Giant Cinnamon Rolls

4.68 from 46 votes

Our best homemade cinnamon rolls....made extra large! Learn how to make gooey GIANT cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese frosting.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time28 mins

Rise Time1 hr 10 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best cinnamon roll recipe, cinnamon roll breakfast, cinnamon roll recipe

Servings:

Calories: 1552kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 cup warm milk (about 115 degrees F**) 8 ounces
2 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast (I like Red Star Platinum Baking Yeast)
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
1/2 cup butter (melted) 4 ounces
4- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 520-585 grams
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar 100 grams

For the Filling:

3/4 cup salted butter (almost melted) 6 ounces
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 300 grams
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon 19 grams

To pour over rolls:

1/2 cup heavy cream (for pouring over the risen rolls) 4 ounces

For the Frosting:

3 ounces cream cheese room temperature
2 1/2 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar 130 grams
1/2 teaspoon maple extract (or vanilla)

Instructions

Make the dough:

Pour the warm milk in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast overtop.
Add the eggs, butter, salt and sugar.
Add the flour and mix using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids.
Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it. Attach the dough hook.
Beat the dough on medium speed for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth. **The dough will be tacky and will still be sticking to the sides of the bowl. That's ok! Don't be tempted to add more flour at this point.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray.
Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl.
Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper.
Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until double. I like to turn on the oven to the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes. Then turn off the oven and place the dough to rise in there. It normally takes about 30 minutes for the dough to rise. Do not allow the dough to rise too much or your cinnamon rolls will be airy.

Cinnamon Filling:

While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. In a medium bowl, combine the soft butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing until well combined. Set aside.

Assemble the rolls:

Sprinkle a pastry mat generously with flour. Turn out the dough onto the pastry mat and sprinkle the top of the dough with additional flour.
Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to about a very large rectangle (about 26"x18" if you can get it that big).
Use a rubber spatula to smooth the cinnamon filling over the whole dough rectangle.
Use a pizza cutter to cut the rectangle in half down the middle to make two squares.
Starting with one of the halves, on the long end, roll the dough up tightly jelly roll style.
Cut the rolled part into 6 slices.
With the remaining rolled out dough, use a pizza cutter to cut 6 long strips of dough. The strips should be about the same width as the rolled dough that you have already made.
Place one of the rolls on its side one of the strips you cut. Roll the strip around the outside of the rolls again to make the roll twice as big. Repeat with the remaining 5 rolls. You should end up with 6 very large rolls.
Place the rolls in a greased 10x15" baking pan.*
Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes. It's ok if they haven't risen much. They'll rise as they bake.
Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off. Don't make it hot...you just don't want it cold. It should be warm to the touch.
Once the rolls have risen, pour the heavy cream over the top of the rolls, allowing it to soak down in and around the rolls.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Bake for about 28 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through. If the rolls are getting too browned on top, cover loosely with a piece of foil.
While the rolls are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting.
In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter using a hand mixer. Blend well.
Add in your favorite extract and the powdered sugar. Beat until combined.
Spread the frosting over the cooled rolls. Serve the rolls on a large platter or place each one in its own small cast iron skillet for a pretty look.
Store in an airtight container.

Notes

*If you don't have a pan that size, you can use two smaller 8x8" baking pans.

The calories shown are based on the recipe making 6 VERY LARGE rolls, with 1 serving being 1 large frosted roll. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition