These Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate elevation of the old classic cinnamon roll. Fluffy and filled with cinnamon butter plus HEAPINGS of brightly colored funfetti sprinkles. These make for such a fun birthday brunch and I provide steps for making ahead of time, meaning you can make the dough the night before, ready to bake for a delicious breakfast. Is there anything better than the smell of a warm cinnamon roll in the morning?

Fluffy dough gets rolled around the classic cinnamon butter filling but with a little twist in the form of funfetti sprinkles. These cinnamon rolls are a gorgeous treat for a birthday, to start your weekend, to serve to your partner/girl squad or simply to give yourself that self love you deserve! In this recipe, we fill the cinnamon roll dough with a good amount of the classic cinnamon butter filling plus LOTS of sprinkles. I find the branded vs own brand ones work better as the color bleeds less, but any sprinkles will work just fine!

And a note for those in the UK: Don’t be too surprised if your results are less ‘vibrant’. The colors used in US sprinkles are not used in the EU/UK, so they tend to lose some of that vibrancy once baked. They are still just as delicious and the sprinkles on top will look just as fabulous.

These are a fabulous bake when you want to make something a little more exciting to a standard cinnamon roll! I find working with dough to be such a joy and the outcome always so rewarding. If you’re looking for a fun bake to make for a brunch, this is it! Fluffy bites of dough packed with cinnamon flavours and smothered in glaze: you’ll be the best host/parent/partner ever.

TIPS FOR MAKING GREAT CINNAMON ROLLS

Use Quality Ingredients
Start with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Use active dry yeast or instant yeast that hasn’t expired. For flour, all-purpose or bread flour can give you the best texture. Don’t skimp on the lemon curd either.
Proof Your Yeast
If using active dry yeast, make sure it’s alive and active by proofing it. Mix the yeast with warm water (around 110°F) and a pinch of sugar and wait for it to bubble. This will ensure that your rolls rise properly.
Opt for Full-Fat Dairy
Full-fat milk, butter, and eggs will add richness and tenderness to your dough. The fat content is crucial for the texture of the cinnamon rolls.
Don’t Rush the Dough
Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free environment until it’s doubled in size. This might take about 1-2 hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Be patient – it’s worth the wait.
Roll the Dough Evenly
When rolling out the dough, aim for an even thickness to ensure uniform baking and spirals. Use a rolling pin and maybe a ruler to measure the thickness.
Get the Filling Right
Making the cinnamon filling is really easy. Spread in an even layer across the dough. The layer might look thin, but once rolled up it’s just right! Otherwise, it can all leak out when slicing.
Slice with Dental Floss or Serrated Knife
For clean cuts, use dental floss or a sharp serrated knife to slice the rolled dough. This prevents the rolls from being squashed and keeps their beautiful shape.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan
Give your rolls enough space to expand. They should be close enough to support each other as they rise but not so close that they’re squeezed into each other.
Bake Until Golden Brown
Keep an eye on the rolls as they bake and remove them from the oven once they’re just golden. Overbaking can lead to dry rolls.
Let Them Cool Before Icing
Wait for the rolls to cool slightly before adding icing. If they’re too hot, the icing will melt and run off, whereas slightly cool rolls will allow the icing to set better on top.

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for this bake. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. I use a deep 9″ square baking pan/casserole pan to bake these, lined with some greaseproof paper.

Dried Fast Acting Yeast
Whole Milk
Granulated Sugar
Unsalted Butter
All Purpose Flour OR Strong White Bread Flour
Large Eggs
Heavy Cream (Optional)
Ground Cinnamon
Powdered Sugar
Funfetti/Confetti Sprinkles

TIPS FOR THE BEST Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls

Yeast: Check your yeast before continuing with the recipe. When you add it to the warm milk, it should ‘bloom’ – meaning it goes bubbly. If it doesn’t do this, it has probably expired and you’ll want to use a new pack!
Warm Milk: Ensure it is warm to the touch but not hot – it should feel similar to skin temp. Otherwise, it could kill the yeast.
Cinnamon Filling: Use room temperature butter so that it combines without too much effort. It will then spread over the dough with ease. When rolling, if it looks like the filling is falling out just scoop up some of the excess with a spoon before rolling further.
Cutting the dough: Once the dough is rolled into a log, use a sharp knife to cut into rolls. It’s a great idea to score where you intend to slice before fully cutting each piece. This means you know if your cinnamon rolls will be the same size.
Heavy Cream: Pour over a little drizzle of cream prior to baking. This keeps them really moist and soft in the center.
Overnight: If making overnight/needing longer between proofs, place the dough in the fridge otherwise it may ‘over prove’, losing the desired texture.
Toppings/Decorating: After covering in the glaze, scatter over some crushed freeze dried strawberries. These add a real pop of color and a burst of strawberry flavor. Adding fresh strawberries is a nice touch too.

STORAGE/MAKE AHEAD FOR MY Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls

When it comes to storing fresh sweet rolls/bread, it’s essential to maintain their texture and flavor. Here are a few tips to help you store your Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls correctly!

Store leftover cooled homemade cinnamon rolls in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Rewarm individually in the microwave on a plate for about 15-30 seconds or until soft and squishy. To Freeze: Once baked, the sweet rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm in the microwave for a few seconds before serving!

To make ahead, you can replace either rise with an overnight rise in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover with cling film/saran wrap. The next day, continue with the recipe as laid out. No other changes are needed! Take care not to leave too long beyond overnight in the refrigerator. Although it slows rising, it doesn’t totally stop it, and you don’t want it to overflow from its container.

I bake these Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls in a 9×9″ inch square baking dish, but anything similar sized will work! Try a 9 inch Dutch Casserole, pie dish or cake tin. To make the kneading easier, I tend to use the dough hook on my stand mixer. For more doughy recipes, check out these Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials!