Maple Cinnamon Rolls

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Warm and fresh maple cinnamon rolls are the perfect way to jumpstart your morning. They are made from scratch and filled with a maple-flavored filling and a drizzle of a sweet maple glaze. This maple cinnamon roll recipe screams fall in every decadent bite.

A Maple Cinnamon Roll with icing sits on a white plate beside a cinnamon stick, with a bottle of milk and a red-and-white straw in the background.

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While I love a classic cinnamon roll, these maple-flavored rolls will always have a special place in my heart. The milk bread base is light and fluffy and pairs nicely with maple’s sweet and warm flavors.

Here are more cinnamon roll-inspired recipes: banana foster rolls, apple cinnamon rolls, pumpkin rolls, and cinnamon roll cheesecake.

Maple Cinnamon Roll Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

Six labeled bowls on a marble surface contain bread flour, milk, granulated sugar, butter, yeast, and an egg—each ingredient arranged separately for making Maple Cinnamon Rolls.

Bread flour: You will use more bread flour for the starter and to mix up the dough for the rolls.
Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the bread dough and helps with the texture of the rolls.
Yeast: I used active dry yeast. You need to allow it time to activate so it can rise and texturize your bread.
Egg: The egg will be the binder in the recipe to create a richer flavor.
Warm Milk: You want your milk to be 110 degrees F or less, which helps activate the yeast rather than kill it.
Butter: Real butter that is at room temperature is key. It will help make the dough flavorful, fluffy, and light.
Oil: You will coat the bowl in which you allow your dough to rise with oil. This helps prevent the dough from drying out.

Filling and Glaze Ingredients

Two groups of baking ingredients for Maple Cinnamon Rolls on a marble counter: granulated sugar, maple extract, cinnamon, and butter on the left; maple extract, powdered sugar, and sour cream on the right.

Butter: The butter will be the base for the filling. It creates a wet base, so the filling sticks to it.
Maple Extract: The extract will infuse the filling with that rich maple flavor.
Sugar: Granulated sugar will sweeten and melt down as they bake perfectly.
Cinnamon: You will add some cinnamon to the filling for that classic cinnamon flavor in each bite.
Powdered Sugar: Here you will use powdered sugar to be the sweet and velvety base to the glaze.
Sour Cream: Sour cream adds a tangy flavor to the glaze and helps create a creamy texture.

Also, try these maple bacon cake pops for another maple-flavored dessert.

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Substitutions and Variations

Non-Dairy Milk: Swap the milk with non-dairy milk to swap out for a dairy-free option.
Instant Yeast: You can swap the active dry yeast with instant yeast if you would like. Just skip the dissolving in the warm liquid and let it activate.
Greek Yogurt: For a healthier alternative, swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt. It will offer a tangy twist.
Nuts: You can add some finely chopped nuts to the rolls’ filling or even sprinkle them on top of the glaze once you drizzle it on top.
Spices: You can add other spices, such as nutmeg, ginger, and even cardamom, to the sugar filling.

NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations

How To Make Maple Cinnamon Rolls

A four-step process of making Maple Cinnamon Rolls: whisking batter, thickened mixture in a glass bowl, foamy yeast mixture in a metal bowl, and a smooth ball of dough.

Step 1: Start by working on your milk bread starter. Add the warm water to the saucepan. Then, whisk in the flour and milk.

Step 2: Heat on medium heat until it creates a slurry. Then, remove it from the heat, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit on the counter.

Step 3: Then, add your warm milk and sugar to a stand mixer. Sprinkle over the yeast mixture, and then let it sit and activate. The yeast will become a foamy mixture.

Step 4: Once yeast is ready, mix the rest of the sugar, egg flour, and salt. Use a dough hook and knead the dough. Then, cut the softened butter and stir it into the dough. Mix for another 5 minutes to really work the dough.

A four-step collage showing dough proofing (5), mixing Maple filling (6), dough rolled with sugar (7), and sliced Cinnamon Rolls in a baking pan (8).

Step 5: Let the dough rise in a large bowl, covering it so it doesn’t dry out.

Filling and Assembly

Step 6: In a bowl, you will add your ingredients for the filling in a small bowl.

Step 7: You will divide the dough and roll it out into two large rectangles. Then, spread the mixture over the dough and roll it tightly into a log.

Step 8: Place the dough into 2-inch wedges on a greased baking dish. Cover the container with a towel and let it rise until it doubles.

Image split in two: left side shows a tray of nine baked cinnamon rolls, right side shows one maple cinnamon roll on a plate being drizzled with icing. Numbers 9 and 10 are overlaid at the bottom of each side.

Step 9: Preheat the oven and then bake as directed.

Step 10: Once the rolls have cooled, mix up the glaze and drizzle over the slightly cooled rolls.

A spoon drizzles white maple icing over a cinnamon roll on a plate, with a pan of cinnamon rolls and a red-and-white towel in the background.

Tips and Tricks

Ensure the yeast is activated before mixing with the flour mixture.
I do recommend using all room-temperature ingredients. This will help create a smoother and softer dough.
Make sure to knead your dough enough to create an elastic and smooth texture. If you knead on a counter, flour the surface so the dough doesn’t stick.
Do not roll your cinnamon rolls too tight; if you do, they can pop or unevenly rise in the oven.
Using unflavored dental floss is the perfect way to slice the rolls for a quick, clean cut.

How to Store and Freeze

Once fully cooled, store your baked rolls in an airtight container. They will store at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the fridge for 3-4 days.

You can also freeze the maple cinnamon rolls for up to 3 months. Let the cinnamon rolls cool completely before wrapping them tightly in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. You can also store them in a freezer container or bag.

Thaw the maple cinnamon rolls in the fridge overnight or out on the counter for 1 to 2 hours.

A Maple Cinnamon Roll with icing rests on a plate, garnished with cinnamon sticks, beside a glass bottle of milk with straws and a jar of cinnamon sticks, all set on a table with a red checkered cloth.

Recipe FAQ’s

Why are my cinnamon rolls dry?

If your cinnamon rolls are dry, you will find that if you overbake the rolls or add too much flour to the dough, it can both be caused by dry rolls. Another thing is if you don’t add the right amount of butter to the mixture.

Can I make the dough without a stand mixer?

Of course, you can make the dough without a stand mixer. Just mix it up as you would with a wooden spoon. Then, when it comes time to knead, roll it out on a floured surface and work the dough with your hands.

How do I keep the filling from spilling out when slicing?

You can use dental floss that has no flavor to slice the rolls. It will help prevent the filling from getting smashed and pushed out from cutting with a knife when it gets squeezed.