Lukas Dean’s

Takes patience

Diner Cinnamon Rolls

Soft yeast rolls with a brown-sugar swirl and cream cheese icing.

The short version. Mix a soft yeast dough, roll it flat, spread it with cinnamon sugar, slice it into 12 rolls, let them puff, then bake at 375°F for 22 to 25 minutes and ice them warm.
  • Prep 40 min
  • Cook 25 min
  • Rise or rest 1 hr 30 min
  • Makes 12 rolls

Scaling is exact math. For a fraction of an egg, beat the egg and measure out that fraction.

Ingredients

Dough

  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (plus a little for the counter)
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (one standard packet)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup milk (warm, about 110°F)
  • ¼ cup butter (melted and cooled a little)
  • 1 egg (room temperature)

Filling

  • ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 tbsp butter (very soft)

Icing

  • 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 2 tbsp butter (softened)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp milk (add a splash more if it is stiff)

Directions

  1. Stir the flour, yeast, sugar and salt together in a large bowl.
  2. Add the warm milk, melted butter and egg. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured counter for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
  3. Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour, until it has roughly doubled.
  4. Roll the dough into a rectangle about 12 by 16 inches. Spread the soft butter over it, then scatter the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly, right to the edges.
  5. Roll it up from the long side into a tight log. Cut it into 12 equal slices with a sharp knife or a length of unflavored dental floss.
  6. Set the rolls cut side up in a greased 9 by 13 inch pan. Cover and let them puff for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 375°F while they rest.
  7. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until golden and the centers are cooked through.
  8. Beat the icing ingredients until smooth. Spread it over the rolls while they are warm, not hot.

Tips

  • If the milk is too hot it will kill the yeast. It should feel like a warm bath, not hot tea.
  • Rolls that are done reach about 190°F in the center on an instant-read thermometer.

Technique guides

Questions

Can I make the rolls the night before?

Yes. After cutting and panning them, cover the pan and refrigerate it. In the morning, let it sit out while the oven heats, then bake as written, adding a few minutes if the center is not cooked.

Cooking involves heat and sharp tools. Kids cook with an adult. Times and temperatures are guides, so use your own judgment and a thermometer, and watch for allergens.

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