• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Nina Kneads to Bake
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls {overnight}

    Published: May 6, 2022 Modified: May 6, 2022 by Nina

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Funfetti cinnamon rolls are a fun celebratory take on regular cinnamon rolls. The filling is stuffed with butter, cinnamon, and cake batter crumbs. The frosting is, of course, cream cheese frosting, but gets a decoration of sprinkles!

    A single cinnamon roll on a white plate.  The pan full of cinnamon rolls is in the background.
    Jump straight to the recipe!
    • 🎂Celebratory cinnamon rolls
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • ✔️Expert tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • 📖Related recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    🎂Celebratory cinnamon rolls

    I love, love, love cinnamon rolls! See pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls, red velvet cinnamon rolls, or regular, but nothing plain about them, cinnamon rolls for proof! There is nothing quite like the smell of them baking, the fluffy sweet bread, the warm and buttery, cinnamon filling, and the sweet, tangy cream cheese frosting. I could go on!

    These funfetti cinnamon rolls have everything that a regular cinnamon roll has, but with the addition of a cake batter filling and sprinkles. These are truly worth any celebration!

    There are quite a few steps to this recipe, but the best thing about cinnamon rolls, is that they can be partly made the day before, and finished the next day!

    🥘Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make funfetti cinnamon rolls.

    Ingredient notes

    • Dry milk powder - this gives the cake batter filling a creaminess texture. You can leave it out. The taste will be a bit less creamy, but still good!
    • Sprinkles - not all sprinkles are created equal. Jimmies (the long skinny sprinkles) are best for this recipe. They don't bleed easily, like other sprinkles do.
    • Yeast - use whatever kind of yeast you are used to using. I used dry active yeast in this recipe.

    🔪Instructions

    Cinnamon roll dough

    First, make the dough by placing yeast, sugar and warm milk in a bowl . Add eggs and melted butter and stir to combine. Add 4 cups of flour and salt. Knead the dough until it comes together and cleans the sides of the bowl. Add ¼ cup more flour at a time, if needed.

    Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm environment until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.

    Kneaded cinnamon roll dough in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.

    Cake batter filling

    While the dough is rising, make the cake batter filling. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, dry milk powder, baking powder, and salt to a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Break apart any large chunks of brown sugar.

    Add vanilla extract. Using a pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands, cut cold butter into the dry ingredients. You want the butter to coat all the dry ingredients and the size to be small. We don't want big chunks on our cake.

    Stir in sprinkles and then turn out onto a parchment lined baking tray. Use a spatula to spread it out evenly. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 15 minutes.

    Let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then break it into chunks. Transfer to a clean small bowl and let the filling cool completely.

    Toasted cake batter filling in a small clear bowl.

    Cream cheese frosting

    Whisk cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add In icing sugar and whisk until combined. 

    Place the risen dough onto a floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 15x20 inches. Spread butter over the dough, and then sprinkle with cinnamon. Scatter the cake batter filling over top. You may not need to use it all.

    Roll the dough starting at the long side of the rectangle. Cut the dough into 12 rolls and place them into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover the cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap and place in a warm environment until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

    Funfetti Cinnamon Roll recipe steps.

    Bake the cinnamon rolls for 20 minutes. If the tops of the rolls are browning too quickly, lightly cover them with tin foil. Remove from the oven onto a wire rack. Let the cinnamon rolls cool for 10 minutes, and then spread the cream cheese frosting on top. Scatter sprinkles over top of the frosting.

    For more step by step photos, view my web story for funfetti cinnamon rolls!

    A clear pan filled with cinnamon rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting, and decorated with sprinkles.

    ✔️Expert tips

    • Don't have dry milk powder? Leave it out. It won't make a significant change to the deliciousness of this recipe.
    • Cut the cinnamon rolls with a serrated knife or floss. Just make sure the floss isn't flavoured.
    • If the cinnamon rolls are browning too quickly in the oven, place some tin foil lightly over the tops of them and continue baking.

    💭FAQs

    Can these be made ahead?

    Cinnamon rolls are great to make ahead. Prepare the cinnamon rolls to the part in the recipe where they go cut side up into a greased pan. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator over night.
    The next day, take them out of the refrigerator. Let them get to room temperature and then double in size before continuing with the rest of the recipe.

    Can these be frozen?

    To freeze before baking - The cinnamon rolls can be frozen after they have been filled, rolled up, cut, and placed in the baking pan. Cover and place in the freezer. When you are ready to bake, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Place at room temperature and let the rolls double in size. Continue with recipe.

    To freeze after baking - You can freeze the rolls with frosting on them, or not. Let them cool to room temperature. Freeze either the entire pan or individual rolls. Cover them tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator. Warm them in the oven or microwave.

    What is the difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns?

    The difference is in the filling. Cinnamon buns usually contain nuts.

    When to put frosting on cinnamon rolls?

    Wait 10 minutes after taking them from the oven, and then frost. If you frost right away, the frosting would melt too much down the sides and off the rolls. You want them warm though, because some oozing down the sides of the pan is wanted.

    A large clear pan filled with cinnamon rolls.  Frosting and sprinkles are on top.

    📖Related recipes

    • A loaf on a white decorative plate. Two slices have been cut from the loaf, and they lie where they were cut.
      Gingerbread Latte Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A loaf of bread on a wire rack. Two slices are cut from the bread, and they lay in front of the loaf. A white kitchen towel is behind the loaf.
      Apple Butter Cinnamon Swirl Bread
    • Four slices of stromboli on a rectangular white plate.
      Easy Pepperoni Stromboli
    • Five pretzels scattered on a table. The front pretzel has a piece torn from it, to show it's fluffy interior.
      Buttery Soft Pretzels

    Let's Bake Together!

    Step-by-step instructions are all written in my recipe below. If you liked it, please rate me 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

    If you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

    📋 Recipe

    A cinnamon roll on a white plate. The cinnamon roll is frosted and has sprinkles on top.

    Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls {overnight}

    Nina
    Funfetti cinnamon rolls are a fun celebratory take on regular cinnamon rolls. The filling is stuffed with butter, cinnamon, and cake batter crumbs. The frosting is, of course, cream cheese frosting, but gets a decoration of sprinkles!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 1 hr
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Course Bread
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 12 rolls
    Calories 517 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 9"x13" pan

    Ingredients
      

    Dough

    • 1 teaspoons dry active yeast
    • 1 cup whole milk warm
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs room temperature
    • ⅓ cup unsalted butter melted
    • 4-4½ cups all purpose flour

    Filling

    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
    • ¾ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons dry milk powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter cold, cut into ½ inch squares
    • 2 tablespoons sprinkles jimmies work best

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1-2 tablespoons sprinkles jimmies work best

    Spread

    • 6 tablespoons butter softened
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    Dough

    • Place yeast, sugar and warm milk in a bowl. Add eggs and melted butter and stir to combine.
    • Add 4 cups of flour and salt. Knead the dough until it comes together and cleans the sides of the bowl. Add ¼ cup more flour at a time, if needed.
    • Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm environment until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.

    Cake Batter Filling

    • Add sugars, flour, dry milk powder, baking powder, and salt to a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine. Break apart any large chunks of brown sugar.
    • Add vanilla extract. Using a pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands, cut cold butter into the dry ingredients. You want the butter to coat all the dry ingredients and the size to be small. We don't want big chunks on our cake.
    • Stir in sprinkles and then turn out onto a parchment lined baking tray. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 15 minutes. Let it cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then break it into chunks. Transfer to a clean small bowl and let the filling cool completely.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Whisk cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add In icing sugar and whisk until combined. 

    Assembly

    • Place risen dough onto a floured surface and using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 15x20 inches.
    • Spread butter over the dough, and then sprinkle with cinnamon. Scatter the cake batter filling over top. You may not use it all.
    • Roll the dough starting at the long side of the rectangle. Cut the dough into 12 rolls and place them into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
    • If you are baking right away, preheat oven to 350°F. Cover the cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap and place in a warm environment until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 20 minutes. If the tops of the rolls are browning too quickly, lightly cover them with tin foil.
    • Remove from the oven onto a wire rack. Let the cinnamon rolls cool for 10 minutes, and then spread the cream cheese frosting on top. Scatter sprinkles on the frosting.
    • Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Notes

    • Don't have dry milk powder? Leave it out. It won't make a significant change to the deliciousness of this recipe.
    • Cut the cinnamon rolls with a serrated knife or floss. Just make sure the floss isn't flavoured.
    • If the cinnamon rolls are browning too quickly in the oven, place some aluminum foil lightly over the tops of them and continue baking.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 12gCalories: 517kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 10gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 163mgPotassium: 180mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 767IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 102mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!

    More Bread Recipes

    • Loaf of sweet bread on a piece of parchment paper. A few slices have been cut from the loaf.
      Cranberry Orange Bread with Glaze
    • A cinnamon roll on a white plate.
      Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
    • Banana bread with some slices cut from it. A spreading knife lays on one side of the bread and a bowl of butter on the other side.
      Classic Banana Bread Recipe
    • Yorkshire Puddings on a dinner plate.
      Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Did you try this recipe? Comment below to let me know ☺️ Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • A slice of cake being lifted from the rest of the cake. The cake sits on a white cake stand.
      Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Mousse Filling
    • A slice of cake on a white plate.
      Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}
    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Limes and the rest of the pie are in the background. In the foreground is a fork.
      Authentic Key Lime Pie {without condensed milk}
    • A slice of cake on a white cake. You can partially see the rest of the cake in the background.
      White Cake with Strawberry Filling
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Strawberry sauce is on top of the cake, and it is spilling down the sides, onto the plate.
      Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake {with strawberry topping}
    • A cake slice being pulled from a cake with a cake server.
      Cheesecake Factory Italian Lemon Cream Cake

    Winter Recipes

    • A slice of pie on a white plate. Red and green apples are behind the plate.
      Irish Apple Amber Pie
    • One brownie on a white plate. A raspberry sits on top of the brownie.
      Raspberry Truffle Brownies
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. A gold fork sits in front of the plate.
      Toffifee Cheesecake
    • Two brownies stacked on a white plate. The top brownie has a bite out of it. Three chocolate chips sit in front of the brownies. More brownies are in the back on a wire rack.
      Pecan Pie Brownies
    • A slice of cheesecake on a white plate. Two chocolate chips are on the plate, in front of the cheesecake.
      No Bake Chocolate Kahlua Cheesecake
    • A turtle cookie with some more scattered around it.
      Snappy Turtle Cookies

    Game Day Recipes

    • An above view of a homemade pizza.
      Homemade Pizza Dough
    • A philly cheesesteak with extra buns behind it.
      Philly Cheesesteak with Homemade Bun
    • A casserole plated with a serving spoon beside it.
      Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • A side view of a casserole.
      Pizza Rice Casserole
    • Spahgetti and meat sauce on a plate with a forkful of spaghetti on a fork.
      Best Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
    • A dinner roll split open with butter on it.
      Best Homemade Dinner Rolls

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Terms of Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact