Early morning and late-night bakers, unite! We might not agree on when we should be in the kitchen, but we can all agree that this Special Occasion Cinnamon Roll is the bake that we’ll happily get up/stay up for. ????

It’s probably unhealthy to say that I have a serious crush on a food. But I have a serious crush on this cinnamon roll. And I am not sorry.
About this Special Occasion Cinnamon Roll
This cinnamon roll uses a pre-fermentation sponge. Friend. That is just a fancy way of saying that it takes an extra step to make these cinnamon rolls. It’s not onerous or difficult. It’s just…extra.

And for as amazingly delightful as these Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls turn out, that teensy extra step is beyond worth it. The sponge makes these cinnies lighter than air, yet stronger than a typical cinnamon roll dough without becoming tough. There’s also an incredible depth of flavor that you get from the simple sponge that lets you know that this is a special event.
These Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls will melt right in your mouth and that is just the most incredible thing ever.
Special Occasion Cinnamon Roll — Dough Ingredients
All-Purpose Flour: I tested this recipe with both bread flour and all-purpose flour. I found that the bread flour gave the cinnamon rolls a much tougher texture, and that wasn’t what I was trying to achieve. The lower protein content of all-purpose flour was perfect for this task!
Granulated Sugar: This enriched dough uses very little granulated sugar. I chose granulated sugar in this particular dough because I wanted beautiful caramelization and a kiss of sweetness. Mission accomplished. ????
Kosher Salt: Salt is very important in any pastry; it balances the sugar and keeps the pastry from becoming cloyingly sweet. If using table salt for this recipe, cut the amount in half.
Whole Milk: Whole milk adds richness to this beautiful dough. You’ll use all of it in the initial sponge phase, but don’t be scared!
Eggs: This dough uses four whole eggs and two egg yolks. The protein in the egg whites adds a hint of liquid and structure to the cinnamon rolls, while the fatty yolks add incredibly delicious flavor. I mean, the color of the dough says it all:

Unsalted Butter: This is a recipe for that special butter you’ve been holding onto all year. This dough is actually a brioche, and the quality of the brioche can directly be impacted by the quality of the butter. You’ll want the good stuff here.
Instant Yeast: I used SAF Instant Yeast for this recipe, as I do for most bread recipes. If you’d prefer to use active dry yeast, just increase the rising and proving times by 10-15 minutes (and keep an eye on your dough!).

Beginners Start Here
If you’re new to baking, or if you want to become more consistent with bread in general, here are a couple of super helpful articles from the BwB site that will help you get set up for success with these Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls.
- Meet Your Kitchen BFF–Your Digital Kitchen Scale!
- Baking 101: How to Measure Ingredients
- Knowing When to Stop a Technique
- Baking Science: Dough Hydration
- The Five Flours I Keep Handy in My Kitchen
- Of course, you can always sign up for my Bread Bootcamp and get every one of my bread-making secrets during that class! You’ll be able to make the best bread of your life (and for the rest of your life!) after taking that class!
These resources are super helpful to help you build consistency and confidence on your baking journey. Happy Reading!

Important Tools Used in these Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls
Below, you’ll find some tools that I used for these Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls. These are the tools that I use all the time in my own kitchen.
**I get paid a small commission if you purchase directly from these links, but they are truly amazing products that you’ll find in my kitchen.**

If you have them already, great! Think of this as a checklist to help you build the confidence that you’ll need to execute this recipe!
These are the cinnamon rolls that will welcome my family downstairs on Christmas morning. They’re a special occasion treat that I only make a few times a year, and I look forward to that early morning, when everyone is asleep and I can enjoy the wonders of the quiet before the Christmas storm, and I’m in my zone making this wonderful treat.
Enjoy the recipe, Friends!

































