Making cinnamon buns from scratch can be a delightful and rewarding process. Here’s a basic recipe for homemade cinnamon buns:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

  • 4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg

For the Filling:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Make the Dough:

  • In a small saucepan, heat the milk until it is warm but not boiling. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
  • Add the warm milk, softened butter, and egg to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
  • Gradually add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms.
  • Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
  • Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

2. Make the Filling:

  • In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined.

3. Assemble the Cinnamon Buns:

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle, about 16×12 inches.
  • Spread the cinnamon-sugar filling evenly over the dough.
  • Starting from one of the longer edges, tightly roll the dough into a log.
  • Cut the log into 12 equal slices.

4. Bake:

  • Place the cinnamon bun slices in a greased baking pan, leaving a little space between each.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown.

5. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • While the buns are baking, prepare the cream cheese frosting by beating together the cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.

6. Frost the Cinnamon Buns:

  • Once the cinnamon buns are out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes before spreading the cream cheese frosting over the top.

Enjoy your homemade cinnamon buns! They are best served warm.