Maple Cinnamon Rolls – Soft and Fluffy
These Maple Cinnamon Rolls are soft, fluffy, buttery, and filled with warm cinnamon and brown sugar, then finished with a sweet maple glaze. They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, holidays, and cozy weekend baking.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 cup whole milk warm but not hot
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
For the Cinnamon Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
For the Maple Glaze
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Warm the milk until it is comfortably warm, not hot. Combine the warm milk, instant yeast, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the flour, melted butter, egg, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding only a little flour if necessary.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Roll the risen dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over the butter, then drizzle with maple syrup.
- Starting from one long side, tightly roll the dough into a log. Cut into 12 evenly sized rolls using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss.
- Arrange the rolls cut-side up in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let them rise again until noticeably puffy, about 30–45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cinnamon rolls for about 22–25 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through.
- While the rolls bake, whisk together the powdered sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, vanilla extract, salt, and milk until smooth.
- Let the baked cinnamon rolls cool for a few minutes, then drizzle generously with the maple glaze.
- Serve the maple cinnamon rolls warm and enjoy.
Notes
For the softest and fluffiest cinnamon rolls, avoid adding too much flour while kneading. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky rather than stiff.
Use pure maple syrup for the best maple flavor. Let the baked rolls cool for just a few minutes before glazing so the maple icing becomes slightly melty without completely running off.
For an extra-special variation, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the cinnamon filling before rolling the dough.
These cinnamon rolls are especially delicious served warm with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. They also make a wonderful Christmas breakfast, Thanksgiving brunch, weekend breakfast, or holiday baking recipe.