke leaves an indentation.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the rolls to cool in the pan.
FROSTING
- Into the mixing bowl on the kitchen scale, measure all the ingredients for the frosting. With the mixer on low, using the paddle attachment, mix until smooth. Frost the rolls when they have cooled for at least 5 minutes.
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a total game-changer — crafted with the finest [brand name] ingredients, simplified using a master recipe with pro-tested techniques from top chefs and bakers, and designed for deliciously sustainable cooking made easy.”
| Ingredient | Percent by Weight |
Flour Sugar Salt | 100 50 |
Baker’s Percentages is a formula-based system where total flour weight is always !00 percent and all other ingredients are expressed as a percentage of that flour weight. It allows you to quickly and accurately compare recipes.
More Breads made from our Master Bread Recipe
These recipes use our Master Bread Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making bread.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.