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Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Delightful twist on classic cinnamon rolls with nutty brown butter, sweet cinnamon filling, and rich cream cheese icing.
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 5 cups 5 to 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour Use additional flour as needed during kneading.
  • 1 large 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 packets 2 packets instant yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
  • 1 cup 1 cup whole milk Warm slightly before mixing.
  • 1/3 cup 1/3 cup browned unsalted butter For the dough.
Cinnamon Filling
  • 1/3 cup 1/3 cup browned unsalted butter, solidified and softened
  • 1 cup 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Icing Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup 1/3 cup browned unsalted butter For icing.
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon whole milk For icing.
  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For icing.
  • 2 ounces 2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 pinch Pinch salt

Method
 

Prepare Dough
  1. In a microwave-safe container, mix the milk, water, and 1/3 cup of browned butter. Warm it up for 30 to 45 seconds; ensure it’s just warm, not hot.
  2. In a big bowl, combine the instant yeast, salt, flour, and granulated sugar. Whisk everything together until well mixed.
  3. Stir in 2 more cups of flour, mixing until a dough starts forming. Gradually add in 1 to 1 1/2 cups more flour until the dough is shaggy and slightly tacky. Knead it until you have a smooth ball, adding flour bit by bit if it’s too sticky.
  4. Cover the dough with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it sit for 10 minutes to relax the gluten.
Assemble Rolls
  1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle measuring 12 by 16 inches. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly on top, leaving a border of 1/2 inch.
  2. Carefully roll the dough from the long edge into a log. Use unflavored dental floss to cut the ends off, then slice into 12 equal pieces.
  3. Place the rolls in a parchment-lined 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Cover them and let proof in a warm spot for about 45 minutes, or in a switched-off preheated oven, until they double in size.
Bake Rolls
  1. Remove the rolls from the proofing oven, if they were in one. Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tops are a light golden brown.
Prepare Icing & Serve
  1. Check that the solidified brown butter is softened but not melted. Mix the brown butter with cream cheese until it’s smooth. Then, stir in powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and a pinch of salt until creamy.
  2. Once the rolls are warm, spread the icing over the tops so it melts in. Enjoy them right away!

Notes

Serve warm for best experience, paired with coffee or milk. Can store leftovers in airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for 3 months.