For a homemade yeast roll, these Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls are relatively quick to make and the result is a super soft cinnamon roll. Top these homemade sweet rolls with a cream cheese frosting for a delicious breakfast, brunch or afternoon snack.
What is the secret ingredient for amazing cinnamon rolls?
How do you make cinnamon rolls better? The secret ingredient is boxed cake mix!
Using a yellow cake mix creates a soft and tender cinnamon roll that will soon become a favorite among the whole family.
How else do you make a cinnamon roll better? The second secret ingredient is in the frosting. Top your cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting from scratch.
The combination of these two secrets is dynamite!
Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
I have seen recipes for Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls being shared on social media and other blogs and I, honestly, thought it was a fairly new way to make a yeast cinnamon roll. Then Barbara found this recipe in the Pot ‘O Gold Cookbook that our great-aunt gave our grandma for her 60th wedding anniversary almost 20 years ago.
So we had to try it and see if all the buzz was for real.
This recipe did not disappoint. These tasty cinnamon rolls using cake mix are super soft and only made better with this Cream Cheese Frosting.
Don’t have time to make breakfast rolls from scratch? Try these Quick Cinnamon Rolls using refrigerated crescent rolls. Or, if you have plenty of time go all out and try Grandma’s Butterscotch Pecan Rolls for the ultimate treat.
How To Make Cinnamon Rolls using Cake Mix:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water; add cake mix and flour.
- Knead for 5 minutes.
- Let rise until doubled in size.
- Split dough into half.
- Roll out each half to 1/4 inch thickness.
- Brush with melted butter; sprinkle on brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Roll up tight like a jelly roll; cut into 1 inch slices.
- Place in a greased 13 x 9 inch pan; bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, and top with cream cheese frosting.
For the full instructions and ingredient amounts for tasty cinnamon rolls using cake mix, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
What ingredients are needed to make cinnamon rolls from scratch?
Yellow Cake Mix, boxed
Yeast
Water
All-purpose flour
Melted butter
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
The great thing about this yeast recipe is that it is relatively fast for a homemade cinnamon roll. You only let them rise one time, much different than yeast roll recipes we typically make.
As with all yeast dough recipes, the amount of flour could vary from time to time. This is a stickier dough; however, if it is so sticky that it is sticking to your fingers, you may need to add a bit more flour than the recipe calls for.
One quick note, the last couple of times I have needed a yellow cake mix I had a hard time finding it in the grocery store. Maybe it is just in our hometown but just in case, here is a link to some good options.
Notes About Cinnamon Rolls with Cake Mix Recipe:
- Substitute a white cake mix for yellow, if needed.
- Just like any other yeast dough recipe, the amount of flour needed can vary from day to day. If the dough seems super sticky, add a little bit more flour and knead until it’s soft but not completely sticking to your fingers.
- When rolling out the dough, flour the rolling pin and the work surface so the dough doesn’t stick.
- Spread the melted butter and sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture all the way to the edges of the dough.
- Roll the dough up tightly and pinch the edges so that the cinnamon roll holds together.
- This tasty cake mix cinnamon roll recipe makes enough for (2) 13 x 9 inch baking dishes or (4) round cake pans.
- Just like when baking biscuits, arrange the cinnamon rolls so that the edges are touching in the pan.
- We love to pour homemade cream cheese frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls for a decadent treat.
Our Favorite Old Fashioned Breakfast Recipes
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Loaded Breakfast Meat Casserole
Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- 2 packages of dry yeast
- 2 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 pkg. yellow cake mix
- 4 1/2 cups flour (see notes about amount of flour)
- 4 Tablespoons butter melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm water;
- Add cake mix and flour. Knead for 5 minutes.
- Let rise until doubled in size.
- Divide into two parts.
- Roll out one at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Brush melted butter over entire surface of dough.
- Combine brown sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over dough.
- Roll up tightly like a jelly roll, and cut into 1-inch thick slices.
- Repeat with second ball of dough.
- Place in (2) greased 13x9 inch metal pan or (4) round pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.
- Let cool for 5 minutes; top with cream cheese icing.
Notes
- Substitute a white cake mix for yellow, if needed.
- Just like any other yeast dough recipe, the amount of flour needed can vary from day to day. If the dough seems super sticky, add a little bit more flour and knead until it's soft but not completely sticking to your fingers.
- When rolling out the dough, flour the rolling pin and the work surface so the dough doesn't stick.
- Spread the melted butter and sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture all the way to the edges.
- Roll up tightly and pinch the edges so that the cinnamon roll holds together.
- This tasty cake mix cinnamon roll recipe makes enough for (2) 13 x 9 inch baking dishes or (4) round cake pans.
- Just like when baking biscuits, arrange the cinnamon rolls so that the edges are touching in the pan.
- We love to pour homemade cream cheese frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls for a decadent treat.
- Short on time? Try a shortcut version using crescent rolls.
Nutrition
Linking up to Weekend Potluck over at The Country Cook!
These look Fantastic.
When cake mixes go on sale, I stock up and store in freezer. Nice to have a cake mix on hand when in a pinch, unexpected company, last minute cupcakes needed, etc.
Never thought about storing them in the freezer! Thanks for sharing.
Great tip! If I may ask, how do you store your cake mixes in the freezer? Thanx for your response
Could these be assembled then baked the next morning?
We’ve never done it but have seen recipes that say you can. If you try it, just be sure to pull them out of the refrigerator and let them sit for at least an hour at room temp! let us know if you try it.
Do not have metal pan, can a glass pan be used?
Yes, you can. Just watch the baking time!
This recipe doesn’t call for eggs? Is that correct?
No eggs needed for this one!