Name: Jelly Donut Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Breakfast
Ingredients: 3 cups All-Purpose Flour; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons instant yeast or active dry yeast; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 large egg; 1 cup milk; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; For the filling; 3 tablespoon softened butter; ½-¾ cup jam; ½ cup brown sugar; 2 teaspoon cinnamon; For the frosting; ½ cup butter; 3 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2-3 tablespoons milk

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This cinnamon roll recipe combines two breakfast classics; cinnamon rolls and jelly donuts! A basic jelly donut dough becomes the base for these easy cinnamon rolls and your favorite jelly is tucked inside. While homemade cinnamon rolls always take time, they are always worth it in the end!

If I were to ask my kids what they would want to eat for breakfast on Christmas morning, they would vote for monkey bread. Monkey bread is great, but it is so ordinary. The holidays deserve something special like cinnamon rolls.

Now, normally I avoid making cinnamon rolls because they are labor-intensive, but that labor is precisely what makes cinnamon rolls such a treat!

What Do I Need To Make Jelly Donut Cinnamon Rolls Recipe?

All-Purpose Flour – Keep extra flour handy to roll out your dough!

Granulated Sugar – The dough is actually not very sweet, this recipe does not require a large amount of sugar.

Salt

Active Dry Yeast – Although you can certainly use instant yeast in this recipe.

Egg

Milk – Often, recipes will call for whole milk because the extra fat content will help the recipe. For these rolls, you can use any milk you have in the fridge.

Butter

Vanilla Extract

Brown Sugar

Jam or Jelly – This is for the filling. I used strawberry jam, but you can use any flavor!

Cinnamon

Powdered Sugar – This will be used for the icing.

How Do I Make The Jelly Donut Cinnamon Rolls?

STEP ONE – To prepare the dough, combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

STEP TWO – Slowly add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, beating on low with a dough hook until a soft dough begins to form and comes together. The dough will be sticky. Allow the dough to rest covered for 5 minutes. Start the mixer and knead the dough on low for 6 minutes or until the dough is soft and smooth. Remove the dough from the mixer, place it in a greased bowl, turn the dough to coat. Cover the dough and let it rise for 1- 1 ½ hours or until doubled in size.

STEP THREE – After the dough has risen, place the dough on a floured surface and roll into a rectangle.

STEP FOUR – In a small bowl, stir together softened butter, brown sugar, jelly, and cinnamon. Carefully spread jelly mixture over the cinnamon roll dough.

STEP FIVE – Starting with the long end, slowly roll the dough and pinch the seam together. Cut the roll into 12 rolls and place the rolls into a baking pan or dish. Cover the rolls loosely and let the rolls rise for 30 minutes or up to an hour (the rolls need to double in size)

STEP SIX– Bake the rolls in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Icing

I know cream cheese icing is a very popular topping for cinnamon rolls, but I personally do not care for cream cheese frosting. If you have a favorite cream cheese frosting, then by all means, use that!

For this recipe, I chose to make a simple frosting made with softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. For a thinner glaze, omit the butter. You can flavor this a number of ways; use flavored coffee creamer or a flavored extract.

Can Cinnamon Roll Dough Rise Overnight?

Yes, the cinnamon roll dough can be refrigerated after it is kneaded and before the first rise.

To refrigerate after kneading, place the dough in a tightly covered large bowl and place it in the refrigerator.

After an hour or two, punch the dough down and place it back in the refrigerator.

The dough resting in the fridge is actually the “first rise” for the dough. When ready to use, remove the dough from the refrigerator, punch it down, and allow it to rest again before shaping into rolls.

Give the rolls a little longer to rise the second time to take the chill off of the dough.

To really save time in the morning, try refrigerating the dough after it has risen and is shaped. Cover the shaped dough tightly and refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator, partially unwrap and let rise until doubled. Then bake according to recipe directions.

Can Cinnamon Roll Dough Be Frozen?

Yes, they can! If you plan on freezing unbaked dough, prepare the recipe according to the directions above, but do not bake for the full time listed. Instead, bake the rolls for about 10 minutes. Cool the rolls completely. Then wrap them in a few layers of plastic wrap and foil. The dough can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Thaw the rolls in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. Allow the rolls to sit at room temperature while the oven comes to temperature.

Bake the rolls in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown and ice as desired.

This jelly donut cinnamon roll recipe is the crown jewel of breakfasts! They are slightly sweet, tender, and gloriously delicious!