We all want Christmas morning to be magical. Making beautiful memories takes a great deal of effort, but if you can take one thing off of your to-do list that morning, it could make all of the difference in how you enjoy the magic with your family. Check out these heavenly overnight cinnamon rolls sure to bring extra cheer on Christmas morning.
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Soft yummy rolls, brown sugar cinnamon filling, and ooey gooey cream cheese frosting. You can’t go wrong!
Prep: 35 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Rise: 12 hrs | Total Time: 12 hrs, 50 mins
The Dough
1 ¼ cups warm milk
¼ oz package active dry yeast
1 large egg
½ cup granulated sugar
½ butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups all purpose flour
In a small bowl add milk, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let this sit for about 5 minutes until it gets bubbly. In a large bowl, whisk the egg, then add the sugar and salt, melted butter, and then the yeast mixture. Add two cups of flour at first and stir until the entire mixture is smooth. Add the remaining flour in small portions. Knead for 5 minutes, or use a standing mixer with the dough hook attachment. The dough should turn out soft. You can always add more flour one tablespoon at a time.
Put the dough back into a bowl and cover with a towel. Find a warm spot to set the bowl and allow the dough to rise. Wait for the dough to double in size.
Cover a flat surface with flour and press the dough down into it. Roll it out to form a rectangle.
The Filling
6 tablespoons butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread softened butter over your rolled out dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on top, pressing gently into the butter. Roll the dough up tightly and gently press the ends together.
Next, cut the dough into 1 inch slices. This will make approximately 12 large cinnamon rolls. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the rolls about 1 inch apart. Cover your pan and refrigerate overnight (up to 16 hours).
In the Morning
Take your cinnamon rolls out of the refrigerator and let them sit on the countertop until they’ve doubled in size. This could take 1-2 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before adding the frosting.
The Frosting
6 tablespoons salted butter, softened
2 ounces of cream cheese softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk or heavy cream as needed
In a large bowl, beat together all ingredients. Add milk to reach the consistency you desire. Use a spatula to spread over your cooled cinnamon rolls.
Enjoy these scrumptious cinnamon rolls, and extra time with your family on Christmas morning!