Overnight Buttermilk Soft and Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls

Averie Sunshine
4.64 from 105 votes
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
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❤️ My Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe results in sweet, fluffy rolls that are ultra-fluffy, thanks to the buttermilk in the dough. Topped with homemade cream cheese frosting, they’re one of my favorite make-ahead breakfasts or brunches for Easter, holidays, and special occasions!

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting.

Soft & Fluffy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade cinnamon rolls always sound great in theory… until you realize you’d need to wake up at 5 am just to have one with your 10 am coffee. No, thanks!

Luckily, I was able to fix that with this overnight cinnamon buns recipe. These rolls are some of the best I’ve ever made, which is saying a lot, because I’ve tested countless cinnamon roll variations. My chocolate cinnamon rolls, carrot cake cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin cinnamon rolls are all delicious.

But you just can’t beat the classic flavor, especially when these rolls are made with an ultra-soft, fluffy dough that’s light without being overly dense and a brown sugar-cinnamon filling that melts into a caramel-like sauce. Topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting, they taste like they came from a bakery but are simple to make at home.

My overnight prep process ensures there are no shortcuts while keeping the process simple and eliminating stress in the morning. It’s the best of both worlds, which is why these rolls have a nearly 5 -star rating with over 100 reviews! Take a look at what readers are saying:

I’ve been making these cinnamon rolls for over a decade (12+ years, I think, as of 2025) and they are everyone’s favorite! I’ve made them dozens of times at this point and the recipes comes out perfectly every time, which is not an easy feat for *any* bread recipe.

Annie

I’ve made this recipe MANY times now over several years. It’s my go-to Christmas morning recipe. Being able to make the dough the night before is a lifesaver. And everyone who’s ever had one of these has raved!! 

Jana

Two cinnamon rolls with icing on white plates, accompanied by extra icing on the side.
A biscuit filled with sausage and gravy served on a plate.

Ingredients and Notes

To make the best cinnamon roll recipe ever, you’ll need: 

  • All-purpose flour: You can also use bread flour, but the rolls will be chewier. I prefer all-purpose flour for a soft, fluffy consistency. I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten-free flour
  • Instant dry yeast: I used Red Star Platinum instant yeast, which is my gold standard. It’s an instant dry yeast, so you don’t have to proof it first with water and wait for it to get bubbly and foamy. Just sprinkle it right into the bowl with the other ingredients and then pour the liquids over the top of everything. When I deviate from Platinum and use other yeast, my dough doesn’t rise as well and doesn’t bake up as puffy and fluffy. Do not substitute active dry yeast. It’s not the same
  • Baking staples: Granulated sugar, salt, unsalted butter, large eggs
  • Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own with milk and white vinegar. Or, use powdered buttermilk. (See the recipe card below)
  • Cinnamon sugar filling: Unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and cinnamon
  • Cream cheese frosting: Unsalted butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, confectioners’ sugar, and salt

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls 

This overnight cinnamon rolls recipe is simple, but there are quite a few steps. I highly recommend reading over the reicpe card a few times before starting and planning accordingly. Here’s an overview of the process:

Make the dough: Prep the wet and dry ingredients. Then, beat the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Switch the paddle attachment with a dough hook, and knead the dough, adding more flour as needed. Note that the dough is very sticky and tacky and is supposed to be that way!

Proof the dough: Transfer the dough to a large bowl that has been greased with cooking spray, cover, and let it rise in a warm, dry place until it doubles in size.

    Bread dough rising in a speckled green bowl covered with plastic wrap.
    A hand punching down risen dough in a green speckled bowl.
    Dough rising in a colorful speckled bowl covered with plastic wrap.

    Shape the cinnamon rolls: Punch the dough down, transfer it to a floured work surface, and knead until smooth. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, and butter the dough, leaving a border around the edges. Sprinkle brown sugar over the dough, and roll it into a tight log. Pinch the seam closed, and stretch the log out evenly. Slice the dough into equal-sized rolls.

    Bake the rolls: Arrange the rolls, cut side down, in a prepared baking pan, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the rolls rise and double in size before baking. Then, bake until they’re lightly golden brown on top and cooked through.

    Unbaked cinnamon roll dough with cinnamon sugar topping.
    Making cinnamon rolls: dough with cinnamon filling rolled up, ready to be sliced and baked.
    Tray of cinnamon rolls covered with plastic wrap.

    Prep the frosting: While the rolls cool, beat the frosting ingredients in a stand mixer or medium bowl. Then, spread the frosting over the semi-cooled rolls in the baking dish, and enjoy!

      overnight cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese frosting.

      My Top Tips for Success

      • Don’t over-flour the dough. This dough is supposed to be soft, sticky, and slightly messy. That’s what gives you that ultra-fluffy, tender texture. Adding too much flour will result in dense, bready rolls. Trust the process.
      • Temperature matters more than you think. Warm (not hot) buttermilk is key to activating the yeast properly. If it’s too hot, you’ll kill the yeast. If it’s too cold, your dough won’t rise well. Aim for “warm bath water” vibes if you’re not using a thermometer.
      • Create a warm rising environment. If your kitchen runs cold, use the oven trick: briefly warm it, turn it off, and let your dough rise inside. This makes a huge difference in getting that soft, pillowy texture.
      • Use unflavored dental floss to cut the rolls. It sounds weird, but it’s the best way to get clean slices without squishing the dough (way better than a knife).
      • Adjust the frosting. I prefer a simple cream cheese icing, but you can add milk, cream, buttermilk, orange zest, almond extract, or whatever you like to make the flavor your own.
      Overnight Cinnamon Rolls — These overnight cinnamon rolls are ultra soft and fluffy thanks to the buttermilk in the dough. Top them with homemade cream cheese frosting and enjoy!
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      4.64 from 105 votes

      Overnight Soft and Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls

      By Averie Sunshine
      ❤️ These overnight cinnamon rolls are ultra soft and fluffy thanks to the buttermilk in the dough. Top them with homemade cream cheese frosting and enjoy!
      Prep Time: 30 minutes
      Cook Time: 22 minutes
      Rise Time: 4 hours
      Total Time: 4 hours 52 minutes
      Servings: 12 servings

      Equipment

      Ingredients 

      Dough

      • up to 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
      • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
      • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant dry yeast, one 1/4-ounce packet, I use Red Star Platinum
      • pinch salt, optional and to taste
      • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (3/4 of one stick)
      • 3 large eggs, lightly whisked
      • ¾ cup buttermilk*, See Notes

      Filling

      • ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, very soft – let it sit out while dough rises
      • 1 to 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar, packed (granulated sugar or a half-and-half combo of white and brown sugars may be substituted)
      • 3 to 4 teaspoons cinnamon, or to taste (I use 5 teaspoons)

      Cream Cheese Frosting

      • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
      • 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
      • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
      • 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, 4 cups
      • ½ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste

      Instructions 

      Make the Dough

      • To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 4 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar, yeast, salt to taste; set aside.
      • Place 6 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl, and heat to melt, about 45 seconds; set aside.
      • Crack eggs in another bowl and whisk; set aside.
      • Add buttermilk to a glass measuring cup and warm to temperature, about 45 seconds on high power in the microwave. Tips – Based on the type of yeast used, milk temperatures will vary. Red Star Platinum yeast calls for warmer temperatures than most, 120 to 130F; other brands and yeast call for much lower temperatures, about 95 to 105F. Warm milk according to manufacturer’s recommendations on the packaging. Taking the temperature with a digital thermometer is highly recommended, but if you’re not, make sure the milk is warm, not hot. Err on the cooler rather than hotter side so you don’t kill the yeast. If the milk separates or gets a little funny looking after being warmed, whisk it to smooth it out.
      • To the dry ingredients in the stand mixer, add the melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, and beat on medium-low speed for about 1 minute, or until combined.
      • Switch to the dough hook (the dough will have stuck to the paddle and just pick off what you can and put it into the bowl) and knead for 10 to 12 minutes (15 to 18 minutes by hand).
      • If after 5 minutes more flour is needed, add the remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough clears the side of the bowl but sticks to the bottom. Tips – This is a very sticky, tacky, moist, and borderline sloppy dough; don’t be tempted to over-flour it. It’s supposed to be that way. The more flour you add now, the less fluffy and more dense the rolls will be. Dough should clear the sides of the mixer while kneading but sticking to the bottom is fine. However, if the dough is simply too sloppy to work with, you can't move it from mixing bowl to rising bowl, it does need more flour so add some, as little as you can get away with, until you can work with the dough more easily.
      • Remove the dough from the mixing bowl, spray a large mixing bowl with cooking spray, and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free place to rise for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or doubled in size. I keep my bowl inside a powered-off oven. Every 45 minutes or so, I power on the oven for 1 minute to 400F, as if I am preheating it, then I power it off. Do not, repeat not, keep the oven on. These short bursts of 1 minute of heat create a stable 85F-ish warm environment, ideal for the yeast. If your rising spot is cold, it will take longer than 2 1/2 hours.
      • Prepare a 11-by-17-inch or similar sized jellyroll pan or sheetcake pan with a raised edge, or use a 9-by-13-inch pan. I prefer a jellyroll pan because it’s slightly larger so the rolls are less squished, have more room to rise, and bake more evenly. Line pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.

      Shape the Cinnamon Rolls

      • After dough has doubled in size, punch it down. Turn dough out onto a floured Silpat or floured countertop. Knead it lightly for about 2 minutes.
      • With a rolling pin, roll it out to a 16-by-12-inch rectangle; just slightly larger than a standard Silpat.
      • With a knife, butter the dough with 1/2 cup soft butter, leaving a 3/4-inch border around the edges.
      • Sprinkle the brown sugar over it. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the brown sugar; I was very generous with the cinnamon and used almost 5 teaspoons and recommend at least 3; just eyeball it and shake it on.
      • Loosen the dough from the counter using a bench scraper (or metal spatula), and starting with a long edge, roll the dough into a tight log. Pinch the seam closed and turn log so seam side is down.
      • Gently stretch the log to be 18 inches in length with an even diameter all the way around and pat the ends to even them up. Don’t fret if your log isn’t perfect; it’s okay.
      • Slice the cylinder into 12 evenly sized rolls (about 1 1/2 inches wide) using a bench scraper, serrated knife, or plain unwaxed dental floss (works great to not squish and compact the log).
      • Arrange the rolls cut side down in the prepared baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap.
      • If making the rolls straight through: Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until the rolls have nearly doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
      • If making the rolls overnight: Don’t let rolls rise after they’ve been sliced and placed in covered pan. Place pan in refrigerator for up to 16 hours. Before baking, let the rolls sit at room temperature until they have nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.

      Bake the Rolls

      • For either version, bake at 350ºF for 22 to 25 minutes, or until lightly golden on top and cooked through but not overly browned.
      • While the rolls cool, make the frosting.

      Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

      • To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 1/2 cup butter, cream cheese, and beat on medium speed to combine, about 1 minute.
      • Add the vanilla, 3 cups confectioners’ sugar (I don’t bother sifting), and beat until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
      • Add remaining 1 cup of sugar (or more, or none) as necessary, to taste, based on desired frosting consistency and flavor.
      • Spread the frosting over the tops of the semi-cooled rolls and serve. Tips – Make sure they're not too warm or the frosting will melt. You may not use all the frosting if you don't like a lot of frosting on your rolls. That's fine, you don't need to use it all. Extra frosting will keep airtight in the fridge for many weeks or you can freeze it.

      Notes

      Buttermilk: You need to use buttermilk and I use fresh buttermilk (Trader Joe's brand). However, if you don't have fresh buttermilk on hand I recommend the following because you cannot just use regular milk or water.
      • Make your own buttermilk with whole milk and vinegar. Add 3/4 cup of 2% or whole milk to a large measuring cup. Stir in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Let that mixture sit for 2 minutes before using in the recipe.
      • You can use powdered buttermilk. You’ll mix how many ever tablespoons the package calls for, with 3/4 cup of water, to yield 3/4 cup of buttermilk. For those who bake with or use buttermilk semi-frequently, but not so frequently to keep in in your fridge, keeping a tub of powdered buttermilk in your pantry is very handy. 
      Storing these rolls: Rolls are best eaten fresh, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Reheat leftover rolls for a few seconds in the microwave before serving. If you have issues with cream cheese frosting at room temperature, then refrigerate the leftover rolls; I don’t.
      For longterm storage, I recommend making the rolls as directed and then freezing unfrosted rolls; allow to thaw at room temp prior to serving and frost as directed. I prefer freezing finished rolls rather than freezing uncooked dough.
      For the cream cheese frosting: I recommend making this at night if you’re doing the overnight version, refrigerating it, and taking out along with the rolls as they rise so when you need it, it’s well softened.
      Frosting may be halved (makes about 3 cups as written), but unused frosting can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and I have frozen frosting for up to 3 months; I’d rather have too much than not enough.
      All measurements and ingredients are to taste; consider adding buttermilk, almond extract, orange zest, heavy cream, or your other favorite specialty tweaks as desired. I keep it very simple.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1serving, Calories: 754cal, Carbohydrates: 108g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 279mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 63g

      Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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      4.64 from 105 votes (69 ratings without comment)

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      Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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      Comments

      1. I just made these and popped them into my fridge for the night. Question — should I let them come up to room temperature on my countertop, or in my oven, or in my oven after it’s been warmed up at 400 for a minute?

        Reply

        1. By this time you probably made them but I allow them to rise on my counter or in my oven after the 400F/1 minute trick. Kind of depends on the weather and season, and whether my kitchen is really chilly or not. If it’s chilly, I keep them in the oven. In the summer, just on the counter.

          Reply

      2. Thank you so much for sharing this awesome recipe. This was the first time ever baking with yeast. It was super exciting to watch the cut cinnamon rolls double in size. The rolls not only looked beautiful but tasted delightful! My husband claims they are superior to Cinnabon! Thank you for making me look like a true baker!!

        Reply

        1. Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! My favorite kind of comments are when a brand new (never made a yeast recipe in their life) baker makes a yeast recipe of mine and nails it AND their entire family goes nuts :) That’s so wonderful and if you can make cinn rolls, you can make ANY kind of bread now you want!

          Reply

      3. I did you Red Star Platinum like you suggested, but possibly my buttermilk was too warm, I did it for 45 second and it seemed to be correct but I did not take it’s temperature. I see others have had success so I am sure it was something I did. Could you send me a pan so I can taste them? :) They look delicious..

        Reply

        1. Too hot can definitely kill yeast and cause non-rising issues. If you didn’t take the temp, then no one really knows where things went wrong but honestly, I have had novice (never made ANY yeasted dough before, never made cinn rolls, etc.) bakers make these with success so after 35 years, I know it’s something very small in your case and that you will crack the code!

          Reply

      4. Was really looking forward to this recipe, I have been making my own cinnamon rolls for over 35 years, so I would say I have some experience, and I will admit, these did not turn out like I had hoped. I really felt like adding a dry yeast into the mix was the reason the rising just didn’t turn out. I am sorry because I do love buttermilk in any recipe. I may try it again but using a yeast in a warm water mix, and adding more flour.

        Reply

        1. You cannot add any old dry yeast without proofing it…you have to make sure it’s INSTANT dry yeast. The one I swear by and never lets me down is Platinum by Red Star Yeast. You possibly grabbed active dry yeast which does need to be proofed and cannot be added dry. If you’ve been making your own rolls for 35 years, you probably have an amazing recipe already but I am thinking there was just one little thing that didn’t come together for you on mine and that’s the reason they didn’t rise. Also make sure your yeast is fresh – things you probably know, but just going down my mental checklist. Thanks for trying the recipe.

          Reply

      5. I’ve made these now four times and every time I’ve been disappointed. Disappointed when others discover that I’ve made them and then eat them… because then I have fewer to eat. Because they’re delicious. I do not like difficult recipes, and I love how genuinely easy these are. I brought these to work one day and had a coworker tell me that they reminded her of when she was little and her dad would take her to the mall and they would get Cinnabon. So not only did she call these Cinnabon quality, but they also had serious nostalgia bonus points. Thanks to this recipe my coworkers and husband continue to tolerate me.

        Reply

        1. So glad these are a hit with everyone and that they brought back some fond memories for your coworker!

          Reply

      6. Waiting for my dough to double right now, but thought I’d ask why you lay foil down? Sorry if it’s a silly question. I’ve made tons of cinnamon rolls before and have never laid foil down before baking. Can I omit this step? So excited to try them out! :)

        Reply

        1. I lay foil down to save with cleanup – it truly makes cleanup soooo fast and I can just lift all the rolls out of the pan with ease, all at once, but you can omit it if you prefer.

          Reply

      7. O-M-G. These were SO amazing, even reheated the next day. Thank you for the incredible, step-by-step and detailed instructions. I don’t make a lot of recipes with yeast, but used the Red Star Platinum and it worked out beautifully. I ended up adding the 3 extra tbsp of flour – it did not come out doughy at all. My parent’s oven also stays pretty warn in between the 45 minute blasts so my dough doubled in 1 hour and 40 minutes. I had no problems rolling it out, likely because of that extra 3T of flour. I did the overnight option and stuck them into a warm oven to rise again and that worked out well for me.

        I hardly ever comment on blog posts, but I just HAD to on this one. Thank you so much for the amazing recipe!

        Reply

        1. Thanks for commenting and glad you loved these rolls as much as I do and so glad they were a hit! They’re truly my fave cinn roll and so happy they turned out amazing for you too!

          Reply

      8. Waiting for my dough to double right now, but thought I’d ask why you lay foil down? Sorry if it’s a silly question. I’ve made tons of cinnamon rolls before and have never laid foil down before baking. Can I omit this step? So excited to try them out! :)

        Reply

      9. I am trying these with a gluten free yeast and flour and I can’t wait! Can they be in the fridge for 24 hours instead of just 16?

        Reply

      10. Hello! First let me say that I love ALL of your recipes. I just can’t decide if I should make this overnight recipe or your one hour cinnamon bun recipe for Christmas morning. I am not skilled in baking bread but would try the best recipe no matter what. Time is not an issue. Can you please suggest your favorite of the two? I have read and read the two recipes and cannot decide. Thank you and Merry Christmas!! Kristen

        Reply

      11. Ok, first, these are hands down THE. BEST. CINNAMON. ROLLS. EVER. Second, I have been curious how I could make the same recipe a pumplin cinnamon roll. Any thoughts or suggestions?

        Reply

      12. Love the detail. I was looking for something to do while waiting for the church council to show up for their meeting this evening. Wonderful recipe, wonderful guidelines, thank you so much. I know they will turn out great. Best line? “If you want no-knead, make Challah or English Muffins.” LOL

        Reply

        1. Glad you enjoy the details. One can never be too specific when trying to walk strangers through how to make and roll out yeast-based dough via the internet :)

          Reply

      13. Hi, I surely would like to try this recipe because the two times I have tried on another recipe the dough when cooked was too hard for my and my husband’s liking. I hope that with this I can achieve the softness that I want. I still have quite an amount of active yeast in my pantry and maybe you could help me with the measurement of it for this particular recipe of yours.

        Thanks heaps!

        Reply