Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls - Recipe Diaries (2024)

These cinnamon rolls will be a hit with anyone who tries them! Make them for Christmas morning or brunch and they will soon be a Christmas tradition.

If you’re looking for a healthy cinnamon roll recipe or a cinnamon roll recipe that is WW friendly, then you’ve come to the wrong place. The Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon roll is not WW friendly at all but they are so good and sweet! The Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite Food Network chefs and it no doubts that I really like trying and sharing her recipes. FYI, I’m not the Pioneer Woman, just a food blogger who really enjoys her recipes. If you watch her video on Food Network’s website it does a pretty good job of explaining how to make these.

I have not been to any of her restaurants or stores where she lives at but I would like to go someday. One of my readers had mentioned that she has tried her cinnamon roll recipes at her restaurant and seen her ranch. That would be a really awesome experience.

If you like the Pioneer Women please try Perfect Pot Roast, Baked Ziti , Perfect potato soup, or Simple Perfect Chili

Ingredients Needed

• Milk - Dairy does not like me at all so I go for a lactose free milk such as Fairlife. It also has more protein in it.
• Vegetable Oil - or Canola Oil
• Sugar - Or regular granulated sugar, I do not use sugar substitutes in any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so
• Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 Ounce Packets - helps the dough rise
• All-purpose Flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
• Baking Powder - is a leavening agent used in many baked goods, such as cakes, muffins, and biscuits. It is made up of a combination of baking soda, cream of tartar, and sometimes cornstarch.
• Baking Soda - also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white crystalline powder that is commonly used in baking as a leavening agent
• Melted Butter - is the most commonly used type of butter in baking, as it allows for more control over the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Cinnamon - is a spice that comes from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum.
• See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.

Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (Note: dough is easier to work with if it’s been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan/bowl. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 x 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.

To make the filling, pour ¾ cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don’t be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.

Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don’t worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you’re finished, you’ll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.

Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and with a sharp knife, make ½-inch slices. One “log “will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)

Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking. Remove the towel and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown. Don’t allow the rolls to become overly brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee, and salt. Splash in the maple flavoring. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter, or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.

Remove pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing’s moisture and flavor. They only get better with time… not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It’ll seal the relationship for life. I promise.

Tips for Cinnamon Rolls

The dough is sticky and hard to work with. Ree mentions in her video that you should leave the dough wrapped in the fridge for at least an hr. It will be easier to work with. Don’t forget this step!

Other Recipes to Try

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