Yesterday I attempted my first batch of cinnamon rolls.
They came out fabulously. I used the Pioneer Woman’s recipe. It was simple and foolproof. And left me licking the pan. That says a lot for someone who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls.
We are not huge maple fans, so I had planned on making a simple powdered-sugar glaze first thing Christmas morning. And when morning came, I reached for the milk hidden in the back of the fridge. Luckily I spied the heavy cream and grabbed that instead. Best decision I’ve made in 2010.
I had no intentions of sharing the recipe or photos, but then it was just so delicious that I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed the camera before digging in face first.
Vanilla Cream Glaze
for one pan of cinnamon rolls
1 heaping cup of powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons milk
Add sugar to bowl and stir in heavy cream and vanilla until mixture resembles a thick batter. Add milk one tablespoon at a time, stirring until smooth – about 3-5 full minutes. Mixture may look lumpy at first but just continue to stir and it will come together.
Pour over hot cinnamon rolls. Devour. Buy new (bigger) pants.
If you do one thing before 2010 ends, make this glaze. You can even eat it with a spoon. I won’t judge.








I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
Wow!
Those look intensely delicious.
Maybe, just maybe, the bigger pants size would be worth it
for these guys!
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Mmmmm cinnamon rolls. I think the best part is always the glaze. Hehe.
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Heavy cream. Duh. Why didn’t anybody else think of that before? A million times better than milk alone.
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your cinnamon roll looks perfect!!!
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MMMMMMMMMMMM
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Those rolls look delicious and the glaze…I’ll take a cup full please!
My mom I making us something with cinnamon this morning :)
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These cinnamon rolls are on my list to make this week!! I’ve had the recipe opened all week in the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook…this glaze might be a good one to have in case some don’t like the maple glaze.
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yummm! I am not a huge cinnamon roll/glaze fan either, but you make these hard to resist!
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“That says a lot for someone who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls.”—
WTF??! Are you kidding me? If there is ONE THING i could beg my grandma to make me it would be her cinnamon rolls. She’s not with us, so that’s not possible but oh yeah….i love cinn rolls!
And powd sugar + heavy cream = THE BEST way frosting is made. never measured, just keep stirring til you get the right consistency was grandma’s way :)
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In the words of Anne Burrell on TV, this would make me a “happy, happy girl!.” How fabulous!
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We had cinnamon rolls yesterday too – and I’m pretty sure my best decision regarding them was putting them in my oatmeal this morning!
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
Oh wow.. awesome idea!
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i’m just wondering how it is that you don’t like cinnamon rolls?! at least you like PW’s…if you didn’t i’d be sending a doctor :)
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
I’m in love with them now… I think it was because I had never had them homemade before!
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I’m shocked that YOU of all people, waited this long to try this amazing recipe… I didn’t think I’d like the maple myself, but um, I ate it. And loved it. Your vanilla glaze sounds amazing.
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
I know! I was intimidated by it.
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CINNAMON ROLLS are the best! If I could have them for every meal, I would! :-P
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Wow, I thought I was all sugared out after eating three of Pioneer Woman’s rolls yesterday, but you have made sweet, sweet frosting look appealing once more!
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What do you mean you don’t love cinnamon rolls?? They’re one of my fave baked goods! Your glaze looks nice and thick. I made cinnamon rolls yesterday with a similar glaze, but I could have used double or triple the amount haha.
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
I think I didn’t love them before because I had never had them homemade. Now I’m addicted…
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Any time I see someone make cinnamon rolls, they always strike me as the most delicious thing ever. I don’t even love cinnamon rolls that much, or maybe I do? Life and sugar are so confusing!
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Hahah perfectly put. I felt the same way for years!
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I heart cinammon rolls! Especially ones with lots of delicious glaze. :D
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wow those look amazing, totally worth the extra calories!
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That’s your first batch?! I would have never thought- they look perfect!!!
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Thank you!
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I’ll take any leftovers ;) Looks fabulous!
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You are so cruel!! I don’t even know what to say about the cinnamon rolls or that frosting….I think I just started salivating.
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I attempted those cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning as well and they came out GREAT!! Will have to try the vanilla glaze as well. Don’t you just love Pioneer Woman?
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Yes, love her! And the cinnamon rolls really are foolproof. I was so intimidated by them but they are easy!
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I’ve tried this recipe many times and LOVE it! I’ll try your vanilla glaze next time I make these though. I’m always looking to change things up a bit.
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Delicious!! I made these for Christmas morning as well. The only thing I did differently: I added a little bit extra cinnamon & sugar to the bottom of the pans. The sugar & butter caramelized a bit and added just a tiny little sweet crunch to the rolls. Uh-mazinggggg.
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
That sounds amazing!
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Those look delicious and even better with the vanilla cream glaze. This might be a stupid question, but I’ve been wanting to make these cinnamon rolls since forever, but PW’s recipe calls for 8 cups of flour… that’s like eight pans of cinnamon rolls! Definitely be having to buy bigger pants after that. Did you adjust the recipe somehow?
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Jessica — December 26th, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
I didn’t – I made then entire batch of dough, then split it and made 3 pans of cinnamon rolls – one for us, in-laws and my parents. Now I’m just making up the other pans to give away to friends tonight!
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Yum. You are always good for an indulgent, cravable recipe. I am usually more of a cream cheese icing kind of gal, but how good does this sound!
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Jessica — December 27th, 2010 @ 12:30 pm
It was a toss up between this and cream cheese. I had such a hard time deciding!
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Dirty. These are simply pornographic.
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mmm these look SO GOOD. these will be making an appearance at a family weekend breakfast sometime soon!
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Um. Yes mam.
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I wonder if you could make these and put them in the pan the night before? I may have to try it out… :) Definitely trying you vanilla glaze too!
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I just discoved this blog yesterday and really I’m embarrassing myself by drooling. Anyone who lovesss to eat but also likes fitness is amazing. Thank you for the recipes!
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HOLY HEAVEN!!! Wish I’d seen these before Xmas morn…but then again glad I didn’t or I’d be sitting here another lb bigger!! :)
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I just made the cinnamon rolls today… I meant to make them for Christmas or Boxing day, but ran out of time. I’m so happy I found your vanilla glaze. No one was interested in the maple/coffee glaze, but my whole family devoured the pan after adding the vanilla glaze. Thanks!!
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Jessica — December 28th, 2010 @ 8:56 pm
So glad you liked it!
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Nice, The Pioneer Woman is no-fail! I loved watching the segment on these on the Today Show a while back and am enjoying reading your blog!
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A couple of hours ago I was browsing foodgawker and I found myself wanting to make some cinnamon rolls and I pulled up a no-yeast recipe on wikihow (because i’m super lazy) and used this glaze and it was amaazingg! Next time I’ll have to try pioneer woman’s cinnamon rolls!
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Hi, I was wondering if you could help me a little bit? Ok here is the problem, I read your post the other day and as fast as I could I checked the recipe and write it down to try it. Today I tried and it was awful, the dough looked like a stone, soo… I started to think what happened and really a don’t know, then I read it again and thought maybe it is not the same my “quart of milk” and your “quart of milk” so my question is: how much is it in gr?
Greetings from Spain!! Love your blog!
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Jessica — January 2nd, 2011 @ 7:16 pm
I’m not sure how much a quart in grams is… but it is 4 cups.
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Mariana — January 3rd, 2011 @ 11:17 am
Thanks! Now i Know what was wrong!
You have mentioned in a previous post that you often times half recipies, is this one you reduced down? I really want to make them…just not so many. Do you have any tips? Thanks!
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Jessica — February 18th, 2011 @ 2:07 am
The cinnamon roll recipe you mean? I made the entire thing – freeze them for later! If you’re talking about the glaze, you can definitely half it!
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Al — May 23rd, 2011 @ 2:50 am
Would you freeeze the dough raw or the cooked rolls with the glaze?
Jessica — May 23rd, 2011 @ 6:55 am
Freeze raw dough, then bake and glaze after freezing.
Question about freezing. Did you freeze with the icing on them and the rolls “pre baked”. Or bake the rolls, and freeze. OR bake and ice the rolls and freeze.
Can you tell i over think things too much?
A
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These look absolutely amazing, what a great idea!!
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I made cinnamon rolls yesterday…. I made the glaze poured it on the cinnamon rolls and had about 1/4 cup left, so I sat in the pantry with the door closed and eat all the glaze!! With the spoon!! And ALMOST licked the bowl!!!
Sooo good!!
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I just used this great glaze for banana muffins! (minus the milk)
http://petitedecadence.com/2011/11/09/bake-a-lot-of-em-banana-and-chia-muffins/
Thanks!!
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Yum! I used the SmittenKitchen Bun recipe but my hubs “doesn’t like” cream cheese frosting. This one is perfect!! As a minor guidance, sifting the sugar first will result in a glaze that only needs to be stirred for a few seconds instead of several minutes!
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Did you leave them sitting over night? Like to rise? I was thinking about making cinnamon rolls tomorrow but I’m not sure I want to wake up super early to do it.
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Hi Jessica! How long can you keep these in the fridge until baking (I am taking the overnight cinnamon roll approach)? I am planning to make these late Friday night and then bake an serve Sunday morning. Do you think this would be okay? i have made these and baked the next day, but I am wondering if you think the rolls would be fine on Sunday. Thanks!
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Jessica — October 18th, 2012 @ 12:55 pm
Yep they will definitely be good!
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