Coffee Cinnamon Rolls
These Coffee Cinnamon Rolls turn the classic sweet breakfast into one simple dish. Infusing classic cinnamon rolls with coffee and topping them with cream cheese, this recipe is pure, sweet comfort food in every bite.
When we think of sweet breakfasts, brunches, or afternoon snacks, we immediately conjure up images of warm, soft, frosted cinnamon rolls.
There’s nothing more satisfying than a cup of coffee with easy homemade cinnamon rolls. It’s a classic combination that always makes our hearts and bellies happy in equal measure.
Of course, if you’ve been reading our blog for any length of time, you know we’re not content with making the same dish over and over, which is why we love getting creative with our cinnamon rolls, with variations like strawberry cinnamon rolls or sweet and savory bacon cinnamon rolls.
Now, we’ve added another creative cinnamon roll recipe to our list that makes one tweak to create a flavor that’s full of classic breakfast flavor. These coffee cinnamon rolls add coffee to an old-fashioned cinnamon roll recipe to create a flavor that’s everything we all love in the classic, sweet breakfast or snack.
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: This recipe requires only a handful of basic ingredients commonly found in most kitchens or any grocery store.
- Easy: While this recipe involves activating yeast and proofing the dough, it’s a very simple process that even beginners can easily do.
- Classic Flavor: This recipe combines the classic flavors of old-fashioned cinnamon rolls and coffee into one delicious treat.
- Versatile: Serve these cinnamon rolls as part of breakfast or brunch, an afternoon snack, or dessert.
Ingredients
We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Check your yeast for freshness before heading to the store. If it’s near or past its expiration date, buy fresh to ensure the best results.
Variations
- Frosting: We used store-bought cream cheese frosting for convenience, but you can also make your own.
- Icing: For a lighter topping, make a simple icing with powdered sugar, a bit of milk, and vanilla.
- More Coffee Flavor: Add a pinch of instant coffee to the frosting and mix until it dissolves and incorporates for coffee frosting.
- Coffee: Use espresso in place of coffee for a stronger flavor.
- Add Nuts: Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the top of the cinnamon filling before rolling up the cinnamon rolls for more flavor and texture.
How to Make Coffee Cinnamon Rolls
This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Mix the yeast, warm water, and sugar, and let it sit until foamy.
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Then, gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, followed by the bread flour, until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough by hand or using a dough hook attachment in a stand mixer until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm spot until it’s doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and roll it into a 16×12 rectangle. Then, spread the butter over the dough and sprinkle it with the brown sugar cinnamon mixture.
- Roll the dough tightly, starting on the long side, and slice into 12 pieces. Then, place them into a greased 9×13 baking dish, cover, and let rise until puffy.
- Bake at 350°F until lightly golden. Set aside
- Warm the frosting until it thins a bit. Then, pour it over the cinnamon rolls and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Be absolutely certain that your yeast is fresh, or your dough won’t rise.
- Your water should be lukewarm. Hot water kills your yeast.
- We find it easiest to knead the dough with a hook attachment. You can do it by hand, but it’s a major workout. It can also be difficult to knead it long enough without tiring out.
- Yeast can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to fully activate. Give it enough time to get nice and foamy before mixing the dough.
- We recommend covering your bowl with a clean cloth while proofing. If you use plastic wrap, be sure that you cover it loosely so the dough can breathe.
- If you don’t have a warm enough spot for your dough to proof, place it in the oven with the light on. It’s the perfect spot!
FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
A coffee roll is a cinnamon roll with coffee added to either the dough or the filling. It’s a coffee cinnamon roll! That’s the only difference.
Try pouring a little heavy cream over your cinnamon rolls before baking them. This causes them to steam, puffing them up more, keeping them more tender, and preventing them from getting too browned.
Cinnamon roll dough doesn’t rise for a few reasons. First, the yeast may be too old. Second, the dough may not be kneaded long enough. Finally, the dough may not have been proofed long enough.
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📖Recipe
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Coffee Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer
- 9×13 baking dish
- Rolling Pin
- small bowl
- sharp knife
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water 110°F
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar for the yeast
- ½ cup brewed coffee cooled to lukewarm
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup softened butter
- 1 cup milk
For the Icing:
- Pillsbury cream cheese frosting
Instructions
Activate the Yeast
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the yeast, ½ cup warm water, and 1 tbsp of sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Build the Dough
- Once the yeast is activated, add in the brewed coffee, melted butter, vanilla, eggs, remaining ¼ cup sugar, and salt. Mix well until combined.
- Add the flour — starting with 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 2 cups of bread flour — gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms. You may need a touch more flour depending on humidity.
- Knead by hand or using the dough hook for about 6–8 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 1 to 1½ hours).
Roll & Fill
- Punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle (about 16×12 inches).
- Spread the softened butter over the surface, then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture.
- Roll the dough tightly from the long side and slice into 12 even rolls.
- Place the rolls in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes, until puffy.
Bake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour 1 cup of milk over the top of the rolls.
- Bake the rolls for 22–26 minutes, or until lightly golden on top and cooked through.
Glaze & Serve
- Drizzle the icing over warm rolls and serve immediately. Best enjoyed with a cup of coffee, of course.
Notes
- Want a stronger coffee flavor? Use espresso instead of regular brewed coffee.
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling for texture.
- Make it ahead: prep the rolls the night before, cover, and refrigerate. Let them rise slightly at room temp before baking in the morning.
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
