Fluffy Peach Cinnamon Rolls

These peach cobbler cinnamon rolls take that old-time Southern sweet and turn it into a breakfast treat your family won't stop asking for. As they bake, the peaches get all sticky with brown sugar and cinnamon, making little pockets of fruit tucked inside soft, fluffy dough that'll make your whole house smell amazing.

I came up with these rolls when I had too many peaches from the farmers market about to go soft. What started as a way to save fruit from the trash has turned into our go-to Sunday morning treat during summer. My kids now fight over who gets to help roll up the dough.

Ingredients

• Warm milk: Makes the perfect home for your yeast to wake up and get your dough rising nicely
• Active dry yeast: Gives you that airy, soft texture that makes cinnamon rolls so good
• Granulated sugar: Keeps your yeast happy and balances the dough flavor
• Melted butter: Makes your dough rich and soft to bite into
• Salt: Brings out all the tastes while keeping your yeast in check
• Large eggs: Add structure and make everything taste better
• All purpose flour: Creates just the right texture, not too heavy but strong enough to roll out

For the Filling

• Fresh peaches: Bring juicy sweetness and that summer flavor, though canned can work when peaches aren't in season
• Brown sugar: Gets all gooey when baked and adds that deep sweet taste
• Ground cinnamon: Adds that warm, spicy kick that goes so well with peaches

For the Frosting

• Cream cheese: Gives that nice tang that cuts through the sweetness
• Butter: Makes your frosting smooth and rich
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens everything up and makes the right texture
• Vanilla extract: Rounds out all the smells and tastes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Wake up the Yeast:

Get your milk warm (about 110°F) in a big bowl. If it's too hot you'll kill the yeast, too cold and it won't wake up. Sprinkle yeast and a tiny bit of sugar on top. Leave it alone until it gets foamy and smells bready, about 5 minutes. This tells you your yeast is good to go.

Mix the Dough:

Dump in the rest of your sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour to your foamy yeast mix. Stir it up with a wooden spoon at first, then get your hands in there when it gets thick. Dump the dough out on a floured counter and knead it for 8-10 minutes until it feels smooth and stretchy. When you poke it, it should bounce back.

Let It Grow:

Put your dough in a greased bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Let it sit somewhere warm with no drafts until it doubles in size, about an hour. You'll know it's ready when you poke it and the dent stays put.

Make the Filling:

While you're waiting, mix your diced peaches, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Toss everything around so the peaches get coated. Pick peaches that are ripe but still firm enough to cut. Let this mix sit and get juicy.

Roll It Out:

Punch down your puffy dough to get the air out. Roll it into a rectangle about 16x12 inches on a floured surface. Try to keep it even thickness all over. Spread your peach mix on top but leave a half-inch strip clean along one long edge. Starting from the other long side, roll it up tight toward the clean edge to make a log.

Slice and Rise Again:

Cut your log into 12 even pieces using dental floss or a sharp knife. Put them in a greased 9x13 baking dish with some space between. Cover them up and let them rise again for 30 minutes until they're puffy and touching each other.

Bake Them Up:

Heat your oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle. Bake your rolls for 25 minutes until they're golden on top and fully cooked inside. If you have a thermometer, the inside should hit 190°F.

Add the Frosting:

While they're still warm, make your frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until they're fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Spread or drizzle it over your warm rolls so it melts down into all the nooks.

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Did you know cinnamon isn't just tasty but also packed with antioxidants? One time I made these rolls during a really tough week at work and told my husband that baking them plus getting all that cinnamon worked better than any of the meditation apps I'd tried.

Make Ahead Options

You've got a few ways to prep these rolls ahead of time. For overnight, just do everything up to putting the sliced rolls in the baking dish, then cover them tight with plastic wrap and stick them in the fridge. Next morning, take them out and let them warm up for about 45 minutes before baking. Or if you want, you can bake the whole batch up to two days ahead, keep them covered on the counter, and just warm them up a bit before serving.

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Peach Selection Tips

Getting the right peaches really makes or breaks these rolls. For fresh ones, look for fruits that give a little when you press them but aren't mushy. They should smell sweet when they're at room temp. White peaches give you a mild, honey-like sweetness while yellow ones have that classic tangy peach taste. In winter, thawed frozen peaches work great if you drain them well. If you're using canned, go for ones in juice not syrup, and make sure to drain them good so your filling doesn't get soggy.

Serving Suggestions

These rolls work just as well for breakfast as they do for dessert. For a fancy brunch, put them on a pretty plate with some fresh berries and mint leaves. Want to make them more dessert-like? Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can even cut them into squares and layer them with whipped cream and fresh peaches for an impressive trifle. On holiday mornings, dust them with powdered sugar and serve with peach mimosas instead of the usual orange juice ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use canned peaches?

Definitely! Just make sure you drain them well to keep the filling from being too wet, then dice them up.

→ Can I prep the dough early?

Yep, you can make it the day before. Let it rest overnight in the fridge and bring it to room temperature before rolling it out.

→ How do I store them?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temp for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. Warm them up before eating for the best taste.

→ What if I skip the frosting?

They’re still super tasty without it! But the cream cheese topping really ups the flavor alongside the peaches.

→ Can I freeze these rolls?

Absolutely. Once they’re baked and fully cooled, just wrap them up or seal them in a container. Reheat them when you're ready to enjoy!