Easy Pull-Apart Cinnamon Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you bake cinnamon rolls close together? ›

Place the sliced rolls on a baking sheet or in a 9" by 13" pan, being sure to leave 1" to 2" of space between each of the shaped rolls. (Otherwise, the rolls will form together as they bake and you'll lose the distinct design.)

Julie Clark, the blogger behind the website, notes that after years of research, she discovered that the key to getting perfectly gooey rolls is to “pour heavy cream over the cinnamon buns before baking. THIS is the secret ingredient and what makes the rolls rich and gooey.”

How do you make cinnamon rolls soft again? Make cinnamon rolls soft again by adding a little bit of moisture back into them while reheating. You can do this by adding a pat of butter to the top of each roll and covering them with a damp paper towel while reheating in the microwave for about 20 seconds.

There are a lot of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even down to the weather and humidity. But the most common reason cinnamon rolls don't turn out fluffy is because the dough didn't have enough time to rise.

Can cinnamon rolls rise for too long? Yes definitely! If you let your cinnamon rolls rise for too long you can over-proof them. This can lead to dense rolls or rolls that collapse after baking.

You want to add only the amount of flour that it takes so your dough is not sticky. Adding too much flour will make your rolls very dry. Once you have added the appropriate amount of flour, turn your mixer to a low speed and let the machine do all the kneading for you.

The cold temperature of the refrigerator slows down the rising process, preventing the rolls from overproofing. The next morning you can bake the rolls without having to bring them to room temperature or let them rise again.

Place the cinnamon rolls into your prepared pan, with little room between each roll and ½ inch from the edge of the pan. Lightly press down on each roll so that the edges of each roll barely touch each other, and improve their round form if needed.

Is Heavy Cream the Same as Heavy Whipping Cream? Yes, heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the exact same thing. The confusion lies in the fact that they're sold by different brands under two different names.

Adding butter helps increase the fat percentage of half-and-half, making it a suitable alternative to heavy cream in almost any recipe, including those that require whipping. You can also use half-and-half to replace heavy cream without adding butter in certain recipes, such as sauces and soups.

What is the secret to softer bread? ›

Don't Overbake Cinnamon Rolls

Overbaked cinnamon rolls are tough and chewy instead of light and pillowy. Since it can be a bit tricky to know when rolls are fully baked, use a digital thermometer. Bake cinnamon rolls until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches between 190°and 200°F.

Another option is to use a reusable wrap like this bread-sized Bee's Wrap. This is one of my favorite ways to wrap up longer loaves (like demi-baguettes), and the wrap works extremely well at keeping loaves soft but not too soft. Simply place your bread in the wrap and cover it tightly.

Thankfully, this is something that can be easily remedied next time. So here's what you do: "Avoid this by giving pull-apart cinnamon rolls a good 1" of space all around, and more if you like 'stand-alone' cinnamon rolls. Bake 'stand-alones' on a sheet tray with 2"-2 1/2" between the rolls.

Don't Overmix the Dough

When making cinnamon rolls, mix the dough just until the ingredients are incorporated and the dough is smooth and soft. Overmixed dough leads to tough cinnamon rolls. The dough is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl and feels tacky but doesn't stick to your fingers.

If the dough doesn't spring back at all, you've likely over-proofed the dough. When the dough rises too much before it gets baked, it will collapse, rather than rise, in the oven's heat, and the crumb will be uneven and ragged.

The dough will be easier to work with and the swirls in the dough will be perfect. Tip #2: Don't stretch the dough as you are rolling it. If you stretch the dough while you are rolling it up, this can lead to the middles of your rolls popping up during baking.