These irresistible Homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls are the definition of breakfast perfection! Pillowy soft dough wrapped around a buttery cinnamon-brown sugar filling, topped with creamy cream cheese icing that melts into every swirl. The best part? You can prep them the night before and wake up to fresh-baked cinnamon rolls with minimal morning effort. These rolls strike the perfect balance between tender and fluffy, with that signature gooey center that makes cinnamon rolls so crave-worthy.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare everything the night before and simply bake in the morning. Nothing beats the aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls while you’re still in your pajamas!
Perfectly Balanced Sweetness: The dough isn’t overly sweet, which means the brown sugar-cinnamon filling and tangy cream cheese icing can shine without becoming cloying.
Foolproof Process: Even if you’re new to working with yeast, the detailed instructions make this recipe approachable and successful every time.
Customizable: Easily adjust the amount of cinnamon, add nuts or raisins, or play with different icings to make these rolls uniquely yours.

Homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

Milk: Creates a tender, rich dough. Whole milk gives the best flavor and texture, but you can use alternatives in a pinch.
Sugar: Feeds the yeast and sweetens the dough just enough to complement the filling.
Yeast: The magic ingredient that makes your dough rise beautifully. Both active dry and instant work well here.
Butter: Adds richness to both the dough and filling. Make sure it’s properly softened for easy incorporation.
Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the dough, making it more brioche-like.
Flour: Creates the foundation of your dough. All-purpose works perfectly, though bread flour can give a slightly chewier texture.
Brown Sugar: Mixed with cinnamon for the filling, it creates that wonderful sticky, caramelized texture we all love.
Cinnamon: The star spice that gives these rolls their signature flavor and aroma.
Cream Cheese: Forms the base of the tangy icing that perfectly balances the sweet filling.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens the icing without making it grainy.
Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the icing.

Variations

Want to put your own spin on these classic cinnamon rolls? Here are some delicious options:

Nutty Delight: Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for wonderful texture and flavor.
Orange Twist: Add the zest of one orange to the dough and a tablespoon of orange juice to the icing for citrusy brightness.
Apple Cinnamon: Add 1 cup of finely diced apples tossed with a bit of cinnamon to the filling for a fall-inspired version.
Chocolate Lovers: Sprinkle 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips over the cinnamon-sugar filling before rolling up the dough.
Maple Glaze: Replace the cream cheese icing with a simple maple glaze for a different flavor profile.

How to Make Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

In a stand mixer bowl, combine warm milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add remaining sugar, softened butter, eggs, and salt, mixing until combined. Gradually add flour, one cup at a time, until a soft dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Step 2: Knead and First Rise

Knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for about 2 hours until doubled in size. The dough should feel soft and spring back slowly when poked with your finger.

Step 3: Roll and Fill

Punch down the dough and roll it into a 12×18-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread the softened butter evenly across the dough, then sprinkle with the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture, making sure to reach all the edges.

Step 4: Shape and Second Rise (or Refrigerate)

Tightly roll the dough into an 18-inch log and cut into 12 equal pieces. Arrange them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. For overnight rolls, cover tightly and refrigerate. For same-day baking, let them rise for about an hour until puffy.

Step 5: Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 25-28 minutes, tenting with foil halfway through if they’re browning too quickly. They should be lightly golden on top when done.

Step 6: Make Icing and Serve

While the rolls cool slightly, beat cream cheese until smooth, then add confectioners’ sugar, cream, and vanilla. Spread over the warm rolls and serve immediately for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Temperature Matters: Make sure your milk is warm, not hot (about 100°F). Too hot will kill the yeast, too cool won’t activate it properly.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Eggs and butter should be at room temperature for the best incorporation into the dough.
Don’t Rush the Rise: Proper rising time creates that perfect fluffy texture. Be patient!
Dental Floss Trick: Use unflavored dental floss to cut the rolls instead of a knife for clean slices without squishing the dough.
Even Filling Distribution: Spread the butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture all the way to the edges of the dough for consistent flavor in every bite.
Check for Doneness: Rolls should be lightly golden on top and register about 190°F in the center when fully baked.

How to Serve

These cinnamon rolls shine as the star of any breakfast or brunch spread! Here are some serving suggestions:

Breakfast Pairings:

Serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, or a savory egg dish to balance the sweetness. A hot cup of coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk completes the experience.

Brunch Buffet:

Place these rolls as the centerpiece of a brunch spread alongside savory options like quiche, breakfast potatoes, and a fresh fruit platter.

Special Occasions:

For holidays or special mornings, present them on a decorative platter with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of extra icing for a stunning presentation.

Make Ahead and Storage

Overnight Preparation

Prepare the rolls through the shaping step, place in your baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. The next morning, let them sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before baking.

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover rolls covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days. Warm gently in the microwave for 15-20 seconds before enjoying.

Freezing

Baked rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months. For partially baked rolls, bake for just 10 minutes, cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and finish baking for 15-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Reheating

For the best texture when reheating, warm individual rolls in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, or place several rolls in a 300°F oven covered with foil for about 10 minutes.

FAQs

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?
Absolutely! You can use either active dry or instant yeast in this recipe. The only difference is that active dry yeast might take slightly longer to rise. Just follow the same instructions – your rolls will turn out beautifully either way.

Why didn’t my dough rise properly?
Dough rising issues usually stem from a few common causes: your yeast might be old or inactive, the environment might be too cold, or you might have added too much flour making the dough too dense. Make sure your yeast is fresh, provide a warm spot for rising (about 75-80°F is ideal), and follow the flour measurements carefully, adding just enough to make a soft, slightly tacky dough.

Can I make these without a stand mixer?
Definitely! While a stand mixer makes the process easier, you can mix and knead the dough by hand. Use a large bowl and wooden spoon to mix the ingredients, then knead on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. It’s a bit more work, but many bakers find hand-kneading quite therapeutic!

My rolls are too dry/too gooey in the middle. What went wrong?
For dry rolls, you likely overbaked them or used too much flour in the dough. Next time, add flour gradually and stop when the dough is still slightly tacky. For gooey middles, they probably needed a few more minutes in the oven. Every oven is different, so you might need to adjust baking time. A kitchen thermometer inserted in the center should read about 190°F when they’re perfectly done.

Final Thoughts

These Homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls are more than just a breakfast treat – they’re a morning ritual worth savoring. There’s something truly special about the anticipation of freshly baked cinnamon rolls as you drift off to sleep, knowing morning will bring that incredible aroma and first warm, gooey bite. Whether you’re treating your family on a weekend morning or impressing guests at a holiday breakfast, these rolls deliver both comfort and joy with every swirl. Trust me, once you master this recipe, store-bought rolls will never hold the same appeal again!

Homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe