These Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls combine soft, pillowy dough swirled with cinnamon sugar, a luscious strawberry cheesecake layer, and a rich cream cheese glaze. They feel like dessert for breakfast—decadent, fruity, and utterly irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I adore how these rolls merge two breakfast classics into one show-stopping treat. The sweet-tart strawberry cheesecake adds a creamy surprise inside each bun, complementing the warm cinnamon swirl. They bake into golden rounds that smell incredible and taste even better. Plus, making them fills the kitchen with the scent of baked goodness—it’s pure comfort.

ingredients

(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

All-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
Instant yeast
Warm milk
Unsalted butter, melted
Eggs
Salt
Cream cheese, softened
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Fresh strawberries, finely chopped
Brown sugar
Ground cinnamon

directions

Make the dough: In a bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, sugar, melted butter, eggs, salt, and flour. Knead until smooth and elastic—about 5–7 minutes by hand or 3–4 minutes with a mixer.
First rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled—about 1 hour.
Prepare filling & cheesecake spread: In one bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. In another, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and chopped strawberries until smooth.
Roll and layer: Roll dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread strawberry cheesecake mixture evenly over the dough. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar filling on top.
Form the rolls: Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log. Slice into 12 even rolls and place cut-side up in a greased 9×13-inch pan or two 9-inch round pans.
Second rise: Cover rolls and let them rise again until puffy—about 30–45 minutes.
Bake: Preheat oven to 175 °C (350 °F). Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Make glaze: While rolls bake, whisk together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and a splash of milk until smooth and spreadable.
Glaze and serve: Drizzle or spread glaze over rolls while still warm. Serve immediately—or they’re delightful slightly cooled, too.

Servings and timing

This makes 12 cinnamon rolls.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes
First rise: ~1 hour
Second rise: ~30–45 minutes
Bake time: 20–25 minutes
Total time: roughly 2½–3 hours (mostly rising time)

Variations

Mix-ins: I sometimes add chopped white chocolate, toasted pecans, or swap strawberries for raspberries.
Swirl only: For fewer strawberries, I layer just cinnamon sugar and include the cheesecake layer sparingly.
Gluten-free twist: Use a gluten-free flour blend and add a teaspoon of xanthan gum to mimic dough texture.
Mini rolls: I make 24 smaller rolls in a muffin tin—baking time is closer to 15 minutes.

storage/reheating

Storage: I keep leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days—or refrigerate up to 4 days.
Freezing: I freeze unbaked rolls, wrapped tightly, for up to 1 month. Thaw and bake when ready. Baked rolls also freeze well—just thaw and warm before eating.
Reheating: I reheat individual rolls in the microwave for about 15 seconds or in a 160 °C (325 °F) oven for 5–7 minutes. Add more glaze if desired.

FAQs

What strawberries work best?

I use fresh, ripe strawberries chopped finely. If strawberries are out of season, frozen (thawed and drained) work—but I pat them dry before mixing.

Can I make these ahead?

Yes—I often assemble the rolls the night before, cover them, refrigerate overnight, then bake in the morning—just add a few minutes to bake time.

Can I skip the second rise?

You’ll still get tasty rolls, but they’ll be denser. I recommend letting them rise again for fluffier results.

Is this dessert too sweet?

They’re rich and sweet, but I balance that by using slightly less sugar in the dough and a tangy cheesecake filling.

Can I use store-bought crescent dough?

For a quicker version, yes—I’ll roll out crescent dough, spread fillings, and bake, though the texture won’t be quite the same.

Conclusion

These Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls are a delightful indulgence that merges flaky cinnamon roll comfort with creamy cheesecake and bright strawberry flavor. They’re a fun weekend project and a treat people ask for again and again. I hope baking and sharing these sweet, gooey rolls brings you as much joy as they bring me!