Description

Delight in these colorful and festive Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls, featuring a soft buttery dough speckled with vibrant sprinkles, filled with a cinnamon-sugar mixture, and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and extra confetti for a fun finish. Perfect for a celebratory breakfast or special treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

½ cup warm water (about 110°F)
½ cup whole milk (room temperature)
2 ¼ teaspoons dry active yeast
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
½ cup confetti sprinkles

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

⅓ cup unsalted butter (softened)
⅓ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup dark brown sugar (packed)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese
¼ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Pinch kosher salt
Additional confetti sprinkles, to garnish

Instructions

Activate Yeast: Sprinkle the dry active yeast over the warm water and milk mixture. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and stir gently. Let this mixture sit for 5-7 minutes until it becomes bubbly and frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
Mix Dough Ingredients: In a stand mixer bowl, whisk together the yeast mixture, remaining sugar, egg, and egg yolk until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the kosher salt into the flour. Add 2 cups of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and begin mixing with a dough hook on low speed. Then add 1 more cup of flour and continue kneading, incorporating the softened butter one tablespoon at a time. Finally, add the remaining flour and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Add Sprinkles and First Rise: Fold the confetti sprinkles evenly into the dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for about one hour, or until doubled in volume.
Prepare Dough for Filling: Punch down the risen dough to release air. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a 20 x 14-inch rectangle. Spread ⅓ cup of the softened butter evenly over the dough surface.
Make Cinnamon Sugar Filling: In a bowl, combine the granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the buttered dough, gently pressing it in to stick.
Form Rolls and Second Rise: Starting from the longer edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice the log into 12 equal pieces and arrange the cinnamon rolls snugly in a greased 9 x 12-inch baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise at room temperature for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
Bake the Rolls: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Remove the plastic wrap and bake the rolls for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown on top and the internal temperature reaches 185°F (85°C). Once baked, allow the rolls to cool for 5 minutes before frosting.
Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat together the cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and a pinch of salt, beating until the frosting is thick and creamy.
Frost and Garnish: Spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls. Add additional confetti sprinkles on top for a festive look and serve immediately.

Notes

Ensure the water and milk are warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
Use fresh active dry yeast for best rising results.
Softened butter is key for evenly distributing in the dough and filling.
For a vegetarian diet, this recipe is suitable as is.
Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Reheat rolls in the microwave for 20-30 seconds before serving to restore softness.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Funfetti cinnamon rolls, cinnamon rolls recipe, festive cinnamon rolls, sprinkle cinnamon rolls, cream cheese frosting rolls