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Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2006

Show: Good EatsEpisode: House of the Rising Bun

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (242)

  • Cook Time:

    30 min

  • Level:

    Intermediate

  • Yield:

    12 rolls

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Times:

Prep
45 min
Inactive Prep
10 hr 30 min
Cook
30 min
Total:
11 hr 45 min
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Ingredients

Dough:

  • 4 large egg yolks, room temperature
  • 1 large whole egg, room temperature
  • 2 ounces sugar, approximately 1/4 cup
  • 3 ounces unsalted butter, melted, approximately 6 tablespoons
  • 6 ounces buttermilk, room temperature
  • 20 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 cups, plus additional for dusting
  • 1 package instant dry yeast, approximately 2 1/4 teaspoons
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • Vegetable oil or cooking spray

Filling:

  • 8 ounces light brown sugar, approximately 1 cup packed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch salt
  • 3/4-ounce unsalted butter, melted, approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons

Icing:

  • 2 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened, approximately 1/4 cup
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 5 1/2 ounces powdered sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups

Directions

For the dough: in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg yolks, whole egg, sugar, butter, and buttermilk. Add approximately 2 cups of the flour along with the yeast and salt; whisk until moistened and combined. Remove the whisk attachment and replace with a dough hook. Add all but 3/4 cup of the remaining flour and knead on low speed for 5 minutes. Check the consistency of the dough, add more flour if necessary; the dough should feel soft and moist but not sticky. Knead on low speed 5 minutes more or until the dough clears the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; knead by hand about 30 seconds. Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl, lightly oil the top of the dough, cover and let double in volume, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside until ready to use.

Butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently shape the dough into a rectangle with the long side nearest you. Roll into an 18 by 12-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with the 3/4-ounce of melted butter, leaving 1/2-inch border along the top edge. Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border along the top edge; gently press the filling into the dough. Beginning with the long edge nearest you, roll the dough into a tight cylinder. Firmly pinch the seam to seal and roll the cylinder seam side down. Very gently squeeze the cylinder to create even thickness. Using a serrated knife, slice the cylinder into 1 1/2-inch rolls; yielding 12 rolls. Arrange rolls cut side down in the baking dish; cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight or up to 16 hours.

Remove the rolls from the refrigerator and place in an oven that is turned off. Fill a shallow pan 2/3-full of boiling water and set on the rack below the rolls. Close the oven door and let the rolls rise until they look slightly puffy; approximately 30 minutes. Remove the rolls and the shallow pan of water from the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

When the oven is ready, place the rolls on the middle rack and bake until golden brown, or until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, approximately 30 minutes.

While the rolls are cooling slightly, make the icing by whisking the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until creamy. Add the milk and whisk until combined. Sift in the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Spread over the rolls and serve immediately.

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Read more Comments & Reviews (242)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Camille Spruce Grove, AB 10-31-2009

    Flag

    I have never worked with such an awesome dough

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    These turned out perfectly, I didn't do the overnight version, I'd still have to get up an hour earlier than everyone just to... have them done breakfast, but WOW I was so impressed about how nice a dough it made. Beautiful result! Delicious and moist!Read more
  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Jessica Washington, IL 10-28-2009

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    Way to go Alton, these cinnamon rolls were perfect!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    These rolls were outstanding. I joked that they were like cinnamon rolls made by angels in heaven. They were not overly... sweet, which is perfect. The icing covered all of the rolls with leftovers. They sound like a lot of work but it is broken up and totally do-able- even with small children at your feet. My rolls sat in the fridge for 17 hous and were fine.Read more
  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Jen Brookline, MA 10-19-2009

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    Tasted great, didn't rise as expected

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    My rolls didn't rise as expected, but they ended up rising more while they were baking. The end result was amazing. Everyone... loved them.Read more
  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Victoria La Grange, KY 10-18-2009

    Flag

    BEST EVER CINNAMON ROLLS!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    I chose to make this recipe instead of the others b/c you make it the night before. If there is one thing I hate, it's not... being able to totally relax on a Sunday Morning. If you are working away in the kitchen, it leaves you feeling tired and wiped out while everyone else gets to read the paper and drink their coffee. No fun for the cook! So, any Sunday breakfast I can make ahead of time and pop into the oven, really takes the stress out and leaves me feeling super relaxed!! I was not disappointed with these rolls. Everyone went crazy over these -- they are so good! I don't think I'll bother trying any of the other recipes. Make sure that your yeast is very fresh otherwise your dough will not rise. And don't be surprised if it takes a bit longer than 2 1/2 hours for it to rise -- mine did, and I was worried that I had done something wrong -- but everything turned out ok. I actually made an additional roll and froze it, so we'll see how that turns out! Thanks to Alton for this fabulous easy recipe.Read more
  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Emilie Eau Claire, WI 10-04-2009

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    SOO Good!!! and no morning hassle!!!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Wow Alton, you've done it again!! These were so good! and doing all the work the night before made it super easy to get up in... the morning, heat the oven and bake them for the kids! Super soft and flakey! they almost melt in your mouth!! way better than the refrigerated cinnamon roll dough! Awesome!!! Thanks Alton!! I will make these many more times!!Read more
  • recipe Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
    Jeff Newberg, OR 09-28-2009

    Flag

    Mom was the Cinnamon Roll Queen... until tonight.

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    With 4 other dessert choices at tonight's multi-birthday bash I had nothing to lose. A flop would have gone unnoticed. This... was no flop! My me-too dessert became the star attraction. Real eggs, real butter, real sugar, Bob's Red Mill (local Oregon) flour, Philly cream cheese, real buttermilk, and attention to process made high, moist, delicately sweet cinnamon rolls. Since I've never made yeast breads before I was nervous that there was so much room in the 12"x17" (double batch) pan. It expanded tight over the steaming water. Cooking to thermometer was a good idea and assured no gumminess. My only ALTERATION was to brush the firm golden crowns with butter before icing. YUM!Read more
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