Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe for Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze is the perfect Sunday morning treat! Especially as the weather turns cool, a warm cozy kitchen emitting a fragrance of yeasted dough and cinnamon is heaven on earth.

But let’s face it, cinnamon buns are a ton of work. Most recipes require an hour of initial rising, then you need to fill them and slice them and let that rise for another hour. Then they need to bake for about 45 mins, but the time the process is complete 3 hours have gone by! Doesn’t anyone even want a cinnamon bun by noon on a Sunday? Sigh…

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe served in a cast iron skillet on a wood surface

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Can cinnamon rolls be made the day before?

Yes! That’s why I LOVE this recipe for overnight cinnamon rolls! Just prep all the ingredients the night before and let the dough rise while you are sleeping! Then wake up the next morning, fill, slice, and bake straight away.

cream cheese glaze drizzled on top of overnight cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet

It’s dangerous how easy these are…because they are SO good you’ll want to be making them every weekend!

How do you make cinnamon rolls from scratch?

  • You’ll begin by making a basic dough from flour, sugar, yeast, and water. I like to also flavor my dough with cinnamon and orange zest. as well as add a few raisins!
  • Then it will rise (overnight) and then all you have to do is mix up the filling, spread it into the rolled-out dough, slice, and bake.

Dough set to rise for overnight cinnamon rolls

How long does it take for cinnamon rolls to rise?

  • It usually can take anywhere from 2-3 hours with conventional cinnamon buns, but this overnight cinnamon bun recipe rises while you sleep.
  • So if you can get at least 6 hours of sleep the night before, that’s all you need.

How do you make a cream cheese glaze?

  • The cream cheese glaze is also really easy and can be made the night before as well.
  • You’ll mix together whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk and whisk until smooth.
  • For a thinner consistency add more milk until desired consistency is reached.

How to make cinnamon rolls and a cream cheese glaze

Serving Tips:

  • Drizzle glaze over the cinnamon buns in the skillet
  • And serve the additional glaze on the side for guests to serve more on top

Cream Cheese glaze being poured for a How to Make Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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How to Make Cinnamon Rolls Recipe served in a cast iron skillet on a wood surface

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Yield: 9 buns
Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 40 minutes

These Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze, are the perfect Sunday morning treat! Great for holiday entertaining as well! Make them the night before and let them rise while you sleep!

Ingredients

Cinnamon Rolls:

  • 3 ½ cups (420 g) flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp (1 package) (1/4 ounce/7g) dry active yeast
  • 2 tbsp (25 g) of sugar
  • 1 tsp salt (5 ml)
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) orange zest
  • ¾ cup (110 g) of raisins
  • 1 ¼ cup warm water (between 110-125F or 43-51C)
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml) melted butter + 1 tbsp (15 ml) for greasing
  • Filling:
  • 2 tbsp (23 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (25 g) white sugar
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
  • 2 tsp (5 ml) orange zest
  • ½ cup (75 g) chopped pecans
  • 4 tbsp (60 g) softened butter

Glaze:*

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) whipped cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp (7 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) milk
  • *Double Glaze recipe to have extra to serve on the side

Instructions

  1. Combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt, cinnamon, orange zest, raisins. Then add water and melted butter and slowly mix into a dough, and then into a ball. Then knead on a floured surface for 20 turns.
  2. Place other 1 tbsp (15 ml) of butter in a clean bowl, and grease the sides of the bowl with it. Place dough inside and cover with plastic wrap. Set in a warm place overnight.
  3. Then have the filling ingredients below measured out and standing by on your counter and take out the 4 tbsp (60 g) of butter to allow to get to room temperature as well. This will make for easy assembly in the morning!
  4. To make the filling. Combine sugars and cinnamon, orange zest and pecans.
  5. Remove the dough from the bowl and place on well-floured surface; roll out to a 18” x 14” (45cm x 35cm) rectangle. Smear with softened butter, then sprinkle with filling.
  6. Roll up, like a jelly roll, from the long side. Slice into 2” (5cm) slices. Fit, cut side up, into a cast-iron skillet or pie plate or baking dish.
  7. Bake at 350 for 40-45 mins until golden brown and puffed up.
  8. Meanwhile whisk together the glaze. In a small bowl combine the cream cheese and sugar whisk until smooth. Then add vanilla and milk whisk until smooth.
  9. Ladle frosting over warm cinnamon buns! And serve!

Notes

Double the recipe for the glaze if you want to have extra for serving alongside the skillet after drizzling

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 122Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 335mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g
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15 Comments

  1. These look great! Instead of mixing by hand could the dough be mixed in a stand mixer? Would rapid rise yeast work instead of active dry yeast. Great videos!

    1. Ah OK it’s for a 10 inch, but you could use the 12 inch that will give them more room to expand. I hope you enjoy!!

  2. Where have you been?! I have been looking for an overnight cinnamon roll recipe that I could make vegan. All I have to do is swap out the butter for the rolls and use a sugar glaze instead of cream cheese.
    Thank you so much!!!!!

  3. Hello Beth!!
    I love watching your YouTube videos!! You have a Great Personality! Your recipes are so elegant and you make it seem like anyone can do it too!
    I had a quick question about how far in advance can you make the dough? I know it says overnight but can I make it any earlier than the night before?
    Thank You for your time!!

    1. Well, it’s really best overnight since the yeast starts to lose its effectiveness if left longer than that and the rolls get a bit tough 🙂 So glad you enjoy the videos!! Thanks always for the support! 🙂