Name: Pillowy Soft Mini Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 100 min
Ingredients: 390 g All-purpose or bread flour (3 cups ); 180 ml Warm milk (¾ cup (you can use water instead if preferred)); 57 g Softened unsalted butter (¼ cup); 1 Egg ((room temperature)); 32 g Sugar (2½ tablespoons ); 6 g Salt (1 tsp); 3 g instant or active dry yeast (1 tsp); 90 g Soft brown sugar (1/2 cup); 57 g Softened unsalted butter (¼ cup); 5 g Cinnamon powder (2 tsp); 80 g Cream cheese (3 ounces (softened)); 43 g Unsalted butter (3 tbsp (softened)); 125 g Powdered sugar (1 cup); 5 ml Vanilla extract (1 tsp); 1/8 tsp Salt (A pinch (Optional)); 15 ml Milk ((Optional)add little by little (to thin the frosting if you like the frosting lighter))

Recipe Video

This Mini Cinnamon Rolls Recipe will help you make 28 soft, mini cinnamon rolls in less than 2 hours!

There’s just something magical about the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, isn’t there? That warm, buttery, sweet aroma filling the kitchen—it’s the kind of scent that makes everyone gather around the oven door, impatiently waiting for that first gooey bite. Now imagine all that deliciousness… but in mini form!

These Mini Cinnamon Rolls are soft, fluffy, buttery, and filled with that classic cinnamon-brown sugar swirl that makes you want to lick your fingers clean. Topped with a luscious, slightly tangy cream cheese frosting, these bite-sized treats are pure heaven.

They’re perfect for brunch, dessert, or even a quick snack with your coffee. Plus, since they’re mini, you can have more than one (or three!) without the guilt.

This recipe is designed for tiny hands and big gatherings—ideal for family breakfasts, parties, or just treating yourself on a cozy weekend morning.

The best part? This recipe uses a one-rise method, so you can have your rolls ready faster than traditional recipes without sacrificing that soft, feathery texture.

This Recipe is adapted from our original, Quick and Easy Cinnamon rolls recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Mini Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

These Mini Cinnamon Rolls are

Soft and fluffy: These rolls are unbelievably light and airy—almost like little clouds of cinnamon goodness.
Quick and simple: The one-rise method saves you time without skipping on flavor or texture.
Gooey cinnamon filling: The brown sugar-cinnamon-butter combo melts into a caramel-like layer at the bottom, giving that perfect golden crust.
Cream cheese frosting: Rich and creamy without being overly sweet, it’s the ultimate finishing touch.
Mini size = more fun: They look adorable and are perfect for sharing.

These rolls come out with beautiful golden-brown tops, perfectly swirled centers, and caramelized bottoms that will make your kitchen smell like a bakery.

Ingredients for Mini Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Let’s get to what you’ll need!

For the Bread Dough:

3 cups (390g) all-purpose or bread flour
¾ cup (180g) warm milk (you can use water instead if preferred)
¼ cup (57g) softened unsalted butter
1 egg (room temperature)
2½ tablespoons (32g) sugar
6 g or 1 teaspoons salt
3g or 1 teaspoon instant or active dry yeast

For the Filling:

½ cup (90g) packed soft brown sugar
¼ cup (57g) softened unsalted butter
5g or 2 teaspoons cinnamon powder

Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 ounces (80g) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (125g) powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
(Optional) 1–2 tablespoons milk to thin the frosting if you like it lighter

How to Make Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Making these mini cinnamon rolls is super easy. You just need to follow four simple steps!

Step 1: Prepare the Bread Dough

Start by adding warm milk, sugar, salt, yeast, and egg into a mixing bowl. Give it all a good stir to combine.

Then add in the softened butter.

Next, add your flour and mix until the dough comes together into a shaggy, slightly sticky mass.

If you’re using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment and knead for about 4 minutes on medium speed. If you’re kneading by hand, lightly flour your work surface and knead the dough for 4-5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.

Don’t worry if the dough feels a bit sticky at first—resist the temptation to add extra flour! After a few minutes of kneading, it will start to come together beautifully.

Once smooth, shape it into a ball, flatten it slightly, and cover it with a kitchen towel or an inverted bowl. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

Tip: This short rest isn’t for proofing. It just lets the gluten relax, which makes rolling the dough easier later.

Step 2: Divide and Shape the Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Now comes the fun part—rolling and shaping!

Roll the rested dough into a thin rectangular sheet, roughly 20×14 inches in size.

Spread a thin, even layer of softened butter all over the surface.

Then mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle that mixture evenly over the buttered dough.

Cut the rectangle in half lengthwise . Roll each rectangle up tightly from the 14 inch side to form two logs.

Now, mark each log into 14 equal portions.

To slice them cleanly without squishing, use a piece of dental floss or thread—slide it under the log, cross the ends over the top, and pull. This gives perfect little rolls without flattening the swirls.

Place the rolls cut side up in a parchment lined baking pan (about 15×10 inches). Slight variation in size of baking tray is okay.

Leave a little space between them, as they’ll puff up beautifully during rising.

Step 3: Proof the Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel, and let the rolls rise in a warm spot for about 60 minutes.

You’ll know they’re ready when they look puffy and nearly doubled in size.

Step 4: Bake the Cinnamon Rolls

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake the rolls for around 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top and the edges look slightly caramelized.

Once baked, let them cool for 2–3 minutes—just enough so they’re warm but not piping hot. Then, spread that dreamy cream cheese frosting right over the top so it melts into the rolls slightly.

Making the Cream Cheese Frosting

Cinnamon rolls without frosting? Never! The cream cheese frosting adds that luscious, tangy-sweet finish that makes these rolls absolutely irresistible.

Here’s how to make it:

In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
Beat the mixture with a hand mixer until smooth, pale, and fluffy.
Gradually add powdered sugar while beating continuously until you get a silky, spreadable frosting.
If you prefer a thinner frosting that drips slightly into the rolls, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk and mix until smooth.

Spread the frosting generously over your warm cinnamon rolls and watch it melt into every swirl.

Pro tip: If you don’t have cream cheese, or if you don’t want to add cream cheese, you can make a quick cinnamon roll icing without cream cheese by mixing melted butter, powdered sugar, a splash of milk, and vanilla extract. It takes only 3 minutes!

How to Store Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Let’s be honest—these mini cinnamon rolls usually disappear within hours. But if you somehow manage to have leftovers, here’s how to store them properly:

At room temperature: Keep them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
In the fridge: They’ll last up to 5 days. Store them in a sealed container so they don’t dry out.
In the freezer: You can freeze them for up to 2 months. Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap and then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container.

How to Reheat Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Reheating these mini rolls brings them right back to life—soft, fluffy, and gooey again!

Microwave method: Warm 1–2 rolls at a time for about 15–20 seconds. If they’re refrigerated, you may need 30 seconds.
Oven method: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C), place the rolls in a baking dish, cover with foil, and heat for 8–10 minutes.
If frozen: Let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat using one of the above methods.

Tip: If you’re reheating unfrosted rolls, you can spread a little butter on top before warming them to keep them moist.

quick and easy mini cinnamon rolls recipe

How to make Pillowy Soft Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Tips for Perfect Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Warm (not hot) milk: Hot milk can kill the yeast. Aim for a gentle warmth—like baby bath water.
Don’t add too much flour: Sticky dough equals soft rolls. Adding too much flour will make them dense.
Even filling: Spread your cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly so every bite has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
Frost while warm: The frosting slightly melts and seeps into the crevices—pure perfection!

A Little Extra Touch

If you’re feeling a bit creative, you can take these mini cinnamon rolls up a notch:

Add chopped nuts: Sprinkle some finely chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before rolling.
Make them fruity: Add a thin layer of finely diced apples for apple-cinnamon rolls.
Turn them festive: Drizzle with a simple sugar glaze and add colorful sprinkles for birthdays or holidays.

These Mini Cinnamon Rolls are truly little bundles of joy—soft, buttery, gooey, and smothered in creamy frosting. They’re everything you love about classic cinnamon rolls but cuter, quicker, and easier to share.

Every bite gives you that warm, cozy, cinnamon-sugar hug that makes mornings better and gatherings sweeter. Whether you’re baking them for family breakfast or just because you’re craving something special, this recipe is guaranteed to bring smiles.

Happy baking, and may your home always smell like warm cinnamon sugar!