Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns Recipe: Irresistible Sweet Comfort

Nothing beats a freshly baked cinnamon bun that melts your worries away with its warm, gooey embrace.

Sweet aromas waft through the kitchen, promising comfort in every soft, swirling layer.

Pillowy dough becomes a canvas for rich, fragrant spices that dance across your taste buds.

Soft spirals promise pure indulgence, inviting you to savor each delectable bite.

My grandmother’s secret technique transforms simple ingredients into a magical morning treat.

Crisp edges and tender centers create a perfect balance of textures you’ll absolutely adore.

Prepare to fall in love with this irresistible breakfast classic that makes every morning special.

Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns That Hit the Sweet Spot

• Savor Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: These cinnamon buns deliver ultimate comfort food magic that brings everyone together with their irresistible aroma and warm, gooey texture.
• Master Beginner-Friendly Baking: Perfect for novice bakers, this recipe guides you through simple steps with minimal specialized techniques, making homemade pastry accessible and enjoyable.
• Create Weekend Breakfast Bliss: Ideal for lazy mornings and special gatherings, these rolls transform an ordinary breakfast into a delightful culinary experience that feels like a celebration.
• Customize with Personal Flair: Easily adaptable recipe allows for creative twists like adding nuts, different spices, or experimenting with glaze variations to match personal taste preferences.

What Goes Into Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns

Main Ingredients:

• Flour: A key component that provides structure and texture to the cinnamon buns.
• Yeast: Essential for helping the dough rise and creating a light, fluffy texture.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps activate the yeast for proper dough development.
• Eggs: Contribute to the richness and binding of the dough.
• Butter: Provides flavor and helps create a soft, tender dough.

• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness to the cinnamon rolls.
• Ground Cinnamon: Delivers the signature warm, spicy flavor that defines these buns.

• Cream Cheese: Creates a rich, tangy base for the sweet topping.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a smooth, spreadable glaze.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile with its warm, sweet notes.

Additional Ingredients:

• Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds sweetness to the dough.
• Milk: Helps dissolve and activate the yeast.

• Milk: Helps adjust the consistency of the cream cheese glaze.

How to Bake Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns with Love

Step 1: Awaken the Yeast

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture bubble and bloom for 5-7 minutes until it becomes wonderfully frothy and fills the kitchen with a delightful aroma.

Step 2: Create the Dough Base

Whisk eggs and gently blend them into the yeast mixture. Slowly incorporate softened butter, stirring until the mixture becomes silky smooth and perfectly combined.

Step 3: Knead the Magical Dough

Gradually fold flour into the liquid ingredients. Work the dough with your hands, kneading until it becomes wonderfully elastic and smoothly pulls away from the bowl’s sides. The texture should feel soft and supple like a cloud.

Step 4: Let the Dough Rise

Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and tuck it in a warm, cozy spot. Allow it to rise and expand for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size, looking puffy and full of potential.

Step 5: Roll Out the Deliciousness

Gently roll the risen dough into a beautiful rectangular shape, creating a thin and even canvas for your cinnamon masterpiece.

Step 6: Prepare the Filling

• Brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon

Ensure every inch is covered with these delectable ingredients.

Step 7: Shape the Rolls

Carefully roll the dough into a tight, elegant log. Slice the log into uniform rounds about 1-inch thick, creating perfect little swirls of goodness.

Step 8: Final Rise

Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, leaving a little breathing room between each one. Let them rise again at room temperature for 30 minutes, becoming beautifully puffy.

Step 9: Bake to Golden Perfection

Heat the oven to 375°F. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until they turn a gorgeous golden brown and fill your kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

Step 10: Create the Dreamy Glaze

• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Milk

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Step 11: Finish with Glaze Magic

Pull the rolls from the oven and immediately drizzle with the prepared glaze. Watch as it melts and cascades over the warm, inviting cinnamon buns, creating a mouthwatering finish.

Sweet Tips for the Softest Cinnamon Buns

• Proof Yeast Perfectly: Use milk at 110°F to activate yeast without killing it, ensuring a frothy and active starter for soft, fluffy buns.
• Knead with Care: Develop gluten by kneading dough until smooth and elastic, which creates a tender texture and helps rolls rise beautifully.
• Control Rising Temperature: Place dough in a warm, draft-free spot like a turned-off oven with the light on, promoting consistent and steady rising.
• Slice Cleanly: Use dental floss or a sharp serrated knife to cut rolls evenly, preventing squishing and maintaining beautiful round shapes.
• Prevent Overbaking: Check rolls at 18 minutes and tent with foil if browning too quickly, ensuring a moist and gooey center without burning edges.

Cinnamon Bun Swaps and Tasty New Takes

• Nutty Cinnamon Rolls: Replace brown sugar with chopped pecans and walnuts, adding a rich, crunchy texture to the classic recipe.
• Chocolate Swirl Buns: Incorporate cocoa powder into the filling and sprinkle chocolate chips for a decadent chocolate-cinnamon combination.
• Apple Cinnamon Fusion: Mix finely diced apples with the cinnamon-sugar filling, creating a fruity and warm seasonal variation.
• Salted Caramel Edition: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce over the cream cheese glaze for an indulgent, sweet-and-salty finish.

What Complements Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns Best

• Brew Perfect Coffee Companion: Rich, medium-roast Colombian coffee cuts through the sweetness and complements the cinnamon's warmth, creating a balanced flavor experience that elevates every bite.
• Enhance Wine Pairing: Select a late-harvest Riesling with slight sweetness that matches the dessert's sugary profile, highlighting the cinnamon's spicy undertones without overwhelming the delicate pastry.
• Create Milk Matching: Cold whole milk provides a creamy, smooth counterpoint to the gooey cinnamon buns, offering a classic breakfast combination that refreshes the palate and softens the rolls' intense sweetness.
• Design Herbal Tea Option: Brew chamomile or vanilla-infused black tea to harmonize with the cinnamon's spice, offering a soothing backdrop that enhances the rolls' rich, buttery texture without competing with their dominant flavors.

How to Store Cinnamon Buns Without Drying Them Out

• Store cooled cinnamon buns in an airtight container, placing wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Wrap the entire pan tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months, maintaining their delicious taste and soft texture. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Separate cinnamon buns, wrap each individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Store for up to 1 month, allowing quick single-serving defrosting when craving a sweet treat.
• Keep uncovered at room temperature for 1-2 days in a cool, dry place.

All the FAQs About Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns

• How do I know if my yeast is activated properly?

Look for a frothy, bubbly surface and a slightly sweet, yeasty aroma. If the mixture doesn’t foam or smell right, the yeast might be old or the liquid was too hot or cold.

• Why is letting the dough rise important?

Rising allows yeast to create air pockets, making the cinnamon buns soft and fluffy. Proper rising develops flavor and creates that light, tender texture everyone loves.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough the night before, cover it, and refrigerate. Let it come to room temperature and rise before rolling and baking.

• What if my dough isn't becoming elastic?

Add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time.

Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes – 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade “Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns” promise pure breakfast bliss with their swirling layers of buttery dough and sweet spice. Warm cinnamon rolls straight from the oven invite comfort and joy, promising a delightful morning treat you’ll savor to the last crumb.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter

Filling:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup softened butter

Topping/Glaze:

• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp milk

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Activate the yeast by combining warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let the mixture sit for 5-7 minutes until it becomes frothy and aromatic.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and gradually incorporate softened butter into the yeast mixture, stirring until smooth and well-blended.
3. Gradually fold flour into the liquid ingredients, kneading the dough until it becomes elastic and pulls away from the bowl’s sides. The texture should be soft and pliable.
4. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and allow it to rise in a warm environment for approximately 1 hour, or until it doubles in volume.
5. Roll out the risen dough into a rectangular shape, creating a thin, even surface.
6. Spread softened butter evenly across the dough, then generously sprinkle brown sugar and ground cinnamon over the entire surface.
7. Carefully roll the dough into a tight log, then slice into uniform rounds approximately 1-inch thick.
8. Arrange the cinnamon rolls in a greased baking dish, ensuring they are slightly separated. Let them rise again for 30 minutes at room temperature.
9. Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and thoroughly cooked.
10. While baking, prepare the cream cheese glaze by whisking cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and creamy.
11. Remove rolls from the oven and immediately drizzle with the prepared glaze, allowing it to melt and coat the warm cinnamon buns.

Notes

• Yeast Activation: Ensure milk is warm (not hot) to prevent killing the yeast, which can result in dense, heavy buns.
• Dough Handling: Knead the dough gently but thoroughly to develop gluten without overworking, creating a soft, pillowy texture.
• Rising Environment: Place dough in a draft-free, warm spot like a slightly heated oven or near a warm appliance to encourage optimal rising.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for better structure and elasticity.
• Dairy-Free Option: Replace milk with almond or oat milk, and use coconut oil instead of butter for a plant-based alternative.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 310
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 43 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg