Gooey Cinnamon Rolls: Melt-in-Your-Mouth Magic Straight from the Oven

The Comfort Classic That Never Misses

There’s nothing—and we mean nothing—like pulling a tray of gooey cinnamon rolls from the oven and watching that frosting melt into every swirl. These rolls are soft, warm, and absolutely dripping with buttery cinnamon sugar. They hit that perfect balance of fluffy and sticky, with each bite pulling apart like a dream. Whether it’s a cozy morning, brunch with friends, or a sweet midnight reward, these cinnamon rolls bring peak comfort and full-on indulgence. Homemade and totally worth every step, this is your go-to recipe when you want to bake something unforgettable.

Ingredients

For the Dough: ¾ cup warm milk (110°F), 2¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 egg yolk, ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted), 3¼ cups all-purpose flour, ¾ tsp salt

For the Filling: ½ cup unsalted butter (softened), ¾ cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Frosting: 4 oz cream cheese (softened), 3 tbsp unsalted butter (softened), ¾ cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp vanilla extract, 1–2 tbsp milk (to thin, if needed)

Instructions

• Warm the milk to about 110°F and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
• Add the sugar, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Whisk until smooth.
• Add flour and salt. Mix until the dough starts to come together, then knead by hand or with a dough hook for 8–10 minutes until soft and elastic.
• Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, make the filling by mixing softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon into a thick paste.
• Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a 14×9-inch rectangle.
• Spread the cinnamon filling evenly across the dough.
• Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log and cut into 9 even rolls.
• Place the rolls in a buttered 9×9-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes, until puffy.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake rolls for 22–26 minutes, until just golden on top and soft in the center.
• While they bake, make the frosting by beating together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a splash of milk until smooth and spreadable.
• Spread frosting over warm rolls as soon as they come out of the oven so it melts into every swirl. Serve immediately.

Optional Add-Ons & Variations

Extra gooey: Double the cinnamon filling for a more caramel-like center.
Maple twist: Add ½ tsp maple extract to the frosting.
Nutty: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts into the filling before rolling.
Overnight version: Let the shaped rolls rise overnight in the fridge, then bake fresh in the morning.

Final Thoughts

These gooey cinnamon rolls are rich, fluffy, and ridiculously addictive—perfect for making mornings magical or sweetening up your weekend. Serve them with coffee, share them with friends, or keep them all to yourself (no judgment). The best part? They’re made from scratch, packed with love, and dripping in cream cheese frosting.