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Healthy Cinnamon Roll on blue serving plate with tray of cinnamon rolls in background.
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4.92 from 37 votes

Easy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Soft, tender, and oozing with cinnamon flavor, this recipe for cinnamon rolls allows you to assemble homemade cinnamon rolls in advance! Perfect for entertaining or a holiday brunch.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Overnight Rise8 hours
Total Time8 hours 45 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9
Author: Kristen Chidsey

Equipment

Ingredients

For Homemade Bread Dough (optional)

  • 1 cup warm water 100-110℉ (38-42℃)
  • 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour + ½ cup more if needed

For Cinnamon Rolls

  • 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter divided
  • ⅓ cup light or dark brown sugar or granulated sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 pound bread dough using recipe provided or frozen and thawed store-bought dough

For the Cinnamon Roll Frosting

  • ½ cup sifted powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons full-fat cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon milk any fat percentage
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For Cinnamon Roll Dough

  • If using frozen store-bought bread dough, place 1 pound of frozen dough into a greased large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and skip the directions for homemade dough.
  • For homemade dough, mix together 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon dry active yeast, and 1 tablespoon honey in a large mixing bowl. Let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the yeast is a bit foamy.
    Yeast, honey, and water in mixing bowl with bubbles on surface.
  • In a large mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine the 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 cups all-purpose flour. Pour the foamy yeast mixture into the flour mixture and stir together until the dough just comes together, adding up to an additional ½ cup of flour if needed. Knead the dough by hand on a floured surface or with the dough hook on a stand mixer until the dough forms a smooth ball.
    Dough after kneading in large mixing bowl.
  • Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover the dough with a towel or plastic wrap, and let rise for 1 hour in a warm place, or until doubled in size.
    Homemade bread dough for cinnamon rolls after rising overnight.

Cinnamon Rolls

  • Grease an 8x8 baking dish with 1 tablespoon of melted butter, being sure to brush evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan.
  • In a small mixing bowl combine ⅓ cup light or dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves. Set aside.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll the prepared dough into a 9x13-inch rectangle, Brush the dough with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the dough up to the edges.
    Cinnamon sugar mixture spread over rectangle shaped dough.
  • Roll the dough up lengthwise. Cut dough into thirds, then each section into thirds again, for a total of 9 cinnamon rolls. 
    Knife cutting log of cinnamon roll dough into 9 rolls.
  • Place rolls evenly spaced apart in a baking dish and cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight or for up to 16 hours.  
    9 assembled cinnamon rolls in greased baking dish prior to rising.
  • To prepare the cream cheese frosting mix together 2 tablespoons full-fat cream cheese, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon milk together. in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Add ½ cup sifted powdered sugar and whisk until smooth, adding up to ½ cup more powdered sugar to make your glaze as thick as desired. Cover and refrigerate overnight along with the cinnamon rolls.
    Cream cheese frosting for cinnamon roll in mixing bowl.
  • In the morning, remove the cinnamon rolls and frosting from the refrigerator. Let the cinnamon rolls rise until puffy and fully come to room temperature. This will take 60-90 minutes depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
    Cinnamon Roll Dough after overnight rise in baking dish.
  • Once the cinnamon rolls have risen, heat the oven to 350℉. Remove the plastic wrap from the baking dish, brush the rolls with the remaining 1 tablespoon of melted butter, and bake for 23-27 minutes, or until just lightly golden.
  • Once the cinnamon rolls are baked, give the prepared icing a good whisk, adding a teaspoon or two of milk if needed to reach the consistency desired. Spread over warm cinnamon rolls and serve warm.
    Spatula removing one cinnamon roll from baking dish.

Video

Notes

Active prep time is only 10 minutes. 
To Bake Cinnamon Rolls Immediately: Prepare the cinnamon rolls as directed up to placing the assembled rolls into the baking dish. Cover with a clean towel and let the dough rise until doubled, about an hour. Once doubled in size,  brush with butter and bake as directed. 
Store/Reheat: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To reheat, bake covered with foil at 300°F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or microwave, covered with a damp paper towel, for 45 seconds.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.1mg
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