Delicious Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

This strawberry cheesecake cinnamon rolls recipe saved our Saturday mornings after Max started asking for "something special" every weekend. I spent months testing different combinations until I figured out how to get cream cheese and Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls to work together without making soggy rolls. The trick came from my old culinary school notes about layering temperatures - keeping some ingredients cold while others stay warm during assembly.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Max and I have been making these rolls for three years now, and they've never failed us. Even when we mess up the timing or I forget to set a timer, they still come out good. The Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls get sweet and jammy, but they don't turn into mush like they do in some recipes I've tried. The cream cheese layer stays creamy instead of separating, which was my biggest problem when I first started experimenting with this combination.

These rolls work for breakfast without being too heavy or sweet. Max can eat one and still have energy for soccer practice, not like when he eats those sugar-bomb pastries from the bakery. I can make the dough the night before and just assemble everything in the morning, which saves me from getting up at 5 AM when we have company.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• What You'll Need For Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• For the Topping:
• How To Make Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls Step By Step
• Smart Swaps for Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• Fun Ways to Switch Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• Equipment For Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• How to Store Your Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• The Recipe My Grandma Wouldn't Let Me Forget
• Top Tip
• Why This Recipe Works
• FAQ
• Time for Weekend Baking Magic!
• Related
• Pairing
• Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

What You'll Need For Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

For the Dough:

• Bread flour (not all-purpose - makes a difference)
• Active dry yeast
• Whole milk
• Butter
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Salt

For the Filling:

• Cream cheese (full-fat only)
• Fresh strawberries
• Brown sugar
• Cornstarch
• Vanilla
• Lemon juice

For the Topping:

• More cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla

Tools You Actually Need:

• Clean kitchen towels
• Stand mixer (I use my KitchenAid that's older than Max)
• 9x13 baking dish
• Sharp knife

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls Step By Step

Prep Phase:

• Warm milk to body temperature
• Mix with yeast and pinch of sugar
• Wait 8 minutes for foamy bubbles
• Gather all ingredients at room temperature

Make the Dough:

• Combine flour, sugar, and salt in mixer bowl
• Add yeast mixture, eggs, and soft butter
• Mix with dough hook for 8 minutes
• Dough should pull away from sides

First Rise:

• Place in greased bowl
• Cover with damp towel
• Let rise 1 hour until doubled
• Test by poking - should bounce back

Prepare Fillings:

• Beat cream cheese until smooth
• Mix in sugar and vanilla
• Dice strawberries and toss with brown sugar
• Add cornstarch to strawberry mixture

Assembly Time:

• Roll dough into large rectangle
• Spread cream cheese mixture evenly
• Sprinkle strawberry mixture on top
• Roll tightly from long side

Final Steps:

• Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes
• Cut into 12 pieces with dental floss
• Place in buttered 9x13 pan
• Second rise for 45 minutes

Smart Swaps for Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

For Dairy-Free:

• Regular milk → Oat milk or almond milk
• Butter → Vegan butter (Earth Balance works best)
• Cream cheese → Dairy-free cream cheese (Kite Hill)
• Heavy cream → Coconut cream

For Gluten-Free:

• Bread flour → King Arthur gluten-free flour blend
• Add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum if your blend doesn't have it
• Expect slightly denser texture
• May need extra liquid

For Lower Sugar:

• Brown sugar → Coconut sugar (use same amount)
• Powdered sugar → Sugar-free powdered sweetener
• Skip glaze or use sugar-free version

For Egg-Free:

• Each egg → 3 tablespoons aquafaba
• Or use commercial egg replacer
• Follow package directions

Fruit Swaps:

• Add diced apples for fall version
• Strawberries → Blueberries or raspberries
• Fresh → Frozen (thaw and drain first)

Fun Ways to Switch Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

Chocolate Berry:

• Add mini chocolate chips to cream cheese
• Use mixed berries instead of just Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls
• Drizzle with chocolate glaze instead of vanilla

Apple Cinnamon Twist:

• Replace Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls with diced apples
• Add extra cinnamon to filling
• Toss apples with a bit of lemon juice

Lemon Blueberry:

• Add lemon zest to cream cheese filling
• Use fresh blueberries
• Make lemon glaze with lemon juice and powdered sugar

Peach Cream:

• Use diced fresh peaches (not canned)
• Add a pinch of nutmeg to filling
• Perfect for summer when peaches are good

Birthday Cake Version:

• Max's favorite for special occasions
• Add rainbow sprinkles to dough
• Use vanilla cake mix (just a bit) in cream cheese

Equipment For Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

• Stand mixer with dough hook (hand mixing is exhausting)
• 9x13 inch baking dish
• Sharp knife or dental floss for cutting
• Large mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Clean kitchen towels

How to Store Your Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls

Same Day Storage:

• Cool completely before covering
• Store at room temperature up to 6 hours
• Cover with clean kitchen towel
• Don't refrigerate same day - makes them tough

Refrigerator (3-4 days):

• Wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap
• Store in airtight container
• Warm 15-20 seconds in microwave before eating
• Add fresh glaze if needed

Freezer Storage (2 months):

• Cool completely first
• Wrap individually in plastic, then foil
• Label with date
• Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating

Make-Ahead Tips:

• Add 10-15 minutes to baking time if frozen
• Prepare through first rise, then refrigerate overnight
• Assemble rolls and freeze before second rise
• Let come to room temperature before baking

The Recipe My Grandma Wouldn't Let Me Forget

My grandmother Rose made these Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls every Sunday after church, but she never wrote anything down. She'd stand next to me in her kitchen, guiding my hands as I rolled the dough, telling me stories about her own mother who taught her to bake during the Depression. "Recipes aren't just ingredients," she'd say, "they're memories you pass down."

When Grandma got sick, I panicked. I realized I'd never made these rolls by myself, never measured anything, never timed the rises without her there to tell me when the dough was ready. I spent her last few months writing down every detail, asking her to repeat steps until I got them right. She made me promise I'd teach Max the same way she taught me - with patience, stories, and plenty of taste-testing along the way.

Why This Recipe Works

These rolls work because the dough recipe is bulletproof. It comes from my grandmother's Depression-era cookbook, when bakers couldn't afford to waste ingredients on failed batches. The dough has enough fat and eggs to stay tender, but enough structure to hold all the filling without falling apart. I've made this dough in humid summer kitchens and dry winter air, and it always comes together.

The cream cheese filling stays put because of the cornstarch trick. Most recipes skip this step, then wonder why their filling leaks everywhere during baking. The cornstarch absorbs excess moisture from the Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls and keeps everything contained. It also helps the filling set up properly instead of staying runny.

FAQ

Time for Weekend Baking Magic!

Now you have everything you need to make these Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls cheesecake cinnamon rolls that have become our family's weekend tradition. Max still gets excited every Saturday morning when he smells them baking, and I love how they make our kitchen feel like home.

Craving more weekend breakfast treats? Try our fluffy Easy Croissant Sandwich Recipe
that pairs perfectly with these rolls for special brunches. For chocolate lovers, our The Best Snickers Brownies Recipe creates the perfect sweet balance. When berry season hits, our Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe showcases summer's best flavors in every bite!

Share your baking success! We love seeing your family creations and hearing about your own happy accidents in the kitchen.

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Strawberry Cheesecake Cinnamon Rolls