Homemade “Pantry” Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls are perfect for weekend treats and will fill your home with the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked goods.

The best part is … this recipe uses simple pantry ingredients, so you don’t have to run to the store for heavy whipping cream or a carton of buttermilk!

Make Your Own Powdered Sugar & Buttermilk Substitute

Don’t worry about running to the store! You can make powdered sugar using regular sugar and a blender of food processor. Here’s a tutorial for that.

As for the heavy whipping cream and/or buttermilk that typically stars in cinnamon roll recipes, you can make your own alternative with regular milk and a splash of white vinegar.

Instructions below!

Want a Video Tutorial?

Prepare the Ingredients

Before we dive into making the cinnamon rolls, let’s gather all the ingredients we’ll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Splash of milk (adjust to desired consistency)

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls From Scratch

Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a cast iron skillet in the oven with 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt while you prepare the dough.

In a mixing bowl, sift 2 cups of flour. This step is important to achieve a fluffy texture in the cinnamon rolls! To the flour, add 3 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the sifted flour. Mix well.

In a separate container (like a Mason jar), combine 1 cup of milk and a splash of white distilled vinegar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to create a buttermilk substitute.

After the milk has curdled slightly, pour it into the flour mixture, and stir until a sticky dough forms.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle shape, approximately 9×13 inches. Brush the melted butter evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.

In a bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture over the buttered dough, covering the entire surface.

Starting from one of the longer edges, tightly roll the dough into a log, tucking in the edges as you go. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 7 to 8 thick cinnamon rolls, depending on your preference. I’ve heard that you can place your roll in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, and it will cut much easier.

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and swirl the melted butter around. Place the cinnamon rolls, cut side up, into the skillet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

While the cinnamon rolls are baking, prepare the icing by combining 1 cup of powdered sugar, 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and a splash of milk in a bowl. Adjust the amount of milk to achieve your desired consistency.

Once the cinnamon rolls are done, let them cool for about 10 minutes before drizzling the icing over the top.

There you have it—a simple recipe for homemade cinnamon rolls!

These fluffy, sweet treats are perfect for breakfast or as an indulgent snack. The best part is that you can easily make them using ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Let us know if you make them & how they turned out! The printable recipe is below.

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