Best Ever Classic Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Icing

This is truly the only cinnamon bun recipe you’ll ever need. Super easy to make with no need for any fancy equipment, these classic cinnamon buns are soft, fluffy and oh so gourmet tasting. Topped with heaps of the most delectable cream cheese icing, these cinnamon buns are perfect for Easter morning, Sunday brunch with family, or any other occasion that provides an excuse to consume these better than Cinnabon and Cinnzeo cinnamon buns.

Why You’ll Love these Classic Cinnamon Buns

This recipe will bring you that classic cinnamon bun – fluffy and soft dough, with gooey cinnamon sugar filling, and thick cream cheese icing. Perfectly sweet and deliciously satisfying, good luck not going back for seconds. Finally, this recipe is forgiving and easy, definitely beginner friendly. While you have to commit some time for the whole process, the active mixing and working time is short and simple.

Tips for Making Fluffy and Soft Classic Cinnamon Buns

1. Don’t over knead the dough. The trick is to combine the ingredients and form a soft dough ball – no need to form an elastic dough.
2. Allow the cinnamon bun dough to rise in a warm area. I like to pre-heat my oven to the proof setting, turn it off, and then pop my bowl of dough in the warm oven, with the light on, covered with a warm, wet tea towel.
3. I find that using a combination of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour creates the perfect dough, because it’s fluffy and soft, but slightly more complex and flavourful. I like to mill my flour at home using hard red wheat berries for this recipe, but any whole wheat flour will do. Ultimatley, this recipe is very flexible, so choose basically whichever wheat berries are your preference, or alternatively, you can use 100% all purpose flour and get perfectly great results.

Ingredients

Classic Cinnamon Bun Dough:

• 1 cup of warm whole milk
• 2 ^_1/2 tsp of active dry yeast
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 ^_1/2 cups of fresh milled whole wheat flour (or substitute with 1 cup of store bought whole wheat flour or all purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup of cane sugar (or granulated sugar)
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1/3 cup of melted butter
• 2 large eggs

Cinnamon Bun Filling:

• 1 cup of packed brown sugar
• 3 tbsp of cinnamon
• 1/3 cup of melted butter

Cream Cheese Icing:

• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt

A Note on Whole Wheat Flour

I like to use whole wheat flour in as many of my baking recipes as possible, because it elevates the flavour, contributes to the nutritional value of the finished product, and finally makes for a more filling and satisfying baked good.

FAQ #1 Why does the recipe call for a bigger volume of home milled whole wheat flour than all purpose or store bought whole wheat flour?

You’ll notice that if you decide to replace the home milled whole wheat flour with all purpose flour or store bought whole wheat flour, the recipe calls for 1/2 cup less flour. Thats because home milled flour is extra sifted and when you measure it out, you’ll certainly be measuring a significant amount of air in your flour. For this reason, I recommend adding more home milled flour than other flour alternatives.

FAQ #2 If I don’t use whole wheat flour, will my cinnamon buns still turn out well?

Yes! I’ve used this recipe without including whole wheat flour for years, and it turns out perfectly. I personally have been incorporating whole wheat flour into my baked goods after getting a grain mill and ultimatley seeking the health benefits of whole wheat.

Prepare The Dough

Step 1: Dissolve the Yeast

Warm milk over medium heat until luke warm, gently stir in yeast and allow 10 minutes for the yeast to activate. You should see the yeast bubbling.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Mix in the eggs and melted butter. Add in the milk & yeast mixture, and mix with a wooden spoor or dough whisk until combined. Knead dough for 1-2 minutes until ingredients are combined and you can easily form a smooth dough ball.

Step 3: First Rise

Allow dough ball to rise in a warm place for approximatley 60 minutes, until doubled in size.

Make the Cinnamon Bun Filling

Step 4: Mix the Filling

Shortly before the dough has finished rising, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix in melted butter with a fork, until you have a paste.

Bake the Classic Cinnamon Buns

Step 5: Roll out the Dough

Once your dough has doubled in size, roll out into a 1/2 inch rectangle, approximately 12 inches x 18 inches.

Step 6: Spread the Filling

Spread the filling on the dough. Be sure to reach all of the corners and edges so that each bun has filling.

Step 7: Roll & Cut Dough

Along the 18 inch edge, roll the dough up. Cut the dough with floss or a sharp knife at 1_1/2 inch intervals.

Step 8: Second Rise

Place cinnamon buns evenly in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Allow to rise in a warm area for 20 minutes. At this time, pre-heat your oven to 350^oF.

Step 9: Bake the Cinnamon Buns

Bake the buns at 350^oF for 20 minutes, or until the bottoms and tops are starting to turn golden brown & the filling is bubbling.

Prepare the Cream Cheese Icing

Step 10: Mix the Icing

Once the buns come out of the oven, mix up the icing. Combine all ingredients and use standmixer or hand beaters to whip icing together until combined and glossy, 1-2 minutes.

Step 11: Ice Cinnamon Buns

Once icing is mixed, pour evenly over the cooling cinnamon buns, within a few minutes of coming out of the oven. Icing the cinnamon buns warm is the perfect way to ensure even coverage.

Serving Classic Cinnamon Buns

After icing the cinnamon buns, allow 15 minutes for the tray to cool. This will allow you to easily cut and remove the buns, while still serving them warm. Serving warm and fresh is best!

How to Store Classic Cinnamon Buns

These cinnamon buns are best served warm and fresh, but they store well in the fridge, covered for up to a week. Simply plate one and microwave for 30-45 seconds, or put the tray in the oven at 350^oF for 15 minutes to warm multiple buns at a time.

Links to my Favourite Kitchen Tools for this Recipe

Komo Mio Eco Grain Mill

Mason Cash Mixing Bowl *affiliate link

Organic Vietnamese Cinnamon *affiliate link

Other Recipes That Use Whole Wheat Flour

If you enjoy recipes that incorporate whole wheat flour, check out this other blog post:

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Enjoy these Classic Cinnamon Buns Baked with Whole Wheat Flour & Smothered in Cream Cheese Icing!

Please let me know if you try this recipe and enjoy it! Share it on IG and tag me @theprairiewife or leave a comment below! Be sure to check back often for more from scratch recipes, recipes that incorporate whole wheat flour, and other delectable desserts, from my kitchen to yours!