Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

These Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls are all the best things about a traditional cinnamon roll but with sweet juicy strawberries added in! Top them off with classic cream cheese frosting for the ultimate treat.

Cinnamon rolls are truly something special. With their swirls of dough and cinnamon sugar and a topping of sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting. Add diced strawberries and you have something deliciously familiar but unexpected at the same time!

Looking for more yummy baked goods? Try this Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake. Or these Banana Walnut Muffins with Honey Butter. For breakfast, you’ll love these Baked Blueberry Donuts with Vanilla Glaze!

Ingredients

Step-By-Step Instructions

Note: The recipe card below contains a full list of ingredients, their amounts, and instructions.

Step 1:

Warm the milk to between 100 and 110 degrees F in 20-second increments in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat.

Pour the warmed milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes or until the yeast becomes frothy.

Meanwhile, lightly oil a large bowl. Set aside.

Step 2:

To the yeast mixture, add flour, the rest of the sugar, salt, melted butter, and an egg. Using the dough hook attachment, knead the dough on low speed for 5 minutes or until the dough becomes smooth.

Step 3:

Then, transfer the dough to the oiled bowl and cover it. Let the dough rise in a warm area for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled in size.

Step 4:

Lightly butter a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.

Press the dough down and then dump it onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a roughly 12×17-inch rectangle.

Step 5:

Using a pastry brush, spatula, or your hands, spread softened butter over the entire surface of the dough.

Step 6:

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the buttered dough. Using your hands, gently press the sugar mixture into the butter.

Step 7:

Spread the diced strawberries over the sugar and gently press them down to help keep them in place.

Step 8:

Working from the short side, tightly roll the dough down the length of the long side.

Once the dough has been rolled into a log, gently press the log to create a smoother more even shape.

Step 9:

Using a sharp serrated knife, cut about 1 inch off each end to create smooth even ends.

Then, cut the log into 12 slices. Each one should be about 3/4 inch thick.

Step 10:

Place the cinnamon rolls into the prepared baking dish leaving a bit of space between each one.

Cover and place them somewhere warm to rise for another hour.

Note: As the rolls rise, the strawberries will release their juices into the bottom of the baking dish. Then, as the rolls bake, the dough will absorb the juices adding more flavor to the cinnamon rolls. The rolls will not be soggy from this.

Step 11:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned.

Step 12:

While the rolls are baking, cream together softened butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium speed. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and cream until well combined.

Step 13:

Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately.

Tips & Tricks

• Allow the dough to fully rise each time before moving on to get the fullest, fluffiest, most flavorful cinnamon rolls. This will take up to 1.5 hours the first time and up to 1 hour the second time.
• Be sure to roll the dough tightly. This will result in rolls with nice swirls that won’t fall apart.

Substitutions & Variations

• Switch up the strawberries with other fruit like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. You could also use diced apples or peaches.
• If you don’t like cream cheese, you can use an equal amount of butter for a buttercream frosting.

Storage & Reheating

Storage

Keep the cinnamon rolls in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for 1 to 2 days but they should be refrigerated if you’re keeping them for longer, up to 5 days.

Reheating

If you would like to reheat the rolls, place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat at 50% power for 20 seconds. Repeat until warmed.

Freezing

Cinnamon rolls can be frozen both before and after baking.

To freeze before baking:

Place the rolls in a freezer-safe container, cover them with foil, and freeze before rising. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.

When you want to make them, allow the rolls to thaw at room temperature and then continue with the instructions for rising and baking.

To freeze after baking:

Cover the entire baking dish with foil or place individual rolls on a baking sheet and flash freeze for 2 hours before transferring them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature and then reheat in the microwave at 50% in 20-second increments.

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