Quick & Fluffy Easter Cinnamon Rolls Recipe for Spring Joy

Crafting delectable easter cinnamon rolls brings pure joy to any morning gathering.

Sweet aromas will soon fill your kitchen with warmth and excitement.

Soft, pillowy dough wrapped around fragrant spices creates a magical breakfast experience.

Delicate swirls of cinnamon promise pure comfort in every delightful bite.

Traditional yet innovative, these rolls blend classic flavors with modern baking techniques.

Weekend brunch deserves something special that sparks smiles and creates memories.

You’ll want to share these irresistible treats with everyone around your table.

Why These Easter Cinnamon Rolls Are Extra Special

• Craft Colorful Masterpiece: Create stunning pastel-colored rolls that transform a classic breakfast treat into a festive Easter celebration with pink, purple, and blue dough.
• Master Impressive Baking Skills: Develop advanced pastry techniques by working with colored dough, creating intricate layers, and perfecting delicate rolling methods that will wow family and friends.
• Customize Festive Decorations
• Engage Family Baking Fun: Involve kids in mixing colors, sprinkling decorations, and creating memorable moments while preparing a special holiday treat that brings everyone together in the kitchen.

What You’ll Need for Easter Cinnamon Rolls

Main Ingredients:

• Bread Flour: A high-protein flour that provides structure and elasticity to the Easter cinnamon rolls.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps activate the yeast for a soft, tender dough.
• Yeast: Essential for making the dough rise and creating a light, fluffy texture.
• Eggs: Provide richness and help bind the ingredients together.
• Butter: Adds flavor and creates a soft, tender crumb in the rolls.

Filling Ingredients:

• Brown Sugar: Offers a deep, caramel-like sweetness to the cinnamon rolls.
• Cinnamon: Provides the classic warm and aromatic flavor characteristic of cinnamon rolls.

Decorative Ingredients:

• Food Coloring (Pink, Purple, Blue, Green): Creates vibrant, festive Easter-themed colors for the dough and coconut.
• Coconut

Frosting Ingredients:

• Cream Cheese: Provides a tangy, creamy base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps thicken the frosting.
• Vanilla: Adds a classic sweet flavor to the frosting.

Additional Ingredients:

• Dry Milk: Enhances the richness and flavor of the dough.
• Salt: Balances and enhances the overall flavor of the rolls.
• Cream: Helps achieve the desired consistency of the frosting.

Making Fluffy and Festive Easter Cinnamon Rolls

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Whisk milk and yeast together in a mixer bowl. Allow the mixture to sit and become frothy for about 10 minutes.

The yeast will start to bubble and become active.

Step 2: Create Colorful Dough

Divide the prepared dough into three separate bowls.

• Pink food coloring
• Purple food coloring
• Blue food coloring

Knead each colored dough using the dough hook until the color is evenly distributed. Cover the bowls and let the doughs rise in a warm spot for 45-60 minutes until they double in size.

Step 3: Prepare Coconut Grass

Mix shredded coconut with green food coloring in a bag or bowl. Ensure the coconut is evenly tinted.

Spread the coconut out on a surface to dry completely.

Step 4: Craft the Cinnamon Filling

• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt

Mix in softened butter until the filling becomes smooth and well-incorporated.

Step 5: Shape and Assemble the Rolls

Butter a 9×13 inch baking pan. Take each colored dough and halve them.

Stack and press the dough colors into a rectangle on a floured surface. Roll the dough into a 12×15 inch sheet.

Spread the cinnamon filling evenly, leaving a small border around the edges. Roll the dough into a log and slice into 12 rolls.

Place the rolls in the prepared pan with the cut side facing up. Allow the rolls to rise for 30-40 minutes.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 30-35 minutes until they turn a beautiful golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes.

Step 7: Whip Up the Creamy Frosting

• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Cream
• Vanilla
• Salt

Mix until the frosting becomes smooth and creamy.

Adjust the consistency if needed.

Step 8: Decorate and Serve

Frost the cooled rolls generously.

Sprinkle the green coconut grass over the top. Add decorative bunny and egg embellishments.

Serve the rolls immediately and enjoy the festive Easter treat!

Easter Cinnamon Roll Tips You’ll Be Glad to Know

• Create a perfectly smooth dough by kneading slowly and adding butter gradually to prevent separation.
• Ensure consistent color by thoroughly mixing food coloring into each dough portion, avoiding streaks.
• Use room temperature ingredients for better dough rise and more even texture when mixing.
• Let rolls rise in a warm, draft-free area to achieve maximum volume and softer texture.
• Achieve vibrant green coconut grass by using gel food coloring and thoroughly mixing in a sealed bag.

Sweet Holiday Twists for Cinnamon Rolls

• Pastel Paradise: Swap food coloring for natural vegetable powders like beetroot, butterfly pea flower, and turmeric to create soft, muted Easter-themed rolls with organic coloring.
• Spring Garden Rolls: Replace cinnamon filling with lavender and honey mixture, then top with edible flower petals and light cream cheese glaze for a botanical-inspired version.
• Bunny Carrot Celebration: Incorporate finely grated carrots into the dough, use cream cheese frosting with orange zest, and garnish with carrot-shaped marzipan decorations for a playful Easter theme.
• Chocolate Egg Delight: Add cocoa powder to the dough, fill with chocolate hazelnut spread, and top with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate eggs for a rich, decadent Easter treat.

What to Serve with Easter Cinnamon Rolls

• Pair with Pastel Spring Cocktail: Light, fruity vodka-based cocktail with lavender or elderflower notes perfectly complements the sweet cinnamon roll's richness.
• Recommend Vanilla Bean Latte: Creamy, smooth coffee drink balances the roll's sweetness and adds elegant Easter morning touch.
• Suggest Fresh Berry Smoothie: Bright, tangy berry blend cuts through the rich frosting and provides refreshing counterpoint to the dense pastry.
• Match with Honey Chamomile Tea: Delicate, soothing herbal tea softens the roll's intense flavors and creates harmonious Easter breakfast experience.

How to Keep Easter Rolls Soft and Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store cooled rolls in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or place in a sealed container to prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Keep frosting separate to maintain texture.
• Reheat Refrigerated Rolls: Warm in microwave for 15-20 seconds or in oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Cover with foil to prevent over-browning and maintain moisture.
• Thaw Frozen Rolls: Transfer from freezer to refrigerator overnight. Warm in oven at 300°F for 10-12 minutes, then add fresh frosting before serving.

Easter Cinnamon Roll FAQs in One Place

• Why are the rolls different colors?

The colorful dough is created by adding pink, purple, and blue food coloring to separate dough portions, giving the rolls a festive Easter appearance.

• Can I make these rolls without a stand mixer?

While a stand mixer makes kneading easier, you can use hand kneading, but it will require more effort and time to develop the dough’s elasticity.

• How do I know when the dough has risen properly?

The dough should double in size and feel puffy when gently pressed. In a warm environment, this takes about 45-60 minutes.

• Is bread flour necessary for this recipe?

Bread flour is recommended because it has higher protein content, which helps create a more elastic and structured dough with better rise and texture.

Easter Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20–25 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Heavenly Easter Cinnamon Rolls emerge as a sweet celebration of springtime traditions, blending classic comfort with festive charm. Delicate swirls of warm spice and sugary glaze promise a delightful morning treat you won’t forget.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

Dough:

• 3 3/4 cups bread flour
• 3 large eggs
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry or instant yeast
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder

Filling Ingredients:

• 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Frosting and Decorative Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups sweetened coconut flakes

Color Additives:

• 1/4 teaspoon pastel pink gel food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon pastel purple gel food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon pastel blue gel food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon green gel food coloring

Decorative Toppings:

• Marshmallow bunnies
• Pastel chocolate eggs

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Instructions

1. Activate yeast by whisking with lukewarm milk and allow to bloom for 10 minutes until foamy.
2. Create dough by incorporating sugar, salt, eggs, bread flour, and dry milk. Knead using a dough hook for approximately 12 minutes, gradually integrating softened butter until smooth and elastic.
3. Divide the dough into three separate portions, tinting each with pink, purple, and blue food coloring by kneading thoroughly until uniformly colored.
4. Allow colored doughs to rise in warm environment for 45-60 minutes until they double in volume.
5. Prepare coconut grass by mixing shredded coconut with green food coloring, then spreading to air dry.
6. Craft filling by blending brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter into a cohesive mixture.
7. Grease a 9×13″ baking pan. Roll out each colored dough, stack layers, and shape into a rectangular sheet.
8. Spread filling evenly across dough, leaving a small border. Roll into a log and slice into 12 uniform rolls.
9. Arrange rolls cut-side up in prepared pan and permit a second rise for 30-40 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 350°F and bake rolls for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
11. Develop cream cheese frosting by whipping cream cheese, sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
12. Cool rolls for 30 minutes, then generously frost and garnish with green coconut, decorative bunnies, and egg-shaped candies.

Notes

• Adjust food coloring intensity by adding drops gradually to achieve desired pastel Easter colors without overmixing the dough.
• Replace dairy milk with almond or oat milk for a vegan-friendly version, ensuring the same smooth dough consistency.
• Swap cream cheese frosting with dairy-free alternatives like cashew cream or coconut-based frosting for lactose-intolerant individuals.
• Use silicone mats or parchment paper when rolling and cutting dough to prevent sticking and ensure clean, even rolls.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg