Easy cinnamon rolls — A fast and friendly cinnamon roll recipe using thawed bread dough for simple assembly and delicious results. These easy cinnamon rolls feature a buttery brown sugar and walnut filling topped with a light glaze — great for a quick bakery-style breakfast.
Prep Time: 25 mins • Cook Time: 25 mins • Additional Time: 1 hr 30 mins (rise) • Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins • Servings: 20 (Yield: 20 rolls)
Ingredients
- 1 (1-lb) loaf frozen bread dough, thawed (or thawed bread-roll dough)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus extra for pans)
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon water (as needed to seal roll edges)
Glaze
- ⅔ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 dash vanilla extract
For pan finish
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream (poured over dough before baking — optional, makes it extra rich)
Directions
Step 1
Prepare pans and dough: Lightly grease two round cake pans. Turn thawed dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 6×18-inch rectangle.
Step 2
Brush and fill: Brush the dough with 3 tablespoons melted butter. In a small bowl combine brown sugar, chopped walnuts and cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over buttered dough.
Step 3
Roll, seal & slice: Starting at the long edge, roll dough into a tight log. Moisten the seam edge with 1 tsp water and pinch to seal. Cut the log into 20 equal slices.
Step 4
Arrange & rise: Place slices cut-side down in prepared cake pans. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 90 minutes.
Step 5
Add cream (optional) & bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). For a richer finish, pour heavy cream over the tops of the rolls just before baking. Bake about 25 minutes until golden and baked through.
Step 6
Glaze & serve: Whisk confectioners’ sugar, 2 Tbsp milk and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls and serve.
Cook’s Note
Using frozen/thawed bread dough saves time and provides consistent texture. Add extra walnuts or omit nuts for nut-free families. For a softer top, brush with melted butter right after baking before glazing.
Nutrition Facts (per roll)
Calories 157 • Total Fat 6g • Saturated Fat 2g • Cholesterol 10mg • Sodium 144mg • Total Carbohydrate 23g • Dietary Fiber 1g • Total Sugars 12g • Protein 3g