Giant Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
5 from 17 votes

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls big enough for the whole family to share. Learn how to make Gaston’s Giant Cinnamon Rolls just like the ones at Disney Parks. Buttery swirls of cinnamon sugar smothered in cream cheese frosting and butterscotch topping are the perfect indulgence for your weekend brunch.

a cinnamon roll on a white plate with a blue background

Reasons To Make Giant Cinnamon Rolls

  • The large size of the dough creates more swirls and layers than a traditional homemade cinnamon roll. This means more buttery cinnamon sugar goodness in every  bite!
  • They have an amazing soft, doughy texture perfect for soaking up all that rich cream cheese frosting.
  • You’ll love the magical appearance of an over sized cinnamon roll on the breakfast table.
  • You can slice them up for the whole family to share! It’s so much fun to sink your fork into a gigantic cinnamon roll.
  • Taste just like the ones from Disney Parks!

A homemade cinnamon roll on a white plate with a blue background

Copycat Disney Cinnamon Rolls

If you love Disney–and the food at Disney parks–this recipe is a must try. Okay, this recipe is a must try regardless of whether or not you love Disneyland! These Giant Homemade Cinnamon rolls are ooey gooey, sticky sweet, doughy pieces of heaven.

This recipe was created by Ashley Craft, the queen of Disney inspired recipes. Her new book, The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, includes amazing recipes for everything from Dole Whip to Mickey Pretzels. All are inspired by the classic snacks and treats sold at Disney Parks.

corndogs in baskets with red and white wax paper underneath them

With The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook you can bring the magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World snacks and treats right to your home. Recreate favorites like the classic Dole Whip and Mickey Pretzels to new favorites like blue milk from Star Wars land and Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Nums from Pixar Pier.

a cup of homemade dole whip with a pineapple in the background

These 100 recipes inspired by iconic yummies are perfect whether you are a forever Disney fan or just love a good snack. Now you can feel as if you shared a snack with Mickey himself right from the comfort of your own home!

Cover of a disney parks cookbook

I was thrilled to try this recipe for Gaston’s Giant Cinnamon Rolls and share it with you. Whether you’re craving a taste of the Magic Kingdom, or just love buttery, frosting-covered cinnamon rolls, these will knock your socks off.

a giant cinnamon roll with one bite on a fork

Ingredients

The ingredients for these homemade cinnamon rolls are simple. Get everything out and ready to go before you start making them to make the process as smooth as possible. The full printable recipe, with measurements, is found at the end of the post.

  • Butter: The recipe calls for salted butter–and lots of it! You’ll need it for the dough, the filling and both of the toppings.
  • Milk: The higher fat content of whole milk works best.
  • Salt: Regular table salt is fine.
  • Flour: All purpose flour works great.
  • Yeast: Packets of active dry yeast work best.
  • Sugar: You’ll need granulated sugar for the dough, brown sugar for the filling and the butterscotch topping, and confectioner’s sugar for the frosting.
  • Eggs: Use large eggs and let them come to room temperature before using, if possible.
  • Heavy cream: Do not sub milk or half and half if you want thick, creamy frosting!
  • Cream cheese: Let it come to room temperature so it’s easier to beat into the frosting.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds the best flavor to the frosting.
  • Cinnamon: You’ll need two big spoonfuls for the filling.

step by step photos of how to make giant cinnamon rolls

Best Cinnamon Roll Filling

These big, beautiful cinnamon buns have some of the best filling I’ve tasted. The secret is not to skimp on the butter and brown sugar! The extra addition of melted butter on the rolls before baking makes them extra moist and delicious.

ingredients for cinnamon rolls on a blue background

A word of warning: these are best eaten with a fork! Although I bet Gaston himself would just swallow the whole thing in one gulp. The rich butterscotch topping oozes over the rolls, making every bite perfectly sweet. And of course, no homemade cinnamon rolls are complete without cream cheese icing.

close up photo of a homemade cinnamon roll

More Disney Inspired Recipes

If you love these copycat Disneyland Cinnamon Rolls, here are more Disney inspired recipes you’ll enjoy:

And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Ashley’s book for even more magical recipes!

Close up of a homemade cinnamon roll on a white plate

giant cinnamon rolls on white plates

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a cinnamon roll on a white plate with a blue background

Gaston's Giant Cinnamon Rolls

5 from 17 votes
Servings 10 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Rise Time 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 20 minutes
Soft over sized cinnamon rolls smothered with frosting and butterscotch. Recipe originally published in The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook.

Ingredients
 

For the Dough

  • 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 6 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 packets active dry yeast (1/4 ounce packets)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup water (room temperature)
  • 2 large eggs

For the Filling

  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup salted butter (softened)
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup salted butter (softened)
  • 2 cups confectioner's sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1/8 tsp salt

For Butterscotch Topping

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp salted butter (softened)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

For the Dough

  • Grease a 9" x 13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup of butter with milk.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add 2 1/2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add water, eggs and butter mixture. Using the flat beater attachment, mix until well combined. Add the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time while mixing until the dough starts to form a ball.
  • Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead dough on low speed for 5 minutes.
  • Remove dough from the bowl, sprinkle some flour in the bowl and return the dough to the bowl. Let the dough rise for 10 minutes in a warm place.

For the Filling

  • In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter together. Set aside.
  • Roll out the dough to form a long rectangle, about 3' x 2'. Spread the filling across the whole surface of the dough.
  • Start at the short end of the dough and roll it up like a jelly roll. Make a cut in the center of the roll, then cut about 6" from the center on each side to form two giant rolls.
  • Place the rolls swirled edge down on the prepared pan.
  • Drizzle the rolls with melted butter. Allow to rise at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375. Bake rolls for 20 minutes, then loosely cover with foil and bake another 10 minutes.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add cream cheese and butter. Combine and heat until melted, about 3 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the confectioner's sugar. Add vanilla, cream and salt. Stir, then set aside.

For the Butterscotch Topping

  • In a separate medium saucepan over medium heat, add brown sugar, butter and cream. Bring to a boil and boil 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add salt and vanilla. Set aside.

To Serve:

  • Place each giant roll on a large plate. Drizzle cream cheese frosting over the swirl moving in one direction. Then drizzle the butterscotch topping over the swirl moving the other direction.

Notes

You will have two leftover sections of dough on either end of the roll. These don't need to be wasted!  Slice the dough into smaller cinnamon rolls and bake in a glass baking pan for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 1260kcalCarbohydrates: 155gProtein: 13gFat: 67gSaturated Fat: 41gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 218mgSodium: 891mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 3gSugar: 90gVitamin A: 2215IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 169mgIron: 5mg

The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Course Breakfast

Meet Christi, Love From The Oven

I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.

5 from 17 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Used a turkey pan so they wouldn’t over flow 😂but these are absolutely amazing ! Tweaked it a little with the cream cheese drizzle but they are amazing

  2. These are the same points I was going to make. 😊

  3. Recipe as far as taste is excellent. Ashley Craft’s cookbook instructions are flawed in that she uses a 9×13 pan and does not clarify how she makes 2 giant cinnamon rolls without them both completely collapsing in the pan. if you make a normal cinnamon roll size and put 12 in the pan, then yeah that would work. Baking time is factor also if you’re doing 2 giant rolls vs. 12 small rolls. Ashley’s cookbook even shows picture of normal cinnamon roll, not a Gaston’s cinnamon roll. To make these like they are sold at Magic Kingdom there must be a special pan with high sides.