Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls (Printable)
Soft homemade dough filled with fresh strawberries and cinnamon sugar, topped with creamy vanilla glaze for a perfect breakfast or dessert.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
04 - ½ tsp salt
05 - ¾ cup warm milk
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 large egg
→ Filling
08 - ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 1 ½ tbsp ground cinnamon
10 - ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, diced
12 - 2 tsp cornstarch
→ Cream Cheese Glaze
13 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - ½ tsp vanilla extract
17 - 2-3 tbsp milk
# How-to Steps:
01 - Combine warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
02 - Add melted butter, sugar, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly. Gradually incorporate flour, mixing until a soft, workable dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled in volume.
04 - Toss diced strawberries with cornstarch in a small bowl until evenly coated. Set aside.
05 - Combine brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a separate bowl. Mix until uniform.
06 - Roll risen dough into a 16x12-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly over surface. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture, then distribute cornstarch-coated strawberries across the top.
07 - Roll dough tightly from the long edge. Cut into 12 equal pieces using a sharp knife or dough cutter.
08 - Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
09 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
10 - Bake rolls for 22-25 minutes until tops are golden brown and filling is bubbling. Allow to cool slightly in pan.
11 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. Adjust consistency with milk, adding 1 tablespoon at a time until desired thickness is reached.
12 - Spread cream cheese glaze generously over warm rolls. Serve immediately while still slightly warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Fresh strawberries turn classic cinnamon rolls into something special without much extra work
- The dough comes together easier than youd expect, even if yeast usually intimidates you
02 -
- Warm milk means warm to the touch, not hot, or you'll kill the yeast and your rolls won't rise
- Don't skip cutting strawberries into small pieces or they'll create gaps in your beautiful spirals
03 -
- Use unflavored dental floss to slice rolls without squishing them, sliding it under and crossing the ends
- Let rolls cool for exactly 10 minutes before glazing so it melts into all the crevices instead of running off