If you’ve ever found yourself craving warm, pillowy cinnamon rolls but don’t have all morning to spare, these Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) are here to rescue breakfast—or honestly, dessert time! Imagine tender, golden swirls stuffed with sweet cinnamon, kissed with a melty cream cheese frosting, and, most importantly, ready from scratch in under sixty minutes. Whether you’re baking for a lazy Sunday or a last-minute brunch crowd, this recipe delivers pure cinnamon roll joy, ooey gooey and fresh from your own oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What’s truly magical about Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) is how a cozy lineup of basics transforms into bakery-level deliciousness. Each ingredient works behind the scenes for that perfect soft crumb, rich filling, and signature sweet-cream topping—so don’t skip or swap lightly! Let’s look at what you’ll need and why.
- Warm milk: This sets the yeast off to a speedy start, ensuring the rolls rise beautifully and stay soft.
- Active dry yeast: A quick but essential proof gives these rolls their fluffy texture in record time.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and also nudges the yeast into action.
- Unsalted butter (melted): Adds richness and tenderness to each bite of dough.
- Salt: A pinch balances out all that sweetness, so the flavors really shine.
- Eggs: Help bind the dough together while contributing to its soft, luscious feel.
- All-purpose flour: This pantry staple gives structure without making the rolls heavy.
- Unsalted butter (softened, for filling): Spreads easily across your dough, ensuring each swirl tastes buttery and moist.
- Brown sugar (for filling): Melts into gooey, caramel-like layers with every bite.
- Ground cinnamon (for filling): The heart and soul of these classic rolls with its warm and spicy aroma.
- Cream cheese (softened, for frosting): Adds a tangy, creamy finish that makes the frosting utterly irresistible.
- Unsalted butter (softened, for frosting): Blends with the cream cheese for a silky-smooth glaze that clings to every roll.
- Powdered sugar (for frosting): Sweetens and thickens your frosting to spreadable perfection.
- Vanilla extract (for frosting): A little vanilla rounds out the sweetness and ties all the flavors together.
- Milk (as needed for frosting): Just splash in what you need to make the frosting extra creamy and easy to swirl on.
How to Make Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey)
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
Begin your adventure with Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) by combining warm milk and yeast in a big mixing bowl. After just five to ten minutes, the yeast becomes foamy and all set to create sky-high rolls. This little rest is key for that irresistible fluffy rise—think of it as jump-starting the magic!
Step 2: Mix and Knead the Dough
Add the sugar, melted butter, salt, eggs, and half your flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until everything just comes together, then pile in the rest of the flour. Now, knead by hand or with a dough hook for five to seven minutes until you have a smooth, stretchy dough. This step is what gives the cinnamon rolls their soft, airy crumb and helps lock in those ooey gooey layers.
Step 3: Let the Dough Rest
Cover your bowl and let the dough hang out in a warm spot for 20 minutes. This brief pause allows the gluten to relax and the dough to puff slightly—a speedy rest that fits the Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) promise. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F, so it’s nice and hot when you’re ready to bake.
Step 4: Roll, Fill, and Slice
On a lightly floured surface, roll your dough into a big 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter right to the edges, then sprinkle that glorious mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon evenly across the surface. Starting with a long edge, roll the dough up as tightly as you can for perfect spirals. Slice into twelve even pieces—a length of dental floss works wonders for clean cuts!
Step 5: Rise and Bake
Arrange your swirled beauties into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Give them a quick, cozy rise—just 15 minutes covered in a warm spot—so they come out extra light and puffy. Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until tops are golden and your kitchen smells like cinnamon heaven.
Step 6: Make and Spread the Frosting
While the rolls bake, beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and just enough milk to get a creamy, spreadable frosting. As soon as the rolls emerge from the oven, slather the frosting generously over them so it melts into those warm, ooey gooey crevices. There’s nothing quite like a cinnamon roll fresh from the oven, dripping with sweet tangy glaze!
How to Serve Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey)
Garnishes
These rolls are already show-stoppers, but you can make them even more special! Sprinkle with a dusting of extra cinnamon, a handful of toasted pecans, or a drizzle of caramel. For a hint of brightness, a little orange zest on top of the frosting wakes up every bite.
Side Dishes
Pair your Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) with fresh fruit salad, a side of breakfast sausage, or some scrambled eggs for a balanced brunch. Even a tall glass of cold milk or a mug of hot coffee is all you need to round out this sweet treat.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re serving a crowd, try arranging the baked rolls into a wreath on a large round platter, or let everyone personalize their own with optional toppings set out buffet-style. These also make delightful edible gifts: simply nestle a few rolls in a box lined with parchment and tie it up with a ribbon as a delicious homemade present!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If there happen to be leftovers (a rare occurrence!), cover any remaining rolls tightly and keep them at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, pop the covered pan in the fridge, where they’ll stay fresh and moist for up to four days. Just know that the ooey gooey texture might be even better on day two!
Freezing
To freeze, let baked rolls cool completely and wrap individually or as a pan in a double layer of foil plus plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to two months. When a cinnamon roll craving strikes, just thaw in the fridge overnight—fresh, homemade Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) any time you want!
Reheating
To reheat, uncover and warm individual rolls in the microwave for about 20 seconds, or reheat a whole pan in a 300°F oven for 10–15 minutes. If you’ve already frosted them, this will melt the icing slightly and make them extra luxurious—just as ooey gooey as when they were first baked.
FAQs
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Absolutely! Substitute instant yeast in the same amount and skip the proofing step—just mix it in with the dry ingredients. Your Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) will rise even more quickly!
What if I don’t have cream cheese for the frosting?
You can swap it out for extra softened butter to make a simple vanilla buttercream, or try using mascarpone for a fun twist. But honestly, the classic tang of cream cheese really takes these cinnamon rolls to the next level.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes—you can prep the rolls through the slicing step, arrange them in the pan, cover, and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, let them sit at room temperature for about thirty minutes before baking, and you’ll still end up with ooey gooey cinnamon bliss.
How do I get my rolls super gooey in the center?
Be generous with the filling and don’t overbake! Frosting while still warm lets the glaze soak in. For truly gooey Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey), bake just until the tops are golden but the centers are still soft.
Can I make these dairy-free?
You can swap dairy butter and milk for plant-based substitutes and use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative for the frosting. The rolls will still turn out irresistibly soft and sweet!
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing quite like sharing a tray of Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) with people you love. With just a handful of pantry staples and a little bit of hands-on time, you’ll be baking memories as much as treats. Give these a try, and you might never go back to store-bought rolls again!
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Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls (Ooey Gooey) Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with these easy one-hour cinnamon rolls. These ooey-gooey treats are perfect for breakfast or dessert, and the cream cheese frosting takes them to the next level of deliciousness.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for frosting consistency)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl: Combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add: Sugar, melted butter, salt, eggs, and 2 cups of flour. Mix until combined, then add remaining flour and knead until smooth.
- Cover: Let the dough rest for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll: Roll out the dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter, sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mix, roll up tightly.
- Cut: Cut into 12 rolls, place in a baking dish. Let rise for 15 minutes.
- Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes until golden brown.
- Make frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- Frost: Frost the warm rolls generously.
Notes
- To make ahead, prepare rolls through shaping and refrigerate overnight. Let come to room temperature and rise for 30 minutes before baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
