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Get ready to make the ultimate sticky cinnamon rolls, dripping with homemade caramel sauce that soaks into every layer as they bake.
The aroma alone will put you in a good mood, but wait until you take a bite. Soft, fluffy rolls swirled with cinnamon and drenched in gooey caramel are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. These caramel cinnamon rolls bring an extra dose of indulgence to any moment.
Here is Why This Cinnamon Sticky Buns Recipe Works
That Gooey Caramel Sauce: This isn’t just any caramel. This is sticky, gooey, soak-into-every-layer caramel. It’s the secret to rolls that practically melt in your mouth.
Soft and Fluffy Dough: Light, tender, and packed with buttery flavor. Let’s just say these rolls know how to show up.
Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: No need to hunt down fancy ingredients for these cinnamon buns. You’ve probably got most of what you need in your kitchen already!
Perfect Anytime Treat: Breakfast, brunch, dessert—or hey, treat yourself at midnight. There’s no wrong time for these caramel-kissed cinnamon rolls.
The Ingredients
- Dairy: Milk, eggs, butter, cream
- Pantry: Bread flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, light brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla extract
- Pantry Spices: Cinnamon, salt
- Baking Essentials: Instant dry yeast
Cinnamon Roll Variations
Salted Caramel Rolls: Stir in ½ cup chopped pecans to the filling and sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the caramel sauce before baking the gooey cinnamon rolls.
Chocolate Hazelnut Cinnamon Rolls: Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the filling and one cup chopped hazelnuts just before rolling them up.
Apple Cinnamon Caramel Rolls: Add 1 cup finely diced apples to the filling and a dash of nutmeg for a fall-inspired twist that pairs perfectly with the sticky caramel.
These sticky cinnamon buns are delicious on their own, but to take them to the next level, try spreading them with our cinnamon maple cream cheese frosting.
Tips for Success
- Make sure your eggs and butter are at room temperature for easier mixing and a lighter dough. It is especially important to use softened butter.
- If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it’s smooth and soft but not overly sticky.
- Spray the baking pan with non-stick spray.
- If you don’t have a large enough baking dish, you can use a couple of cake pans.
- For clean, even slices, use unscented dental floss instead of a knife to cut your rolls. Wrap the floss around the dough, cross the ends, and pull to slice.
- After baking, let the rolls cool slightly before inverting onto a platter. This allows the caramel to set slightly and cool down so it doesn’t burn you.
- Don’t skip the second rise! Allowing the rolls to double in size after shaping gives them an extra soft texture.
- There will be some extra caramel sauce in the baking pan. Scoop that out before the pan cools down then drizzle it on top of the sticky buns.
Storage
At Room Temperature: Place the cinnamon sticky buns in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap, and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
In the Refrigerator: For longer storage, transfer the rolls to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Before serving, reheat briefly in the microwave or oven to soften.
Freezing: To freeze, wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating from Frozen: To reheat, let rolls thaw at room temperature, then microwave for about 20-30 seconds or warm in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes.
The Best Homemade Caramel Cinnamon Rolls
These sticky caramel cinnamon rolls bring all the cozy vibes, from soft, buttery layers to that gooey caramel sauce soaking into every swirl. Perfect for brunch or dessert, this is a recipe you will want to keep on hand.
More Artisan Bread Recipes
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- Ooni Pizza Dough Recipe
- Greek Easter Bread
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- 21 Artisan Bread Recipes
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Caramel Cinnamon Buns
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Ingredients
Tender Buns
- 1 cup warm milk, (227 grams)
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup butter, softened, (4 ounces; 113 grams)
- ¼ cup sugar, (50 grams)
- ¾ teaspoons salt
- 2-¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 3-½ cups bread flour, (420 grams)
- 1-¼ to 2 cups all-purpose flour, (150 to 240 grams)
Cinnamon Roll Filling
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed (110 grams)
- ¼ cup sugar, (100 grams)
- ½ cup butter, softened, (4 ounces; 113 grams)
- 1-2 tablespoons cinnamon
Sticky Gooey Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup, (4 oz or 113 g butter)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed, (220 grams)
- ¼ cup sugar, (50 grams)
- ⅓ cup corn syrup, (113 grams)
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup cream, (170 grams)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Tender Dough:
- You can mix the dough by hand, with a stand mixer, or in a bread machine: Combine the milk, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and instant yeast. The butter will look clumpy and the mixing method may seem a bit different but it works.
- Add the bread flour and 1-¼ cups of the all-purpose flour. Mix by hand or with the stand mixer or bread machine. If you are using a bread machine turn the machine to dough setting. You may need to help the ingredients blend together in the first minute of mixing by stirring the edges with a spatula.
- If the dough is too sticky, gradually add the rest of the all-purpose flour. Continue to knead for 10 to 15 minutes until the dough is soft and smooth. (See the video to see the texture of the dough).
- Place the dough in an oiled boil. Cover and let rise for 1 to 2 hours. It will get puffy and almost double in size.
- While the dough is mixing and proofing, make the cinnamon filling and sticky caramel sauce below. Set them aside until ready to use.
Cinnamon Filling
- Mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and cinnamon together until they form a paste. Set aside at room temperature until the dough is ready to roll out.
Sticky Caramel Sauce
- In a large saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, salt, and cream. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and pour into a 13 by 9-inch baking pan. Set aside until the cinnamon rolls are ready to be placed on the sauce. The sauce will thicken as it cools down.
Make the Rolls and Bake them:
- Place the dough on a clean, floured work surface. Roll the dough out to a 16 by 24-inch rectangle.
- Spread the cinnamon roll filling over the dough.
- Starting at the long end, roll the dough into a 24-inch long log.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 12 slices. If you do not have a very sharp knife then you can use dental floss or thread to wrap around the log then pull the ends to cut the roll without squishing it.
- Place the rolls on top of the caramel sauce in the pan then cover loosely with a dish towel and let sit in a warm place for an hour until almost doubled in size.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°. Uncover the rolls and bake for 22 to 28 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow the rolls to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes then run a knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the rolls from the edge. Invert the pan onto a platter so the sticky gooey sauce is on top, be certain the pan is not too hot when you do this or the caramel sauce will burn you. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Wow, love the caramel sauce!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.
There wasn’t enough liquid in the dough for it to kneed properly in my bread machine 🙁
You can add some milk, a little at a time, until you have the consistency you need. If you use a scale to measure your flour then your flour measurements will be more accurate. If you don’t have a scale then just lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cups
Do u have to use a bread machine?
No, you can mix this by hand and let it proof in a bowl. Thanks for your question
Holy cow these look good! I’m so glad we met because if this is what you produce in your kitchen, we need to be best friends. 🙂
Yes Maureen, a fusion of our kitchens would be incredible! These have your name written all over them, they are orgasmic 🙂