This recipe and story was originally written on the Vsn 1.0 of Bridget’s Kitchen which was on Facebook.
Hey friends—this post was first shared in my private Facebook group (A Girl and Her Tomato Pie) back in the thick of COVID, when we were all craving comfort, connection, and something sweet to make the days feel better. I’m bringing it over to Bridget’s Kitchen with all the original heart (and butter!) intact. Yes, there was a bake-off. Yes, I lost. And yes… these are still the best cinnamon rolls on Earth. #WhyEatOut
The Night We Threw Down the Gauntlet
Picture this: pre-pandemic small dinner party, wine flowing, and somehow the topic lands on cinnamon rolls. I brag about my aunt’s sticky-bun-style cinnamon roll recipe. Friends Michelle and her husband John, to be blunt – they were not impressed. John grinned and said, “Michelle makes THE best cinnamon rolls.” Michelle got the recipe from a neighbor who used to cook them for her family long ago. She’s been baking them for Xmas and I think NY Day for many many years.
My Aunt Joan baked these sticky bun / cinnamon rolls all the time for her 6 kids and whomever else. She had a lot of practice. By the time I asked for the recipe Aunt Joan was in her later years. She just told it to me, as best as she could, over the phone and I had to work it out. But I wrote it down and had it. I’ll pull it out – I’ll make her rolls and I’ll win this competition!!!!
The Challenge was accepted. The husbands grinned—they would be Required to eat cinnamon rolls and compare them. That just meant free cinnamon rolls either way. I went in cocky… Came out humbled. Michelle’s rolls? Game over. Buttercream frosting, cinnamon for days, and a texture so soft it should be illegal. I begged for the recipe. She said yes. You’re welcome.
Made for Comfort, Not Calories
These aren’t “oops, I ate one” rolls. These are “I just did yoga and still need to unbutton my jeans” rolls. But in 2020 we were stress-baking, Zoom-yoga-ing, and storing love handles like squirrels prepping for winter. So yeah—make the full batch. Share with neighbors. Or don’t. No judgment.
The Overnight Magic (Yes, Really)
Michelle’s genius move: after shaping, park the pans in a cold oven overnight. No rise, no fuss—just yeast doing its thing while you sleep. I had nightmares about exploding dough or food poisoning. Woke up to pillowy perfection. Trust the process.
Pro Tips from a Former Loser
- Too sticky? Add flour ¼ cup at a time while kneading.
- No time for overnight? Let rise at room temp 3–4 hours instead.
- Half batch? Do it. Your waistline will thank you.
- Freezer-friendly: Bake, cool, frost, freeze individually—reheat in microwave for emergency comfort. (But seriously, you think any will be left?)
Who else baked their feelings in 2020? Drop your pandemic comfort food below! 🧈✨ #BridgetsKitchen #CinnamonRollRoyalty #WhyEatOut
World’s Best Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1 C Warm Milk – (110°F)
- ½ C Sugar
- ⅓ C Butter – Melted
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 Eggs
- 4-5 C AP Flour – start with 4, add as needed
Filling :
- 1 C Brown Sugar – Packed
- 2½ TBL Ground Cinnamon – Yes, 2.5 TBL
- ⅓ C Butter – Softened
Frostening
- ½ C Butter – Softened
- 1½ C Powdered Sugar
- 2 Oz Cream Cheese
- ½ tsp Vanilla
- Pinch Salt
Instructions
- Activate yeast: Warm milk, stir in yeast, let bubble 5–10 min.
- Mix dough: Combine melted butter, sugar, eggs, salt. Add yeast mixture. Stir in flour until shaggy then dump dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead 5–8 min until smooth, pliable and elastic (add flour if sticky / as necessary) Once the dough is ready – taught surface / pliable / smooth.
- First rise: Place in greased bowl, cover, let double (1–1½ hours).
- Roll & fill: Punch down, roll into 16×21 rectangle.
- Spread softened butter, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar evenly.
- Shape: Roll tightly from long side, pinch seam. Cut into 12 equal slices.
- Overnight rise: Place 6 rolls in each greased 9×13 pan. Cover loosely, park in cold oven overnight.
- Bake: Morning—remove pans, preheat oven to 400°F. Bake 10–15 min until golden.
- Frost: Beat frosting ingredients until fluffy. Spread generously over warm rolls.
- Devour: Stand back. These disappear fast.
