Chai Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch – A Delicious recipe on Cinnamon Bun Ideas

Craving something warm, cozy, and completely drool-worthy to kick off your fall baking spree? Let me introduce you to your new obsession: Chai Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch. These are not your average rolls—they're soft, fluffy, and bursting with warm chai spices, layered with a gooey brown sugar filling, topped with creamy chai-spiced frosting, and—wait for it—drenched in a brown sugar chai caramel sauce. Yeah. It’s basically fall in a pan.

If you’re scrolling through the internet for new Cinnamon Bun Ideas, trust me, this one needs to go straight to the top of your list. Think of them as the classy, spice-loving cousin to your typical roll—aka a Cinnamon Roll Alternative with major glow-up energy. And if you’ve been loving Tres Leche Cinnamon Rolls or experimenting with Mochi Cinnamon Rolls, these chai beauties are your next “wow” bake.

A few pro tips to keep these Special Cinnamon Rolls looking bakery-level perfect:

Lightly grease your plastic wrap before proofing the dough—no one wants sticky cling wrap disasters.

And here’s a trick straight from grandma’s playbook: use unflavored dental floss to slice the dough. Sounds odd, but it gives you those clean, swirl-perfect cuts a knife just can’t manage. #GameChanger

Working with yeast can feel intimidating, but don’t sweat it. This is one of those Recipes With Yeast Baking that’s way more forgiving than it looks. Plus, making Scratch Cinnamon Rolls from start to finish is surprisingly satisfying—and your kitchen will smell ridiculously good.

So if you're in the mood for Cozy Baked Goods with a spicy twist and love experimenting with Recipes With Chai, it's time to roll up your sleeves and chai this out

Chai Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch – A Delicious recipe on Cinnamon Bun Ideas

Yield: 12 Rolls

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Proofing Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: ~4 hours
Recipe By: Aleda
Category: Dessert

🧾 Ingredients

For the Dough

• 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) warm whole milk (around 110°F)
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tsp white sugar (for activating yeast)
• 4 3/4 cups (593 g) all-purpose flour (measured properly)
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp (25 g) white sugar
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (112 g) very soft unsalted butter

For the Sticky Chai Caramel

• 1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
• 2 chai tea bags
• 1/2 cup (112 g) very soft unsalted butter
• 1 cup (220 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/3 cup (116 g) honey
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

For the Filling

• 1/2 cup (112 g) very soft unsalted butter
• 1 cup (220 g) packed light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream (for in between rolls)

For the Chai Frosting

• 6 tbsp (84 g) very soft unsalted butter
• 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup (97 g) powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• Pinch of cloves

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the Dough: Activate the yeast with warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit 10 minutes until bubbly. Mix dry ingredients in a stand mixer, then add eggs, vanilla, butter, and yeast mixture. Knead with dough hook 7–10 mins until smooth. Place in greased bowl, cover, and rise for 1–1.5 hours.
2. Make Chai Caramel: Steep tea bags in warm cream for 10 minutes. Mix with butter, sugar, spices, honey, vanilla, and salt. Spread in a greased 9x13 pan.
3. Make the Filling: Mix butter, sugar, spices, and salt. Set aside.
4. Assemble: Roll out dough (18x12"), spread filling, roll into log, cut 12 rolls. Place in pan, pour cream between rolls. Cover and rise 1 hour.
5. Bake: Preheat to 350°F, bake 29–32 minutes.
6. Make Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese, then add sugar, vanilla, and spices. Whip until fluffy.
7. Serve: Cool rolls 10 mins, spread frosting while warm. Serve!

Share :