Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls

Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls

I love cake. Doesn't matter if it comes disguised as a cinnamon roll, I'm still in love, baby.

This lovely tiny cake, um, cinnamon roll, is a revelation.

After finishing the mud run last weekend, I decided I needed celebratory cake, STAT!, no matter what form it took.  I'm pretty easy like that. So, I did what any other self-respecting baking Grand Mudder would do, I made me a giant batch of cinnamon rolls.

How my cinnamon roll process worked:

1. I was craving cake or cake-like pastry.
2. I had a recipe I was dying to try.  
3. I baked.

Oh. My.

Easy Cinnamon Roll Recipe

This is not my recipe; the credit belongs to Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Once you've made them, go give her some love!

Vanilla Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

• Rolls:
  ½ cup warm water
  2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  2 tablespoons sugar
  3 ½ ounce package instant vanilla pudding
  ½ cup butter, melted
  2 eggs
  1 teaspoon salt
  6+ cups flour
• Filling:
  1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  2 cups brown sugar
  4 teaspoons cinnamon
  Frosting:
  8 ounces cream cheese
  ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
  1 teaspoon vanilla
  3 cups confectioner’s sugar
  2-3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. In a small bowl combine water, yeast and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, take pudding mix and prepare according to package directions. Add butter, eggs and salt. Mix well.
3. Add yeast mixture. Blend.
4. Gradually add flour; knead until smooth. The dough should be very soft but not sticky.
5. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled.
6. Then, roll out on floured board to 34 x 21 inches in size. Take 1 cup soft butter and spread over surface.
7. In bowl, mix 2 cups brown sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon.
8. Sprinkle over the top.
9. Roll up very tightly. With knife put a notch every 1 ½ inches. Cut with thread or serrated knife.
10. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise until double again.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
12. Remove when they start to turn golden.
13. Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting (combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency).

Makes about 24 very large rolls.

What I Changed In This Recipe

The only thing I would say about this recipe is that I used more than the 6 cups of flour for the rolls. Yes, you do want the dough very soft and not sticky, so use what you must in order to gain that softness.

Mel's description of her finished product and my end results did not disappoint.  It was as I had dared to believe.  They were sweet and cakey and dreamy and no-I won't-share-my-last-bite delicious.

Mel advised the dough would be extremely tender and soft and that the cream cheese frosting would blow my mind.  Or something like that...

Vanilla Pudding Mix

Since I've been a baker for many years, I can usually look through a recipe and determine if it's for me.  I looked through this one and almost asked it to marry me on the spot.  Pudding?  In the recipe?!  Y-E-S!!!

And now?  Now that I've eaten the rolls that made me stutter a little bit from joy?  I..I...I....am...d...d...devoted.

So devoted I must show you again.

Original Post: April 16, 2013 ~ Updated Post: June 12, 2025

Fancy Fonts

Off-topic: Who noticed the fancy-pants fonts on the pic?  Who cares about the fonts?  Who wants me to shut-it about the fonts and just share my cinnamon rolls with them?

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If I haven't convinced you yet, I don't know what else to say.

Husband and I agreed, after eating rolls right from the oven slathered in cream cheese frosting (that frosting...it's, it's, it's slap yo momma good) and after they had cooled, that these are the best cinnamon rolls I have ever baked.  Keeper recipe.

These are wonderful Sunday brunch cinnamon rolls or company rolls or you’ve-had-a-hard-week-and-deserve-something-delicious rolls.

Most of mine are in the freezer, waiting on Sunday mornings.  The frosting is in the fridge.  Hope it makes it to Sunday...

You know I wouldn't steer you wrong, and while I don't know her, I don't think Mel would either!

Now, get to baking these Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls!

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