Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls with maple frosting

Tender, flaky, buttery and sweet, and loaded with cinnamon; Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls are some of the best sweet rolls I’ve ever had. I first made these cinnamon rolls in January, 2011. Ree’s original recipe was developed with the idea that you’ll share entire pans of these cinnamon rolls with friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, etc. As developed, the original recipe makes 7 or 8 disposable foil pans filled with sweet cinnamon rolls, depending on how thick you cut each roll. Needless to say, there are plenty to share, and enjoy!

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls are one of the easiest yeast roll recipes I’ve ever made.

I’ve made a few changes to the original recipe.

What makes Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls so good?

Our resized recipe makes three 9-inch pans with 10 rolls each.

Another reason Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls are so good is the unique maple frosting recipe.

The addition of baking powder and baking soda is unique in a yeasted dough.

To achieve a soft sweet-bread texture and yeasty flavor you’ll find in a true cinnamon roll, this recipes uses yeast, baking powder and baking soda. It’s very unusual for a recipe to call for three leavening agents, but it really works for these rolls!  This bold combination of leaveners means the rolls only need 30 minutes of rise time after shaping into spirals. Also, a lower oven temperature ensures they have enough time to rise high before the tops set. The end result is soft, puffy, flaky rolls that are not at all chewy. They practically melt in your mouth!

Can you freeze Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls?

Thanks for PINNING!

Let’s be baking friends! When you try our recipe please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’m sure your experience and insights will help all our readers, and it helps me too. Also, if you’re on Pinterest feel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one! If you share on INSTAGRAM tag @savingroomfordessert so we can stop by and give your post some love. And we’d be very happy if you’d FOLLOW Saving Room for Dessert on FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| PINTEREST | TWITTER  and subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel for all the latest recipes, videos and updates. Thank you!!!

PRINT THE RECIPE!

5 from 1 vote

Print

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

1 d 2 hrs 15 mins

 

Tender, flaky, buttery, sweet and loaded with cinnamon

Course: Bread, Breakfast or Brunch

Servings: 30 rolls

Author: Tricia

Ingredients

For the cinnamon rolls:

• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 (.25 ounce) package Active Dry Yeast
• 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, separated
• ½ teaspoon (heaping) baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for greasing pans
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ⅔ cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the maple frosting:

• 8 ounces powdered sugar, sifted (1 cup)
• ½ teaspoon maple flavoring
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon strong brewed coffee
• pinch of salt

Instructions

To make the dough:

1. Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a small sauce pan. Warm over medium heat just until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture reaches 95-100 F (lukewarm) on an instant read thermometer. Remove from the heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Cool, if needed, until the milk reaches 95° to 100° F on an instant read thermometer.

2. Sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm milk mixture and set aside for 5-10 minutes. Add 4 cups of the flour and stir until combined (you can do this by hand with a wooden spoon or use the dough hook of a stand mixer). Cover and let rise for one hour in a warm location. The mixture should be bubbly and puffed.

3. In a small bowl or 1 cup measure, combine the remaining ½ cup of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir together until blended. Add the flour mixture to the dough and mix until all flour is incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight, or for a day or two, if desired. If rising for more than a day, watch the dough and punch down if needed to prevent overflowing.

To make the cinnamon rolls:

1. Grease 3 (9-inch) cake pans with melted butter, set aside.
2. Heavily flour a large, clean work surface. Lightly punch down the dough and scrape out onto the countertop. Using floured hands, and a floured rolling pin, press and roll the dough into a rectangle at least 30-inches wide and about 18 to 20-inches deep. The dough will be very thin.
3. Brush 12 tablespoons of melted butter over the surface of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border along the 30-inch side farthest away from you.

4. Sprinkle ⅔ cup of sugar over the butter layer, followed by the ground cinnamon.

5. Roll the dough into a log starting at the 30-inch side closest to you. Gently pull the dough toward you, then tuck and roll, and repeat, keeping it pretty tight as you go. Next, pinch the seams to seal.

6. Using a ruler as a guide, cut the rolls into (30) 1-inch slices. You can use a large, thin, sharp knife to cut the rolls, or a long piece of dental floss works very well, too. Place the rolls, cut side down, into the prepared pans.

7. Preheat oven to 375° F.

8. Let the rolls rise in a warm location for 30 to 40 minutes. Once risen, the unbaked rolls should be puffed and smooth. To ensure the rolls have risen properly, gently press the edge of a roll with a knuckle. If the dough does not quickly and completely fill back into the depression, the rolls are ready. Bake at 375° F until light golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

9. Transfer the pans to a rack to cool while preparing the frosting.

To make the frosting:

1. Using an electric mixer or whisk, combine the frosting ingredients and blend until smooth. The frosting should be thick, but pourable. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Feel free to go little crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman.

 

• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For best results bring the chilled rolls to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Unfrosted rolls may be kept at room temperature.

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls were originally published on Saving Room for Dessert in January 2011, and updated December 2019

Here are a few more swirly bread recipes you might also enjoy:

Chocolate Babka

Lion House Rolls

Strawberry Sweet Rolls