Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls: Simple Step by Step Instructions
Skip the kneading and make your favorite sweet bread on a bread maker. Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls allow you to have delicious bread the easier way! If you love homemade cinnamon rolls, also check out my Coffee Cinnamon with Coffee Cream Cheese Icing and Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.
While I have been a proponent of kneading by hand and its therapeutic effects on me, I have to admit that I am falling in love with the bread machine recently. But, how does a bread maker actually works? And how can it make life easier for you, baker buddy?
What is a Bread Machine?
A bread machine allows you to just add your measured ingredients to the bread machine basket and it will do the mixing, kneading, rising and baking for you. And since some of you have been asking for bread machine recipes, I decided to give my machine (a borrowed one) a try.
I played with it for weeks and enjoyed a number of delicious loaves. And then these Bread machine Cinnamon Rolls were born.
If you want to make homemade cinnamon rolls on your bread maker, then read on and follow the easy instructions. You will have a delicious batch of fresh buns with minimal effort!
The Dough Cycle
- A bread machine can do all the work for you and produce delicious loaves. It has different cycles depending on the bread you are making: Basic, Whole Wheat, Sweet Bread, Rapid Bake to name a few. But since we are making cinnamon rolls, we have to use the DOUGH cycle.
- We use DOUGH cycle if we want a shape other than a loaf. That is, if we want to shape and bake the dough ourselves instead of finishing it on the machine. Basically, we make the cinnamon roll dough on the machine up to the first rise.
- Then, we shape it, prove it again, then bake it in the oven.
Ingredients for Bread Maker Cinnamon Rolls
What will go into your bread machine:
- Bread Flour. Most bread machine recipes call for bread flour as it contains higher protein. A higher protein content allows the bread to hold its shape better when it rises. However, you can use all-purpose flour if that is what you have.
- Active Dry Yeast. Bread machines may call for instant yeast or bread machine yeast. You can use this types on 1:1 ratio if you do not have active dry yeast.
- Milk. This adds richness, flavor and tenderness to the dough.
- Water. I find that a bit of water makes the dough more tender, and the resulting bread soft.
- Butter. This fat adds flavor and richness to your cinnamon buns.
- Egg
- Salt
After the Dough Cycle, you will need the following:
- The Cinnamon Sugar Filling is made up of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
- The Cream Cheese Icing is made of cream cheese, butter, sugar ad vanilla.
How to Make Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls?
- Measure your ingredients and add them to your bread machine in the order specified by your machine manual. Mostly it is liquids first, then the dry ingredients.
- Select the DOUGH setting on your bread machine. Depending on the brand, the machine will display the time it will take for the selected cycle to finish. Mine is 1:30 (1 hour and 30 minutes).
- Press start. Here is the fun part. No mixing or kneading for you. Just wait until the machine beeps!
- Once the cycle is finished, the machine will beep and will display 0:00 or reset to the cycle timer for the time. Flour a clean surface and take out the dough. The dough will be smooth and soft. Briefly knead just to deflate. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 18×12 inch rectangle.
- Spread the softened butter all over the dough. Combine cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl and sprinkle them all over the dough. Starting on the long edge, roll the dough into a tight log. Use a sharp knife to slice the dough into 1 .5 inch portions.
- Arrange them on two 9 inch round pans or on a 9×13 inch baking pan. Loosely cover and let rise for 1 hour, until puffy and doubled.
- Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden. Allow to cool slightly and spread the cream cheese icing on top.
And behold! Delicious, warm and ultra-soft Cinnamon rolls done in a much easy way! I am so in love with the bread machine and I think I am gonna make more bread with it.
I hope you will too! This bread machine cinnamon roll recipe is truly a keeper! Also, you have to check out my Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls for a lighter version, and my Brioche Sticky Buns for a richer version!
Storage
- These Cinnamon Rolls are best served warm. To store leftovers, keep them in a covered container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate them for longer storage.
- To reheat. Microwave for 8-12 seconds. They are still delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
Bread machine yeast, like instant yeast, are smaller granules than active dry yeast. They do not need to be dissolved and can be readily mixed in with other ingredients. Active dry yeast needs proving with warm water and a but of sugar. I tested this recipe using active dry yeast, however, you can use bread machine yeast if that is what you have.
Yes. You can use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast. Instant yeast is very similar in size as bread machine yeast.
Definitely! Use this as a base recipe to make other kinds of sweet rolls. If you need more frosting ideas, check out my other cinnamon roll recipes.
Check out these similar recipes:
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Skip the kneading and make your favorite sweet bread on a bread maker. Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls allow you to have delicious bread the easier way!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup milk (187 grams)
- 1/4 cup water (59 grams)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into little pieces (42.5 grams)
- 1 egg
- 3 cups bread flour (408 grams)
- 3 tbsp sugar (35 grams)
- 1 and 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 and 1/4 tsp active dry yeast ( 7 grams)
For the Cinnamon Filling
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (165 grams)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup softened butter (113 grams)
Cream Cheese Icing
- 4 oz cream cheese (or half block), softened (113 grams)
- 1/4 cup softened butter ( 57 grams)
- 1/2 cup icing sugar (65 grams)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- After measuring your ingredients, add them to your bread machine in the order specified by your machine manual. Mostly it is liquids first, then the dry ingredients
- Select the DOUGH setting on your bread machine. Depending on the brand, the machine will display the time it will take for the selected cycle to finish. Mine is 1:30 (1 hour and 30 minutes).
- Press start. Now here is the convenience of bread machines: walk away and just wait until the machine beeps!
- Once the cycle is done, the machine will beep and will display 0:00 or reset to the cycle timer for the time. Flour a clean surface and take out the dough. The dough will be smooth and soft. Briefly knead just to deflate. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 18x12 inch rectangle.
- Spread the softened butter all over the dough. Combine cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle them all over the dough. Starting on the long edge, roll the dough into a tight log. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into 1 .5 inch portions. Arrange them on two 9 inch round pans or on a 9x13 inch baking pan. Loosely cover and let rise for 1 hour, until puffy and doubled.
- Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops are golden. Allow to cool slightly and spread the cream cheese icing on top.
Cream Cheese Icing
Beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add icing sugar and beat on low speed to incorporate the powder. Increase speed to medium and beat until the icing is smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract. You can add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter icing.
Notes
- These Cinnamon Rolls are best served warm. To store leftovers, keep them in a covered container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate them for longer storage.
- To reheat. Microwave for 8-12 seconds. They are still delicious!
- Make Ahead Instructions: After the dough cycle, roll, fill and shape the dough and arrange them in the prepared pan. Cover with plastic film and refrigerate overnight. The next day, take it out from the fridge and allow the dough to do its second rise. Bake as instructed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 141mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 5g
Hi, could you tell me if the liquids need to be warmed and if so what temperature should they be? Also, what is the substitution for bread machine yeast? I have active yeast.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Cyndie
Hi Cyndie! The liquids do not need to be warmed as the bread machine will handle the temperature. Also if you do not have bread machine yeast, you can use active dry yeast.
Merry Christmas to you!
i have made these rolls several times, my niece and nephews love them. However the past few times i have made them, the rise beautifully, bake well and then when they cool they separate and get skinny.. any thoughts or ideas on what is happening?
Hi Spring!
You can try keeping the rolls in the oven for a few more minutes after you turn off the oven to help minimize the shrinking. Overshrinking can also be a result of over proofing during the second rise, so you can also pay attention to that as well. I hope this helps 🙂
This recipe is the best! I loved that it was so easy to work with. Will definitely be making these again. Thank you for sharing.
I am so happy you loved it , Cyndi!!
I am wondering if I can freeze half the dough as it comes out of the bread maker. Then let it thaw, and then make it into the rolls for a second rise. It makes a lot and my 3 person household has a hard time with 15 rolls in a couple of days.
Hello Peggy! Yes you can freeze the dough once it comes out of the bread maker. Once you are ready to bake, let it thaw, then rise. Deflate then shape it into rolls and let rise again.
Rolls came out perfect! I used a non-cream cheese topping, though. They were a perfect father’s day treat for my husband. He loves cinammon rolls! Fresh is always best and they did not disappoint! Using the bread machine is ideal. I refrigerated the rolls overnight, and rose and baked them in the morning.
Hi Peggy! I am so glad this was enjoyed!
I thought in the past this post had listed the amount of flour in grams. I can’t seem to find it. Does anyone know the amount? I thought it might have been 360g but it’s made my dough super tacky. I’ve never had issues with this recipe before so not sure what happened
Hi Sanna
Thank you for the bread machine pandesal recipe. I made it this morning and it came out good. If I had used regular flour, would it rise more? I found that the 2nd rise, didn’t produce much of a rise. Maybe I needed to put the dough in a warm oven for the 2nd rise?
Melva
Hi Melva,
You can let the shaped dough rise in a warm oven as well. It will make the rise a bit faster, and add a bit more puff. I am so glad you enjoyed the bread machine pandesal!
With love,
Sanna
Hello! I was wondering if I could freeze these? I’m looking for postpartum freezer meals and was wondering instead of refrigerating them if I could freeze and then thaw for the second rise? Thank you!
Hi Kady! Yes you can do that. Freeze after shaping them into rolls. Congratulations!
This will be my third time making your recipe in the bread machine. Can I use a sticky bun topping in place of cream cheese?
Hi Shelia!
I am glad you love this! Yes you can use a topping like the ones I used here in this whole wheat cinnamon rolls or in these Chelsea Buns.
I made this this morning and I always measure out the flour by grams. The dough was extremely sticky. I added more flour and kneaded by hand. Any ideas what happened? I’m going to let it rest then make the rolls hoping it’s not really heavy. Suggestions for next time?
Can I make the dough a day a head of time then bake or do I have to bake same time.
Yes you can. Just shape it and then refrigerate it to bake the next day. Just cover it nicely with plastic film or foil.
These were so good. Very easy using the bread machine. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Hello there Gail! I am so happy you loved this!
Can I freeze the roll and defrost when I want to bake?
Hi Crystal. Yes, you can form them, wrap them well in plastic film and then foil. On the day of baking allow them to thaw, let them rise then bake 🙂
Can I use all purpose flour?
Hi Eilish! You can use all-purpose flour here. Bread flour is higher in protein, and can yield more airy bread. But using all-purpose flour should not alter the texture much except that it will be less airy, a bit more dense.
Can the dough be made the night before and stored in the fridge till next morning?
You can shape them the night before, then store t in the fridge overnight. Allow it continue its second rise at room temperature the next morning, and then bake. 🙂 Happy Baking, Terri!
Made these today for neighbours coming in for coffee. Huge hit! And so easy for me as I can no longer knead by hand due to arthritis. Now I am planning to make them for Christmas morning breakfast treat! Thanks for a great recipe!
Thanks, Catherine! I am so happy you loved them. This will be a great Christmas morning breakfast!
Thank you for this recipe. Absolutely delicious. Will definitely make them regularly. So easy using the bread machine.