Soft and fluffy nutella cinnamon rolls make a delicious choice for breakfast or brunch. Filled with a sweet mix of cinnamon, brown sugar and nutella, they’re finished with a rich, creamy cream cheese frosting. This simple recipe is great for baking fresh, prepping ahead of time, or freezing to savor whenever you’d like.
Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls are one of my top picks for breakfast or brunch. When I first decided to make them, I was intimidated—they seemed tricky! But after giving it a try, I realized they’re actually quite simple. I have now been making homemade cinnamon rolls for years and they are always a hit with my friends and family. These nutella Cinnamon rolls are the top pick in my household of all the cinnamon rolls that I make!
There’s nothing better than warm, fluffy cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. Homemade cinnamon rolls are so much better than the ones from the store. Once you see how easy they are to make, you’ll ditch the canned ones and stick with homemade.
These cinnamon rolls filled with nutella have a soft, fluffy texture and are filled with a deliciously rich cinnamon-sugar mixture. Topped with creamy cream cheese icing, they truly are the best cinnamon rolls you’ll ever make.
In our house, cinnamon rolls are a Christmas morning tradition. Since they’re so easy to prepare, they’re the perfect holiday breakfast treat.
Cinnamon Roll Recipes
- Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
- Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls
- Santa Cinnamon Rolls
- Fluffy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Rolls
- Choose the Right Pan: A cast iron skillet works wonderfully, but a round baking dish is a great alternative if you don’t have one.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Let ingredients that need to be at room temperature sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before you start. This helps everything mix more evenly.
- Use a Sharp Knife: A sharp knife makes cutting the cinnamon roll dough much easier and ensures clean, even slices.
- Flour Your Work Surface: Lightly dust your counter with flour before rolling or kneading the dough to prevent sticking. Adding a bit of flour to your rolling pin also helps.
- Prepare the Pan: Coat your baking dish with nonstick spray to keep the cinnamon rolls from sticking.
- Give It Time to Rise: Allowing the dough to rise fully is key to achieving soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls. Don’t rush this step!
- Use Bread Flour if Needed: If you don’t have all-purpose flour on hand, bread flour is a great substitute for this recipe.
- Customize the Filling: For added flavor, try mixing in extras like chopped nuts, raisins, or dried cranberries with the cinnamon-sugar filling.
Do I need to Use a Stand Mixer for this recipe?
For this recipe, a stand mixer is not necessary, but it does make the process easier. You can also use a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, or simply mix the dough by hand with a spoon and knead it by hand afterward. It’s all about what you find easiest or what tools you have available to use!
Rolling and Kneading Tips for Cinnamon Roll Dough
- Use a Rolling Pin: When rolling out the dough, a rolling pin is your best tool for even thickness.
- Flour the Surface: Lightly dust your counter or work surface with flour to prevent the dough from sticking while you roll.
- Tackle Sticky Dough: If the dough feels sticky while kneading, gradually add more flour—1 tablespoon at a time—and sprinkle a little extra on the surface to keep things manageable.
Can I make Homemade Nutella Cinnamon Rolls Ahead of Time?
Cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite breakfasts. I like to make them ahead of time and then reheat them the next morning. You can also make them the night before and reheat them, and they are still just as delicious as when they came out of the oven.
How to Store Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
To store cinnamon rolls allow them to cool completely. Then cover them with plastic wrap. Cinnamon rolls will keep for 2 days when stored with plastic wrap on the counter. If you store them in the refrigerator they will keep for up to one week.
How do You reheat Nutella Cinnamon Rolls?
There are 2 ways to reheat cinnamon rolls when you are ready to eat them or you are heating up leftovers.
- Microwave: Warm a roll for 15–20 seconds (cover with a damp paper towel to keep it moist).
- Oven: Cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 10 minutes.
Can You Freeze Nutella Cinnamon Rolls?
Yes, cinnamon rolls can be frozen—whether before or after baking. However, it’s best to wait until you’re ready to eat them before adding the icing.
Freezing Cinnamon Roll Dough (Before Baking):
- Prepare the cinnamon rolls up to the baking step.
- Arrange the sliced rolls on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours until solid.
- Transfer the frozen rolls to a freezer-safe zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Freezing Baked Cinnamon Rolls:
- Let the baked rolls cool completely.
- Place them on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours until solid.
- Move the frozen rolls to a freezer-safe zip-top bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating Frozen Cinnamon Rolls:
- Thaw in the refrigerator, then warm in the microwave.
- Alternatively, place them on a baking sheet and heat in the oven at 350°F for 2-3 minutes.
- Once warmed, add the icing and enjoy!
Nutella cinnamon Rolls Dough Ingredients
- 2 3/4 Cup flour
- 3 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/2 Cup water
- 1/4 Cup whole milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temp
- 1 egg room temp
Cinnamon Roll filling ingredients
- 3 table spoons brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup nutella
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- ½ cup cream cheese room temp
- 1/4 Cup unsalted butter room temp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 Cup powdered sugar
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls
Prepare the Flour: Set aside 1/2 cup of flour for later use.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2 1/4 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix evenly using a rubber spatula, then place the bowl on the mixer stand.
Heat Wet Ingredients:
- In a double boiler (or learn how to make one at home), heat water, milk, and butter until the butter melts and the mixture is hot to the touch.
- Alternatively, this step can be done in the microwave by putting all ingredients into a microwave safe bowl and heating in 30 second increments until mixable.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer. Pour the warm butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined.
Add Egg and Remaining Flour: Gradually add the egg and the reserved 1/2 cup of flour, starting with 1/3 cup and adding more as needed, until a soft dough forms. Keep mixing on low speed while adding flour, then switch to medium speed to finish.
Check Dough Consistency: The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl and has an elastic texture.
Knead the Dough: Remove the dough from the mixer and knead it on a floured surface for 3-4 minutes.
First Rise: Grease the mixer bowl and return the dough to it. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Prepare the Filling: While the dough rests, make the filling.
Roll and Fill the Dough:
- Roll the dough into a rectangle on a floured surface.
- Spread the pumpkin cinnamon roll filling evenly over the dough.
- Roll the dough tightly, sealing the edges, and cut into 1–1.5-inch pieces.
Prepare the Pan: Spray a round baking pan with nonstick spray. Place the cinnamon rolls in the pan with the filling side facing up.
Second Rise: Cover the pan with a dish towel and let the rolls rise in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 60–90 minutes.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Once risen, bake the rolls for 25–30 minutes until lightly browned.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Filling
Place the Nutella in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften.
Add softened butter and brown sugar to the Nutella, then stir well until fully combined.
If the mixture is too thick to spread easily, microwave it for another 15-30 seconds until it reaches a spreadable
consistency.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Frosting
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to prepare the frosting.
Add the butter and cream cheese, then mix until fully combined.
Once combined, add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated.
Increase the speed to medium-high and mix for about 5 minutes to fluff up the frosting.
Brunch Recipes
Nutella Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Nutella cinnamon rolls dough ingredients
Cinnamon Roll filling ingredients
- 3 table spoons brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- ½ cup nutella
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- ½ cup cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/4 Cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 Cup powdered sugar
Instructions
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls
- Set aside 1/2 cup of flour.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer add 2 1/4 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together until evenly mixed with a rubber spatula and then set on the mixer stand.
- In a double boiler (not sure how to make a double boiler, learn how to make a double boiler at home) combine the water, milk, and butter together until the butter is melted and the mixture is hot to touch. You can also do this step in the microwave if preferred.
- Add the dough hook to the mixer.
- Pour the butter mixture into the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
- Next add the egg and the leftover flour to the cinnamon roll dough mixture, to make a soft dough. Start with 1/3 a cup working up to using 1/2 cup until the dough is ready. Keep the mixer on low speed while adding the flour and then up to medium speed to finish making the dough.
- The dough is ready when it pulls away from the side of the bowl and has an elastic consistency.
- Remove the dough from the stand mixer and Knead the dough for about 3-4 minutes on a floured surface.
- Grease the stand mixer bowl, and add the dough back into the bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Leave the dough in the bowl to rise and rest for about 10 minutes.
- While the dough is rising make the cinnamon rolls filling.
- Once your dough is ready, roll it out in a rectangle. Spread the pumpkin cinnamon roll filling on the dough.
- Roll up the dough tightly by squeezing the edges closed, then cut into 1- 1 1/2 inch wide pieces.
- Spray a circle baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place cinnamon rolls into pan, you want the top to be the part where you can see the filling on the inside.
- Place the baking pan covered in a dish towel in a nondrafty area, and let the dough rise until the cinnamon rolls have about doubled in size. This will take 60-90 minutes.
- Once they have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and when the oven is ready place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until they are lightly browned.
- In a bowl, combine the vanilla extract, cream cheese and butter together and cream together. Once creamed, add in the powdered sugar and mix well. You can also use a stand mixer for this.
- Once rolls have been removed from the oven, frost using half the amount made. let them cool and then frost again.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Filling
- In a medium size microwave safe bowl add the Nutella. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften the Nutella. Add the softened butter and the brown sugar to the Nutella and mix well to combine. If the mixture is still super thick and hard to spread warm in the microwave for an additional 15-30 seconds to make is spreadable.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Frosting
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or use a stand mixer to make your frosting.
- Add the butter and cream cheese and mix until combined.
- Once combined add in the vanilla extract, and the powdered sugar and mix on low until combined, once combined turn the speed to medium high and mix for 5 minutes. to fluff the frosting.
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