Mashed Potato Cinnamon Rolls are well worth taking the time and effort to make if you're ever in the mood to impress your family and friends. And just wait until you see their faces when you tell them what the secret ingredient is!
If you enjoy a sweet start to your day, I have plenty of other delicious morning eye-openers that I know you'll enjoy. Recipes such as: Make-Ahead Apple Croissant Bake, Coconut Caramel Crescent Ring, Mashed Sweet Potato Donuts, and Apple Cider Donut Muffins.
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Table of Contents Found Here
The ingredient list:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
- mixing bowls
- measuring cups and spoons
- kitchen scale (optional)
- baking sheets
- parchment paper
- offset spatula
- whisk
- bench scraper (optional for cutting dough)
- cooling rack
- plastic wrap
- instant read thermometer
- kitchen timer (optional)
- colander (optional for draining **potato cooking liquid - reserve 1 cup)
*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2012. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.
What I wrote about this recipe in 2012:
Making my own homemade cinnamon rolls has been on my list of things I've really wanted to make in my own home kitchen for a long time now.
So when my sister-in-law decided to throw her husband a 50th birthday brunch and asked me what I wanted to bring, cinnamon rolls were the thing that first came to my mind!
I found the original cinnamon rolls classic recipe on allrecipes.com which had a 5-star rating and it was a blue ribbon winner at the Iowa State Fair in 2008!
I did, however, adapt the recipe slightly and also made up my own recipe for Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing (recipe follows) that topped off these cinnamon rolls with just the right amount of sweetness!
Trust me when I tell you that it was the perfect complement to these wonderful cinnamony buns!
What I like the most about this particular recipe (other than the 5-star ratings) was one surprise ingredient...mashed potatoes!
Yep! Mashed potatoes!
Once I saw the mashed potatoes listed in the ingredients, I KNEW this was the recipe for me!
Why, you ask?
Many years ago, when our boys were little, I remember making them fried donuts using a secret mashed potato recipe.
Both my boys fell completely head over heels in love with them!
To this day, they still remember mom's mashed potato donuts.
In fact, the recipe was so secret I was never able to find it again and have not since made those donuts. Whoops! Sorry guys 😉
These homemade cinnamon rolls are completely and utterly delicious, although they are a bit time-consuming to make from start to finish.
I made them on a Saturday and the party I was taking them to wasn't until the next morning, so they weren't as "out of the oven fresh" as they could have been.
However, with the amount of time it takes to make them, starting them at 4:00 in the morning wasn't an option I was prepared to entertain (no matter who's birthday it is)!!! LOL
That said, they're still worth the time, effort...and calories! LOL!!!
Ready for the recipe and pictures? Good. Let's go...
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Printable Recipe Card
MASHED POTATO CINNAMON ROLLS
Equipment
- stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
- kitchen scale optional
- instant read thermometer optional
- bench scraper optional for cutting dough
- colander for draining potato cooking water (remember to reserve 1 cup)
- kitchen timer optional
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup mashed potatoes dry, no milk added
- 1 cup reserved potato cooking water
- ¾ cups butter I use salted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar plus a small pinch for the yeast mixture
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 packets (2¼ teaspoon PER packet) active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water 100-110 degrees
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 9 cups all-purpose flour plus additional, if needed
For the filling:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened I used salted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons coconut extract or vanilla extract may be substituted
For the icing:
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons milk more if needed to reach your desired consistency.
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans optional
Instructions
To make the dough:
- -Combine the mashed potatoes, potato water, butter, sugar, salt, and hot water in a large mixing bowl.
- -Stir all ingredients until the butter melts. Set aside.
- -Combine the yeast and the ½ cup of warm water with a small pinch of sugar.
- -Stir to combine and dissolve the yeast.
- -Set aside and allow to rest for about 5 minutes.
- -In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the potato mixture, the yeast mixture, the eggs, and 2 cups of flour.
- -Using a dough hook, add 2 cups of the flour and beat on low speed until combined.
- -Gradually add the remaining flour, in increments, until all is combined and you have a soft and supple dough (don't be afraid to add more flour if your dough is too sticky).
- -Turn your dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand for an additional few minutes.
- -Place the dough in a large, greased bowl (turning to coat the top), and cover with plastic wrap.
- -Allow the dough to rise in a *warm, draft-free place* until doubled in volume (approximately 1 hour)
- *I like to warm my oven to 200 degrees for a few minutes and allow to cool slightly before rising my dough in the oven.
To fill and roll the cinnamon rolls:
- -In a medium bowl and using a spoon, mix the sugar, cinnamon, and coconut extract to the consistency of wet sand.
- -When the dough has doubled, remove the plastic wrap and punch the dough to deflate.
- -Divide the dough in half.
- -Working with one half at a time, on a floured surface, roll the dough out into a 12x18 inch rectangle.
- -Using an offset spatula, spread the dough with half of the softened butter.
- -Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the buttered dough.
- -Starting lengthwise, roll the dough tightly, making sure the seam is on the bottom when finished.
- -Using a bench scraper to cut the dough cleanly, divide the dough in half, and then portion the dough into 12 equal portions.
- -Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, pressing them lightly to form rounds.
- -Repeat the exact same steps with the remaining dough until you have 24 equal rolls.
- -Allow your dough to rise again one more time in your warm, draft-free spot (approximately 40 minutes).
- -Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for approximately 40 minutes until nicely golden brown.
- -Meanwhile, make your icing.
To make and ice the cinnamon rolls:
- -In the bowl of a stand mixer or with your hand mixer, add all the ingredients (except the nuts) and blend until well combined and you have the consistency you like. Add more powdered sugar for a thick icing, or more milk for a thinner icing.
- -After the rolls are fully baked, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for about 15 minutes before spreading the icing on the rolls.
- Top with chopped nuts if desired.
Nutrition
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy making (and eating) these deliciously light and fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls using mashed potatoes as much as I've enjoyed bringing this recipe to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Megan's Cookin' says
I have been fighting the urge to make cinnamon rolls and your not helping! LOL They look terrific!!!
Jane says
Oh, yum!! A great tutorial for some gorgeous cinnamon rolls. Looks like a great, reliable recipe. Isn't it surprising how the addition of potato in breads/rolls adds something wonderful?? I remember being startled the first time I ever used them in a yeast dough recipe, too. Love your blog. (Found you via Paula's!)
Paula says
I love that Greg left you a note! I've never heard of mashed potatoes nor potato water being used in cinnamon rolls. How intriguing and I have to say that your rolls do look scrmptious and your cinnamon cream cheese topping is just the perfect choice! Hope your BIL'S birthday brunch was a lot of fun!