Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

These strawberry cinnamon rolls are filled with strawberries and topped with lemon cream cheese frosting. They’re soft, gooey, and can easily be made at home!

Looking for the best cinnamon rolls you’ll ever eat? You’ll fall in love with these strawberry cinnamon rolls that put a fruity twist on our favorite roll. 🍓

Let’s take the classic cinnamon roll to the next level by filling it with sweet strawberries and covering them generously with lemon cream cheese frosting.

The result? Soft, ooey-gooey rolls of delight that will transport you to strawberry heaven in every bite. 

What Are Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls?

Strawberry cinnamon rolls are cinnamon rolls filled with strawberries. Another variation of this dessert is to top classic cinnamon rolls with strawberry cream cheese icing. 

For this strawberry cinnamon rolls recipe, we’ll be making everything from scratch. But don’t worry; cinnamon rolls are not as intimidating as they seem. 

We’ll teach you how to make the perfect soft and pillowy dough without the dreaded long hours of prep work. The delicious strawberry filling is also easy to make since we’re using canned pie filling! 

And to make these strawberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls even better, we’re making a lemon cream cheese frosting to cover these rolls. 🤤

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love this irresistible take on cinnamon rolls. Here’s why:

• Fruity Twist: Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting are already delicious, but filling them with sweet strawberries? It’s just genius! I’m sure you’ll also find the zesty take on cream cheese frosting irresistible with our ooey-gooey rolls. 
• Cinnamon Rolls Made Easy: Skip the trip to Cinnabon and feel accomplished with homemade strawberry cinnamon rolls instead! They’re super fun and easy to make, and they won’t even make you wait for too long with their rest time!
• Make-Ahead Desserts: You can make your strawberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls ahead of time, perfect for gatherings or just stocking the fridge with sweet treats for a pick-me-up. 

What Do Strawberry Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls Taste Like?

Make this strawberry cinnamon rolls recipe and be rewarded with the most amazing strawberry dessert. 

Each bite is just perfect. You have a soft dough that’s gooey from the strawberry-cinnamon filling: a pairing you don’t want to miss. 

Then, to make the rolls extra dreamy, they’re also covered in lemon cream cheese frosting to balance the sweetness of the strawberry filling.

They don’t taste overwhelmingly sweet, but you’ll still enjoy the richness of every bite. 

Are Cinnamon Rolls Healthy?

These soft, moist, and sticky strawberry-filled cinnamon rolls are meant to be enjoyed in moderation. It’s just the harsh truth we have to accept with rich and decadent treats, which can be high in calories, sugar, and fat. 😔

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a roll or two. I also suggest planning a more wholesome meal before savoring these delectable strawberry cinnamon rolls for dessert. 

Want some easy but healthy recipes? Here are some yummy ideas that are also nourishing: 

• Hot Girl Summer Salad – Did you know this went viral on TikTok because it was said to help with weight loss?
• Vegan Stuffed Eggplant – Here’s a satisfying main dish idea that won’t make you miss meat!

What Are The Benefits Of This Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls Recipe?

This strawberry cinnamon rolls recipe won’t only reward your taste buds and sweet tooth. 

You’ll also feel accomplished because you just made cinnamon rolls!

As the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls drifts through your kitchen, this dessert is also a fantastic way to beat your doubts as a home baker. 

Cinnamon rolls can be intimidating at first, but this quick and easy recipe proves that anyone can make the ooey-gooey delights at home. 

Once you try the delicious fusion of sweet strawberries, warm cinnamon, and rich, zesty lemon cream cheese frosting in every bite of soft, pillowy dough, you might have a hard time going back to classic cinnamon rolls. 

Ingredients For Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

CINNAMON ROLLS:

• All-purpose flour – Measure your flour accurately, or your strawberry cinnamon rolls can turn out dry!
• Granulated sugar – We’ll use white sugar for our cinnamon roll dough. I haven’t tried this recipe with brown sugar. 
• Salt – To add more depth to these sweet strawberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls. Salt is also important to control the yeast growth in the dough. 
• Instant yeast – The secret for making your homemade cinnamon rolls rise faster!
• Egg – Helps give the dough a rich texture. 
• Water – To activate the yeast in the cinnamon roll dough. 
• Milk – Opt for whole milk to get the best-tasting strawberry cinnamon rolls. 
• Unsalted butter – I think we can all agree that buttery cinnamon rolls are top-tier. 🤤
• Cooking spray – To grease the baking dish pan. You can also use parchment paper.

STRAWBERRY FILLING:

• Strawberry filling – Make these strawberry cinnamon rolls whenever and wherever with canned pie filling!
• Sugar – For lusciously sweet and gooey strawberry filling. 
• Cinnamon – We’ll sprinkle ground cinnamon inside the dough so you get the perfect balance of warm and sweet flavors in every bite. 

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• Cream cheese – This strawberry cinnamon rolls recipe tastes comforting and familiar with its cream cheese frosting. 
• Powdered sugar – We’ll use icing sugar to sweeten our tangy cream cheese frosting. 
• Unsalted butter – For additional buttery goodness.
• Half and half – I prefer using half and half on the frosting so it’s not overwhelmingly rich. 
• Lemon zest – Instantly elevates the good old cinnamon roll cream cheese frosting.
• Lemon juice – Use fresh lemon juice, then just zest the lemon with a microplane.
• Vanilla extract – Enhances the flavors of our cream cheese frosting. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

• Saucepan for heating the butter-milk mixture
• Whisk for mixing the ingredients
• Stand mixer for making the cinnamon roll dough
• Baking pan for baking the strawberry cinnamon rolls
• Mixing bowls for combining the ingredients 

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

Pecans 

Our sweet, gooey, and sticky strawberry cinnamon rolls are more enjoyable with some crunch. Top the dough with chopped pecans before rolling! 

Cardamom

Cardamom is a warm, citrusy spice, perfect with our decadent cinnamon rolls. Add it to the filling and enjoy the aromas in your kitchen. 😋

White chocolate frosting

Because these are not your typical cinnamon rolls, you might want something other than cream cheese for the delicious strawberry cinnamon rolls.

And what better pair to enjoy with sweet strawberries than white chocolate?

Just microwave white chocolate with some softened butter in 30-second intervals until smooth and melted, and voila! You now have a quick and easy white chocolate topping. 

How to Make Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

FOR THE CINNAMON ROLLS:

• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp instant yeast
• 1 pc egg
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• Cooking spray for greasing the pan

FOR THE STRAWBERRY FILLING:

• 1 can strawberry filling
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup half and half
• 1 lemon for lemon zest
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Tools you need:

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Stand mixer
• Baking pan
• Mixing bowls

Instructions:

Gather the ingredients for your strawberry cinnamon rolls.

CINNAMON ROLLS:

STEP 1: Heat the saucepan over low-medium heat.

STEP 2: Add the milk and butter and stir until you don’t see any chunks of butter. Remove from the heat and set aside until it’s lukewarm.

STEP 3: In a separate bowl, whisk 2 1/4 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast together. Then, transfer the dry ingredients into a stand mixer.

STEP 4: Add the egg and water to the flour mixture and use the mixer’s dough hook to combine the ingredients together. Slowly add the milk mixture from earlier. 

STEP 5: Add the remaining flour and mix to form the cinnamon roll dough. Let it rest for 10 minutes.

STEP 6: Dust your work surface with flour and roll the dough into a square.

STRAWBERRY FILLING:

STEP 1: Spread the canned strawberry filling on top of the dough. Then, sprinkle sugar and cinnamon all over.

STEP 2: Roll the dough into a log and pinch the seam together. Cut the strawberry cinnamon roll log into slices according to the thickness you want for your cinnamon rolls.

STEP 3: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease the baking pan. You can also line it with parchment paper.

STEP 4: Arrange the cinnamon rolls in the pan, and cover with a damp cloth.

STEP 5: Allow them to rise for 30 minutes before baking for 30 minutes.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

STEP 1: Meanwhile, beat your cream cheese, powdered sugar, and butter until lump-free. 

STEP 2: Add the half and half, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well-combined.

STEP 3: Top your cinnamon rolls with frosting, and you’re done!

What To Serve With Strawberry Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls

These strawberry cinnamon rolls are best enjoyed warm with a cup of your favorite cozy drink. You can serve it with freshly brewed tea or coffee, perfect for unwinding on a busy day. 

If you’re planning on having these cinnamon rolls for breakfast or brunch (this is a judgment-free zone as I’m also the type to start the day with desserts 😉), then some scrambled eggs and bacon would make delicious sides to these strawberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls. 

Want a breakfast meal idea with these strawberry rolls? Why not pair them with our blue matcha latte and puff pastry breakfast pizza?

Both are quick and easy recipes that will make you get excited about waking up!

Tips About Making Cinnamon Rolls

Have a seamless baking experience when you make these strawberry cinnamon rolls by keeping these tips in mind:

• Don’t worry if your cinnamon roll dough feels too wet. Just add a tablespoon of flour at a time! And for dry dough, you can fix it with half a tablespoon of milk at a time.
• Make your strawberry cinnamon rolls extra special with homemade strawberry jam. Cook fresh strawberries with brown sugar and lemon juice, then adjust the consistency of the strawberry mixture with slurry and water!
• How do I know if my cinnamon rolls are done? Your rolls are done once their tops are golden brown.

If you’re also having trouble mixing the yeast dough for these cinnamon rolls, you need the right mixer with dough hook! Maybe it’s time to invest in a KitchenAid appliance, so consider checking our comparison of Kitchenaid Ultra Power Vs Artisan Mixer.

How To Store Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

These strawberry rolls with lemon cream cheese frosting are fantastic make-ahead desserts. Here’s how:

• Fridge: You can store the unbaked rolls in a covered baking pan (you can use plastic wrap) for baking the next day. But for leftover strawberry cinnamon rolls, transfer them to an airtight container and enjoy them within 2 to 3 days. 
• Freezer: After rolling, you can freeze the cinnamon rolls several weeks in advance so they’re ready for proofing before baking. You can also freeze leftover baked rolls in an airtight freezer-friendly container for two months. 
• Reheating: Make sure to let the uncooked rolls come to room temperature before baking. And for reheating leftover cinnamon rolls,  just put them in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes until warmed through. 

If you’re making a lot of cinnamon rolls for a gathering, only frost the ones you’ll serve for easier storage of leftovers. After reheating, just drizzle the rolls with the frosting. 

What Is the Difference Between a Sweet Roll and a Cinnamon Roll?

I don’t blame you if you’re confused between a cinnamon roll and a sweet roll (also called a sweet bun or sticky bun.) Both are sweet baked goods made with spices guaranteed to entice everyone to check out the kitchen. 

We can consider cinnamon rolls as a type of sweet roll. Both rolls are made from yeasted dough that’s rolled and sliced.

However, sweet rolls or sticky buns got their name because they’re sticky from their caramel glaze. It’s poured into the baking dish before placing the buns on top. 

On the other hand, cinnamon rolls don’t have this sticky glaze. Instead, they’re topped with cream cheese glaze. 

What Can I Add to My Cinnamon Rolls?

There are many ways to make your cinnamon rolls more exciting, such as filling them with fruits, like in this strawberry cinnamon roll recipe. 

I’m sure you’re also familiar with sprinkling the dough with chopped nuts before rolling it into a tight log shape. 

But for unforgettable cinnamon rolls, consider adding unique ingredients such as chopped bacon and maple syrup on top.

If you’re a fan of dark chocolate, you can also add chocolate pieces inside the rolls! 🍫

Why Did My Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls Turn Out Hard?

Your strawberry cinnamon rolls turn out dense and hard because of too much flour, so make sure to measure it correctly. And by correctly, I mean using a digital scale.

It’s also important to check if your rolls are done since overbaking will lead to dry, tough cinnamon rolls.

And finally, give the dough enough time to rise for perfectly fluffy rolls. 

If these considerations are too much for you, there’s a foolproof recipe for cinnamon rolls!

Try these TikTok cinnamon rolls that are guaranteed to come out soft, moist, and delicious every time. 

FAQ About Cinnamon Rolls

Conclusion

These easy strawberry cinnamon rolls offer a fusion of strawberries, cinnamon, lemon, and cream cheese in every soft and gooey bite. 

And yes, you’ll be making the cinnamon roll dough from scratch. It’s not as intimidating as it sounds!

Even the luscious strawberry filling doesn’t require much prep work since you can use a canned pie filling.

And the decadent frosting? The cream cheese glaze is made better with lemon juice and lemon zest. 🍋

If you love desserts like these dreamy strawberry rolls, here are some delicious recipes for you:

• Viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls With Heavy Cream
• Apple Cinnamon Brownies (Apple Cinnamon Blondies)
• Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe
• Peach Cobbler Pound Cake Recipe With Cream Cheese
• Instant Pot Cheesecake Bites