Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls: A Love-from-Scratch Weekend Ritual
Cooking from scratch is my favorite kind of self-care and these cinnamon rolls are my favorite breakfast pastry to make, hands down. They take time, they test your patience - but that’s what makes them special. This won’t be a quick recipe. This is a slow ritual, the kind that lets you pour love, intention, and creativity into every step. I like to call it my labor of love breakfast as they remind me that slowing down can be the sweetest form of love… both for my family and myself.
The Magic of Buttermilk
If you hang around my kitchen long enough, you’ll see real quick that buttermilk is my not so secret weapon. It’s tangy yet creamy - like the lovechild of milk and yogurt - and it brings this nostalgic, old fashioned bakery flavor to everything it touches. In these cinnamon rolls, it creates the softest, most tender dough that literally melts in your mouth. It’s cozy, comforting, and slightly tangy with just enough richness to balance the sweetness of the maple frosting.
My Saturday Morning Ritual
Every Saturday, before the family wakes up, I slip into the kitchen for some me time. The world outside is still dark, but the soft hum of my Kitchenaid and the smell of yeast blooming in warm water both tell me it’s going to be a good day.
Now to some, being in the kitchen is the opposite of me time, but for me, the kitchen is to me what a blank canvas is to a painter. In the kitchen I can create anything I want. This is my creative space. My peace. The time where I can get creatively engulfed and lost in the process while still doing something that fills my home with love. And without fail—no matter how big the batch—they never last the day. Between my kids sneaking into the kitchen and my husband “taste-testing,” I’ve learned to stash one away for myself before the pan even hits the counter.
If you make them, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @preciouspmcdowell — I’d love to see your creations!
Love From Scratch Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls
Soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls with a maple-kissed filling and creamy vanilla-maple frosting. Perfect for slow Saturday mornings or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients:
Dough:
½ cup warm water
2 packets active dry yeast (about 4½ tsp)
1½ cups lukewarm buttermilk
½ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp granulated sugar
¼ cup avocado oil (or vegetable if you prefer)
1 egg, beaten, room temperature
4 cups all-purpose flour (plus up to ½ cup more if needed)
1 tsp salt
Filling:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1½ tbsp maple syrup
3 tsp cinnamon
Frosting:
2 cups powdered sugar
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)
Instructions:
1. Activate the Yeast
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast packets in the warm water. Set aside for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Prepare Buttermilk Mixture
In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and baking soda. Set aside.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, and egg until well combined. Stir in the buttermilk mixture and then the yeast mixture, combining everything thoroughly.
4. Form the Dough
In a separate large bowl, mix 4 cups flour with salt. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Add up to ½ cup additional flour as needed.
5. Knead
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead gently about 20 times, until soft, elastic, and slightly tacky.
6. First Rise
Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise for 15–30 minutes until slightly puffy.
7. Prepare Filling
While the dough rises, mix together all filling ingredients in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
8. Roll & Fill
Punch down the dough and transfer it to a floured surface. Roll into a 14×20-inch rectangle with the long edge facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
9. Shape Rolls
Cut the dough into 1½-inch strips, then roll each strip up tightly into individual rolls.
10. Second Rise
Arrange the rolls in the prepared pan. Cover with a towel and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
11. Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake rolls for 15–20 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
12. Make the Frosting
In a bowl, beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
13. Frost & Serve
Spread frosting over the warm (but not hot) rolls. Serve and enjoy the soft, maple-sweet perfection!
Pro Tip: These freeze beautifully! Bake, cool, and freeze unfrosted. Reheat and frost fresh when ready to serve.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Soft, fluffy texture thanks to the buttermilk
Perfectly balanced sweetness with brown sugar and maple
Cream cheese frosting that melts right in
Make-ahead friendly: you can prep them the night before and bake in the morning
A full sensory experience: smell, taste, and texture that make Saturday mornings unforgettable
