King Cake Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Delight in these King Cake Cinnamon Rolls, a festive twist on classic cinnamon buns featuring a tender dough infused with cinnamon and sugar, baked to golden perfection, and topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. Perfect for celebrations or a special breakfast treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 medium-sized rolls 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
Glaze Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp milk or cream
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast; let sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is activated.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Whisk in granulated sugar, melted butter, and eggs into the frothy yeast mixture until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix all-purpose flour, salt, and ground cinnamon thoroughly.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the Roll: Roll out the risen dough into a ½ inch thick rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly over the surface, then sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture (combine additional cinnamon and sugar if desired).
- Shape Rolls: Tightly roll the dough into a log, slice into approximately 2-inch pieces, and arrange them in a greased baking dish.
- Second Rise: Allow the rolls to rise again for about 30 minutes, covered, until puffed.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Make Glaze: While baking or after, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk or cream until smooth.
- Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over the warm cinnamon rolls just before serving to add a sweet finishing touch.
Notes
- Make sure milk is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Kneading the dough develops gluten, resulting in soft, fluffy rolls.
- You can add colored sugars or sprinkles on top of the glaze for a traditional King Cake look.
- For a richer flavor, consider adding a tablespoon of orange zest to the dough.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container; warm slightly before serving.
Keywords: King Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnamon Sugar Rolls, Breakfast Pastry, Sweet Rolls, Festival Bake
Find it online: https://tastybella.com/king-cake-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/
