Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls

Name: Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 120 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup whole milk (warm); ¼ cup vegetable oil; 2 teaspoons active dry yeast; ¼ cup granulated sugar; 1 egg; 1 egg yolk; 3 cups all purpose flour; 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup raspberries (mashed); 3 Tablespoons brown sugar; pinch of ground cinnamon; 4 ounces cream cheese (softened); 2 cups icing sugar; 1 teaspoon milk

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These soft and fluffy Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls have a sweet roll dough filled with raspberries and topped with cream cheese glaze. These Raspberry sweet rolls are perfect for breakfast, brunch or a dessert.

a white dish with raspberry sweet rolls inside and cream cheese drizzle on top.

Table of Contents

This raspberry sweet roll recipe is a fun twist on traditional cinnamon rolls. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Easter brunch or even Christmas morning, you’ll find any reason to make these sweet rolls – even just for an any day sweet treat.

The tangy cream cheese glaze and raspberry filling complement the buttery sweet yeast bread just beautifully, and it’s not too overpowering with sweetness. These best cinnamon rolls have gotten rave reviews from our entire family.

If want more sweet breakfast recipes, try our Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, Strawberry Monkey Bread, or White Chocolate Raspberry Scones!

💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

TASTY – From the gooey raspberry filling to soft texture of the dough, these fluffy rolls are heaven in every bite.
MAKE-AHEAD – Make a batch of uncooked or cooked raspberry sweet rolls and and freeze them for later. These are great for meal prepping.
VERSATILE – Great for a snack, breakfast, brunch or dessert for an ordinary day to special occasions.

Total Time: 2.5 hours

Serves: 8

📋 Ingredients and Notes

There are 3 main groups of ingredients when making this Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls recipe: the sweet rolls, the raspberry filling, and the cream cheese frosting as a topping.

Ingredients on a table to make raspberry cinnamon rolls: milk, flour, sugar, eggs, yeast, butter, and fresh raspberries.

Raspberries – I used fresh raspberries in this recipe because I had some that needed to be used up. Depending on preference, cost, or time of year; you can use thawed frozen raspberries if you wish. Same as with making our Strawberry Monkey Bread Recipe.
Cream Cheese – For best results, like when making our Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting, use the brick style (full fat) cream cheese for this recipe.
Yeast – I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast when making cinnamon rolls.

As always, the full ingredients for this raspberry sweet rolls recipe is on the printable recipe card is at the end of this post.

⭐ Recipe Tips for Success

The preheating stovetop will make a perfect warm place to help with the sweet rolls to rise.
If you don’t have a sharp serrated knife, use dental floss (unflavored dental floss) to cut the dough into individual rolls.
If you want to swap the glaze for something amazing, try our Homemade Nutella Spread. The berries and chocolate together are to die for!
For even baking of all the rolls, make sure to bake on the center rack of your oven.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls

At a glance this may seem like a recipe with lot of complicated steps, yet this really is an easy homemade cinnamon rolls recipe. Most of the active time is in fact, hands-off rising time.

a mixture in a silver steel mixing bowl on a table.

STEP 1 – In the large bowl of a stand mixer combine the warm milk with the oil, yeast, sugar, egg and egg yolk. Mix on medium speed until everything is well incorporated.

a flour mixture in a silver mixing bowl.

STEP 2 – Fit the mixer with the dough hook attachment and add the all purpose flour. Slowly mix until it just barely comes together. Set on medium and knead for 10 minutes or until the dough forms a ball. If it’s sticky, add 2 Tbsp flour.

STEP 3 – Transfer to a greased bowl and cover with a cloth. Let it rise in a warm environment for 1 ½ hours or until it doubles in size.

dough rolled onto a table into a rectangular shape.

STEP 4 – After the dough has risen transfer to a floured surface. With the help of a rolling pin, roll until you have a 13”x8” rectangle.

raspberry filling on top of dough that is being rolled.

STEP 5 – Spread the softened butter over the dough. Over the butter spread the mashed raspberries leaving a ¼” margin on all sides. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon and tightly roll starting from the 8” side.

raspberry cinnamon rolls in a white rectangular baking dish on a table.

STEP 6 – With the help of a sharp knife cut out 8 equal rolls. Place into a greased baking dish and cover with a cloth. Let them rise for 40 minutes. While the rolls are rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

STEP 7 – Transfer the rolls to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool down completely on a wire rack before frosting.

raspberry cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese glaze in a white rectangular baking dish on a table.

STEP 8 – To make the glaze, add the ingredients for the frosting in a medium bowl and mix until smooth. When combined, drizzle over the warm rolls. If desired, double the frosting batch.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

As a dessert: Serve alone after a meal. You could also try our Cinnamon Swirl Cake!
For a snack: You can’t go wrong with coffee, milk, and even orange juice. If it’s during a holiday season, pair with coffee and our Homemade Eggnog Creamer our Easy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer.
As a brunch or breakfast – Serve these breakfast rolls with other sides such as sliced mixed fruit or as a sweet side to savoury dishes such as scrambled eggs, sausage or our Homemade Chicken Breakfast Sausage, and/or bacon. It also compliments many breakfast casseroles such as Ham and Potato Casserole, Bisquick Sausage Breakfast Casserole, or our BBQ Breakfast Skillet.

💭 Storage

The best tip to avoid dry rolls is to store leftover cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator, in an airtight container. Enjoy within 3 days for best results.

Next day cinnamon buns can be just as good as fresh cinnamon rolls. If stored correctly, you will have moist cinnamon rolls.

How to Reheat Cinnamon Rolls:

When using the oven, a great method is to cover with aluminum foil and reheat at 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until they are fully warm.

To reheat in the microwave as a reheating method: place rolls on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a slightly damp, clean kitchen towel (or damp paper towel). Microwave until just warmed through, about 30 to 45 seconds. This is the quickest way to reheat.

Some lather the rolls with melted butter before reheating in the microwave or oven to prevent drying. NOTE: You’ll have to make a fresh bath of frosting for reheated rolls either way.

❄️ Can I Freeze Cinnamon Rolls?

Can I Freeze Cinnamon Rolls? Yes, you can! There is also the option of freezing them before or after baking.

To freeze already baked cinnamon rolls: place cinnamon rolls either individually or the entire sheet into a freezer bag, or with plastic wrap. These will freeze well for up to 3 months if properly sealed to prevent freezer burn. We love to do this with these rolls and our Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.
To freeze unbaked rolls, which for many is the best option: place unbaked individual cinnamon rolls on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Then place into an airtight freezer bag or airtight container. To bake frozen rolls, remove from freezer and place on greased baking sheet, 2 inches apart.

Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow them to thaw to room temperature. It will double in size as it sits, taking about 2 hours. Bake until golden brown and frost with cream cheese icing as desired.

❓ Recipe FAQ

Why did my cinnamon rolls not rise?

Make sure the milk is warm and not too hot, and the ingredients that should be softened, are. When making sweet roll dough, follow the recipe carefully. Usually if dough does not rise, the temperature of the ingredients killed the yeast or the yeast you are using has expired.

Can I use frozen raspberries to make cinnamon rolls?

Yes, you can use frozen raspberries or fresh berries in this recipe. Just make sure to thaw completely before mushing.

🍴 More Raspberry Recipes:

If you’ve tried this Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!

Raspberry Cinnamon Rolls

These soft and fluffy RASPBERRY CINNAMON ROLLS have a sweet roll dough filled with raspberries and topped with cream cheese glaze. These Raspberry sweet rolls are perfect for breakfast or brunch.

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 2

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 2 25

Servings:

Course: Breakfasts

Cuisine: American

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

¾ cup whole milk (warm)
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
3 cups all purpose flour

FOR THE FILLING

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup raspberries (mashed)
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
pinch of ground cinnamon

FOR THE FROSTING

4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
2 cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon milk

Instructions

Prepare the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the milk with the oil, yeast, sugar, egg and egg yolk. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
Fit the mixer with the dough attachment and add the flour. Slowly mix until it just barely comes together. Set on medium and knead for 10 minutes or until the dough forms a ball. If it’s sticky add 2 Tbsp flour.
Transfer to a greased bowl and cover with a cloth. Let it rise for 1 ½ hours or until it doubles in size.
After the dough has risen transfer to a floured surface. With the help of a rolling pin, roll until you have a 13”x8” rectangle.
Spread the softened butter over the dough. Over the butter spread the mashed raspberries leaving a ¼” margin on all sides.
Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon and tightly roll starting from the 8” side.
With the help of a sharp knife cut out the 8 rolls. Place into a greased baking dish and cover with a cloth. Let them rise for 40 minutes.
While the rolls are rising preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Transfer the rolls to the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let them cool down completely before frosting. To make the glaze, add the ingredients for the frosting in a medium bowl and mix until smooth. When combined, drizzle over the sweet rolls. If desired, double the frosting batch.