These Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting are soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet, with a rich cinnamon filling and a creamy, smooth cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as a decadent dessert, they are easy to make at home and irresistible for any special occasion.
Why you will love this recipe?
Looking for the ultimate homemade cinnamon rolls? This recipe delivers tender, spiced rolls with gooey filling and rich cream cheese frosting that everyone will love. This recipe gives you soft, airy dough, warm cinnamon swirls, and a luscious frosting that’s impossible to resist.
Expert Tips for Best Results!
- Activate yeast correctly – Use lukewarm milk to bloom the yeast; it should become frothy before adding other ingredients.
- Knead the dough properly – Knead until soft and slightly elastic for light, fluffy rolls. Avoid under- or over-kneading.
- Pour heavy cream before baking – This keeps the rolls moist and tender while baking.
- Prevent over-browning – If the top browns too fast, loosely cover with foil during the last few minutes of baking.
- Room temperature frosting – Make sure butter and cream cheese are soft to achieve a smooth, creamy frosting.
- Make-ahead tip – Shaped rolls can be stored in the fridge overnight. Reduce yeast slightly, then bring to room temperature before baking.
How to make Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls?
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
In a bowl, mix lukewarm milk with yeast and sugar and let it rest for 5–10 minutes until it becomes frothy and bubbly. This ensures your rolls rise perfectly.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add egg, cooled melted butter, and yogurt to the yeast mixture and mix well. Add red gel food colour and mix. Gradually fold in flour, corn starch, and salt, then knead into a soft, slightly elastic dough for 8–10 minutes with a mixer or 10–15 minutes by hand. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.
Step 3: Prepare the Bottom Layer
While the dough rises, mix very soft butter with brown sugar and cream until smooth. Spread a thin layer evenly in a prepared baking dish to prevent the rolls from sticking and add extra flavour.
Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Filling
Combine soft butter, dark brown sugar, and cinnamon powder until smooth. This filling will create the signature swirls and rich flavour inside the rolls.
Step 5: Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat butter until creamy, add cream cheese, then gradually mix in icing sugar, a pinch of salt, and optional vanilla until smooth. Set aside for topping after baking.
Step 6: Shape the Rolls
Once the dough has doubled, punch it down and roll it into a rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly, cut into strips, roll each strip, and place them in the baking dish over the bottom layer.
Step 7: Second Rise
Cover the shaped rolls and let them rise again for 30–45 minutes until slightly puffed. This ensures soft, airy rolls after baking.
Step 8: Bake the Rolls
Pour heavy cream over the rolls, then bake in a preheated oven at 175°C / 350°F for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. If your oven runs hot, loosely cover with foil to prevent over-browning.
Step 9: Add the Frosting and Serve
Let the rolls cool slightly before spreading the cream cheese frosting on top. Serve warm for a decadent breakfast, brunch, or dessert treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to bake the rolls tomorrow?
You can prepare them in advance. Reduce the yeast slightly, shape the rolls as usual, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The next day, let them come to room temperature before baking to get soft, perfectly risen rolls.
How do I prevent the rolls from drying out?
Pour heavy cream over the rolls before baking and avoid overbaking. Cover loosely with foil if your oven runs hot to keep the tops from browning too quickly.
Can I freeze the rolls?
Yes, shaped rolls can be frozen before the second rise. Wrap them tightly, freeze, and then thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.
Can I use all white sugar instead of brown sugar?
Yes, but brown sugar gives a richer, caramel-like flavour that complements the cinnamon filling best.
How can I make the rolls extra fluffy?
Make sure the dough is kneaded until soft and elastic, allow both rises to fully double the dough, and do not overfill the rolls with cinnamon filling.
Watch How to Make it!
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Recipe Card
Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For Dough:
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (333g)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 3/4 tsp Instant yeast
- 3 1/2 tbsp Sugar (45g)
- A little more than half tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp Corn starch (12g)
- 1/3 cup melted butter (80g)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp yogurt (42g)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp + 1 tsp lukewarm milk (150ml)
- 1 tsp red gel food colour
- 50-55ml heavy cream (for pouring before baking)
For Bottom Layer:
- 5 tbsp very soft butter (68g)
- 1/2 cup minus 1 tbsp soft packed brown sugar (88g)
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp heavy cream (16 ml)
For Cinnamon Filling:
- 1/3 cup very soft butter
- 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp dark brown sugar (75g)
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
For Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Approx 1/4 cup minus 1 tsp (3 tbsp) butter (42g)
- 1/2 cup room temp cream cheese (115g)
- 1/2 cup icing sugar (75g or more if needed)
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Mix lukewarm milk with yeast and 1 tsp sugar in a bowl and let it rest for 5–10 minutes until frothy. This ensures the dough rises properly.
- Add egg, cooled melted butter, and yogurt to the yeast mixture and mix well. Add red gel food colour and mix. Gradually fold in flour, corn starch, and salt, then knead into a soft, slightly elastic dough for 8–10 minutes with a mixer or 10–15 minutes by hand. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.
- Mix very soft butter with brown sugar and cream until smooth, then spread a thin layer evenly in a prepared baking dish. This adds flavour and prevents sticking.
- Combine soft butter, dark brown sugar, and cinnamon powder until smooth to make the filling that will create the signature swirls and rich flavour inside the rolls.
- Beat butter until creamy, add cream cheese, and gradually mix in icing sugar, a pinch of salt, and optional vanilla until smooth. Set aside for topping after baking.
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a rectangle. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly, cut into strips, roll each strip, and arrange them in the baking dish over the bottom layer.
- Cover the shaped rolls and let them rise for 30–45 minutes until slightly puffed for soft, airy rolls.
- Pour heavy cream over the rolls, then bake in a preheated oven at 175°C / 350°F for 25–30 minutes until golden brown. If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
- Let the rolls cool slightly, then spread the cream cheese frosting on top. Serve warm for a decadent breakfast, brunch, or dessert treat.
Am I missing when the red color is added? I’ve read it three times.
Hey!! You should add the red food colour after mixing the egg, yogurt and butter. I have just fixed it! 🙂
This recipe is absolutely perfect! 😍 its creamy and soft and fluffy!
it definitely taste like heaven in your mouth!
Thankyou so much Lucia! I am glad you liked them 🙂
When is the rest of sugar incorporated as you used only 1tsp ?
Hello, you will add the rest of the sugar with flour!