Homemade Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

These Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect twist on a classic! Soft, fluffy dough is swirled with a sweet strawberry filling, baked until golden, and topped with delicious strawberry cream cheese frosting. Every bite is bursting with strawberry flavor and creamy goodness perfect for brunch, holidays, or a special weekend breakfast treat.

Here me out… these cinnamon rolls are worth the effort! I know at first glance this recipe is involved. Making dough from scratch can be intimidating but it is way easier than it seems, and the end result is well worth the time it takes! The great thing about this recipe is that effort for the homemade dough is balanced out by the filling made with strawberry jam that is super easy! They are a fruity fun twist on classic cinnamon rolls that everyone loves!

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Here’s What You’ll Need to Make Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

These are the ingredients to make these delicious strawberry cinnamon rolls! I’ve included notes and substitutions. You can find the exact measurements in the printable recipe card below.

Flour – I use all purpose flour to make these fluffy strawberry cinnamon rolls. You can use bread flour to make the dough, it will result in stretchier dough and the rolls will be a different texture.

Sugar – White sugar is primarily used to feed the yeast in this recipe. It sweetens the dough a little but the sweetness is is mostly from the strawberry filling and frosting.

Yeast– I use active dry yeast, but you can also use instant yeast if that is what you have. The amount of yeast used in this recipe is equal to one packet for easy measuring.

Butter– You’ll be melting the butter to use in this recipe so no need to soften it. I like to use salted butter but if you prefer less salt flavor in your dough you can use unsalted.

Milk – Milk helps create a rich tender dough. I used whole milk but you can also use two percent.

Eggs – Eggs are another ingredient that help enrich the dough and make it lighter and fluffier. You want to use fresh large eggs and make sure they are room temperature before you start baking.

Strawberry Jam – Strawberry jam is the base of the filling for these cinnamon buns, and adds the strawberry flavor to the frosting. You can use any brand that you love. You can use a jam with larger chunks of strawberries or a smoother jam without them. You can also use homemade strawberry jam.

Fresh Strawberries  – Fresh strawberries pair nicely with the strawberry jam to add bursts of flavor. You want to finely dice them so that they are easy to spread across the dough and roll up evenly.

Cinnamon – Of course cinnamon rolls wouldn’t be complete without a generous sprinkle of cinnamon! Use fresh ground cinnamon for the best flavor.

Cream Cheese – This is the base of the strawberry cream cheese icing and it adds a delicious creamy texture and tart flavor. I use full fat cream cheese but you can use lower fat if you prefer. Make sure it is softened to room temperature before using.

Powdered Sugar – This is another main component of the frosting. It helps create a nice sweet, smooth, creamy icing.

Heavy Cream– Cream can be used to help thin the frosting to get the best consistency. If you prefer you can use a splash of milk.

Here’s How to Make the Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

Here are the step by step instructions to make these homemade cinnamon rolls. You’ll make the dough first, then assemble the cinnamon rolls, and top them with the creamy strawberry frosting.

To Make the Dough-

First we’re going to proof the yeast to make sure it is alive and active. In a small bowl mix warm water, 1 tbsp of sugar and yeast stir and set aside for 10 minutes. It should be foamy and smell yeasty.

Next in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment add in 2 cups of flour, salt and the yeast mixture. Mix until it starts to form a dough. 

Next add in the melted butter and eggs, and one more cup of the flour. Continue mixing until the flour is incorporate.

Next add in the milk, remaining sugar and remaining flour. Allow to mix until the dough comes together completely and pulls away from the sides forming a ball in the bottom of the bowl. 

Transfer the dough to a large bowl that has been oiled or sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap. Place in a warm area to let rise for about an hour or until doubled in size. 

Once doubled place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 

To Make the Cinnamon Rolls –

Lightly grease a 13×9 inch baking pan. 

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and lightly flour your working surface. You will be slicing on this surface so I recommend using a cutting board or mat. 

Gently roll dough into a rectangle about 15×18 inches. Make sure your dough is not sticking as you roll, add additional flour to the surface if needed.

Spread the strawberry jam across the top of the dough and then sprinkle evenly with cinnamon. Then spread the finely diced strawberries across the dough.

Starting from the top (it should be the longer side) gently roll the dough toward you to create a log shape. Once the dough is rolled completely up the seam side should be down. 

Next using a very sharp knife slice about ½ inch off of each end. Now cut the log in half, then each half into thirds , and then each of those thirds in half. This should create 12 rolls that are equal size. 

Place the pieces in your prepared pan. Lightly cover and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes. The rolls should be risen a good bit.

Preheat the oven to 375. 

Place the risen rolls in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown. 

Remove from the oven and let the rolls cool for 20 minutes. 

To Make the Frosting-

While they are cooling mix together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and strawberry jam in a medium bowl with an electric mixer.

To thin the frosting add heavy cream a teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

Spread the frosting across the still warm rolls and sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

FAQ, Variations, and Tips to Make This Recipe-

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions and tips to make this recipe a success!

How to store these cinnamon rolls –

Store leftover strawberry cinnamon rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can transfer them to a container or just cover with plastic wrap and store in the baking pan.

Icing flavor variations-

The simple flavor of this frosting is delicious but you can change it up a little with a simple tweak to the frosting ingredients. One great option is to add lemon juice and lemon zest you can mix it with the strawberry or omit the strawberry. You can also add extract like vanilla or almond for added flavor.

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