Small-Batch Cinnamon Rolls
Quick and soft cinnamon rolls perfect for two, made without yeast and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour For lighter rolls, use a mix of 1 3/4 cups all-purpose + 1/4 cup cake flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk Whole milk gives more tenderness; substitute with plant milk if needed
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (in dough)
For the filling
- 1/4 cup brown sugar For the filling
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
For spreading
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened For spreading
Optional
- Cream cheese frosting Makes the rolls decadent
Instructions
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Pour in milk and melted butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Don’t overwork it.
- Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick into a roughly rectangular shape.
- Spread the softened butter evenly over the rolled dough.
- In a small bowl, stir brown sugar with cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly across the buttered dough.
- Starting from a long edge, roll the dough into a tight log. Seal the seam by pinching the edge.
- Slice the log into even rolls (about 6 small rolls).
Baking
- Place the rolls in an air fryer basket lined for easy cleanup or into a small baking dish.
- Preheat your oven or air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 12-15 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the centers are set.
- Allow the rolls to cool for 5 minutes, then spread cream cheese frosting if desired.
Notes
These rolls can be customized with different fillings like apple-cinnamon, maple-pecan, or chocolate swirl.