American · Baking

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Soft, tall rolls made with a tangzhong starter that keeps them pillowy for days, filled with cinnamon-butter and finished with cream cheese frosting. Shape them the night before and bake in the morning.

1 hr 5 min prep and cooking plus 10 hr to 11 hr proving and chilling plus time for cooling to room temperature, which the recipe does not time at least 11 hr 5 min to 12 hr 5 min start to finish Serves 12 servings Medium
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Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Photograph credit: Cinnamon Roll - Olea 2025-07-03 by Andy Li · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Build the Meal Around Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

  • Strong coffee, ideally black to cut the sweetness
  • Serve for brunch alongside fresh fruit
  • Follow with nothing
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, in preparation
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, in preparation

Photograph credit: Unbaked cinnamon rolls by Shoodho · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

How to Cook Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

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  1. Whisk the tangzhong ingredients in a small pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens into a pudding-like paste. Cool to room temperature.

  2. Combine the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the tangzhong, warm milk and egg and mix to a shaggy dough.

  3. Knead for 8 minutes, then add the softened butter a piece at a time, kneading 6 to 8 minutes more until the dough is smooth, elastic and passes the windowpane test.

  4. Prove, covered, for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled.

  5. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 40 x 30 cm rectangle.

  6. Beat the filling ingredients together and spread over the dough, leaving a 2 cm border along one long edge.

  7. Roll up tightly from the opposite long edge, then cut into 12 pieces using unflavoured dental floss slid underneath and pulled crosswise — a knife squashes them.

  8. Arrange in a buttered 33 x 23 cm dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight, or prove at room temperature for 45 minutes.

  9. Take from the fridge and let them come to room temperature and finish proving for 60 to 90 minutes, until puffy and touching.

  10. Bake at 180°C / 355°F for 25 to 30 minutes until golden. Beat the frosting ingredients smooth and spread over while the rolls are still warm.

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Notes From the Method

Very soft, spreadable butter for the filling — melted butter runs out during baking and pools in the tin.

Dental floss gives clean rounds. A knife compresses the spiral and they bake lopsided.

Frost while warm for a glaze that soaks in, or fully cool for a thick, standing layer.

Keeping What's Left

Keeps 3 days covered at room temperature. Reheat individually for 20 seconds in a microwave. Unbaked shaped rolls freeze 1 month.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls: Your Questions Answered

How long does Overnight Cinnamon Rolls take to make?

40 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 10 hours to 11 hours of proving and chilling, so allow 11 hours 5 minutes to 12 hours 5 minutes from start to finish. The method also needs time for cooling to room temperature, which it does not time, so treat that as a minimum. The recipe serves 12.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.

491Calories
7gProtein
64gCarbs
23gFat
1gFibre
34gSugar
460mgSodium

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Compiled by Turab

Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.

First published ; last changed .