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If a Southern peach cobbler and a gooey cinnamon roll had a baby—it would be this. These Southern Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls are fluffy, buttery, and filled with sweet, sautéed peaches, brown sugar, and warm spices thanks to our signature Dessert Lover Blend. Topped with a peachy crumble and rich cream cheese glaze—this recipe is soul food with a sweet twist. Gluten-free, Vegan + Overnight Option.
I'm really excited to share this recipe with you. It's truly something special and is a rendition to both my favorite peach recipes: my Southern Peach Cobbler and Peach Cobbler Milkshake. Seriously, these Southern Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls are a hit! And while there are a few extra steps than usual for these cinnamon rolls (i.e. the sautéed peaches and crumble topping), I promise that it's all worth it after the first bite!
They're like fluffy, brioche-style sweet rolls filled with all that peach and spice deliciousness. Seriously, with homemade dough, you can roll up just about anything and it turns out mouthwateringly good—that's why I've got so many cinnamon roll recipes on my site!
These peach cobbler cinnamon rolls are next-level GOOD! With their sweet peach filling and a cream cheese glaze that's perfectly sweet, they're an absolute delight. Plus there is a gluten-free, vegan + overnight option! The end result? Incredibly light, airy, and fluffy rolls, topped with a sticky-sweet glaze and a nice crunch from the crumble that guarantees sweetness + texture in every bite. Trust me, it's a winning combo you won't want to miss!
No matter what you call them—cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls, sweet rolls, sticky buns, sticky rolls, cinnamon swirl, cinnamon danish—everyone has a favorite. I've never met someone who didn't like them. A cinnamon bun or sweet roll is a sweeter, fluffier bread dough with a filling, usually cinnamon-based, in the middle. They are usually served around the holidays. When the filling is cooked, it makes an iconic swirl of deliciousness.
Here's what you need for the fluffy brioche-style dough that reminds you of Grandma's peach cobbler in cinnamon roll form:
DOUGH:
FILLING + PEACHES:
SAUTEED PEACHES:
CRUMBLE TOPPING:
GLAZE + TOPPING:
TIP: Since you’re using Rapid Rise yeast, you can skip the proofing step—but pre-warming your milk and water will still help jumpstart the rise.
TIP: Test by dipping a clean finger—it should feel like a warm bath, not scalding.
Yeast loves sugar. A small amount of sugar in your dough (like brown sugar in your recipe) helps “feed” the yeast and boost rise.
TIP: Even 1–2 teaspoon of sugar can speed up activation during proofing if you’re using active dry yeast.
Instead of strictly timing your rise, look for visual cues:
TIP: Rise time can vary based on humidity, temperature, and altitude.
Yeast loves warmth and moisture. If your kitchen is chilly, try:
Too much flour = dense rolls. Add just enough for a soft, slightly sticky dough. Artisan Bread flour helps build structure, but too much will weigh it down.
TIP: Your dough should be tacky, but not stick to clean hands.
Once the dough has risen, release air bubbles with a light “punch” or gentle fold—not aggressive kneading. This helps maintain softness and prevents uneven baking.
Don’t skip the second rise after shaping your rolls. It gives your dough time to relax, puff, and develop those signature soft, pillowy layers.
If rolls rise too long during the second proof, they can collapse while baking. Bake when they’ve just doubled and look puffy—not spilling over or sagging.
Always check your yeast’s expiration date and store it in a cool, dry place (or the fridge after opening). Old yeast = flat dough.
To make sure your yeast is still active:
It’s our exclusive blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a kiss of vanilla bean—designed to amplify any dessert with warmth and depth.
DIY Version: Mix 1 tablespoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, and ⅛ teaspoon allspice.
When it comes to getting that authentic, sweet Southern flavor in your cinnamon rolls, not all peaches are created equal. The texture, sweetness, and juiciness of the peach can make a big difference in your filling’s flavor and how well it caramelizes inside your rolls.
Freestone Peaches (Fresh) – Best for Summer
Freestone peaches have pits that easily separate from the flesh, making them super easy to slice and dice. They’re firm yet juicy—perfect for sautéing without turning mushy.
NOTE: Look for yellow-fleshed varieties for the best peachy flavor.
Clingstone Peaches (Fresh or Local)
Clingstones are incredibly sweet and juicy, but their pits are harder to remove. If you're buying at a farmers' market or orchard, these are common early-season peaches.
Frozen Peaches – Best Off-Season Option
Frozen peaches are picked and flash-frozen at peak ripeness, making them a great year-round option.
NOTE: Thaw completely and drain any excess liquid before sautéing to prevent a watery filling.
Canned Peaches – Quick & Easy
If you’re in a pinch, canned peaches in juice (not syrup) work well too. Be sure to drain them and lightly pat dry before using.
NOTE: Avoid heavy syrup versions—they’re overly sweet and can throw off your filling’s balance.
Here, I’ve curated a list of bakeware essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baking treats, especially with these Southern Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls. Everything from my fave baking sheets, parchment paper, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
These events are a great excuse to eat cinnamon rolls!
If you decide while making this peach cobbler cinnamon rolls recipe that you'd prefer to peel the skins off your peaches----no worries! A great hack to do so is to gently lower a few peaches at a time (best to use a skimmer) into a pot of boiling water and leave them in fro 20-30 seconds before removing them and into an ice bath to stop the "cooking process". Then you should be able to peel them with no problem without the need for a knife or any tool.
Ready to ditch the traditional knife and embrace a quirky method for cutting sweet rolls? It's time to bring out the dental floss. Yes, you read that right! Unflavored dental floss is the secret weapon for perfectly sliced cinnamon rolls.
Why? Because it slices from the inside out, avoiding any squishing mishaps that can happen with a regular knife. Simply run it along the bottom of the rolls, and cross the two ends over each other. Give it a pull, and voila! Your perfectly sliced cinnamon rolls are ready to bake. But if you're using a knife, remember to channel your inner lumberjack and saw gently back and forth without squishing the rolls.
Due to many delicious attempts at perfecting this recipe, I have come across some very helpful tips that will ensure a perfectly baked peach cobbler cinnamon roll.
NEVER OVERHEAT THE MILK!
It is so important that your milk is warm but NOT hot! It should be warm to the touch. If you find that your milk has overheated, allow it to cool before adding the yeast. Milk that is too hot will kill the yeast, and you won't get the big, fluffy rise in the dough. We want these rolls super fluffy, and that's only possible when the yeast is bloomed properly.
USE VERY SOFT BUTTER AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
Like in most baking, room-temperature ingredients mix better than cold ingredients. Beat in your butter while it is completely at room temperature for a seamless, tender texture.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT OVER-MIXING
I know it sounds weird, but hear me out. With cakes and cookies, you never want to overwork the dough because working develops the gluten in the flour. Gluten development leads to a chewy, unpleasant texture in cakes and cookies, making them dense and heavy. Because cinnamon rolls use a yeast dough, it is required to develop the gluten in the dough. The yeast brings elasticity that lightens and fluffs the dough, much like bread dough. When making these rolls, keep on mixing even after you think you've mixed enough!
RISE THE DOUGH OVERNIGHT
While I developed this recipe as a quick-bake cinnamon roll, more flavor develops in the dough if you allow it to rise overnight. The dough has more time to rise, leading to a more developed, yeast-bread flavor. This yeast flavor is a perfect pairing with the sweet filling and frosting.
USE A BREAD FLOUR MIX
After much trial and tribulation, I have found that a mix of bread flour and all-purpose flour is the perfect combination for cinnamon rolls. The bread flour gives a tender, thick, brioche-like texture that I think is perfect for this dish.
ROLL THEM UP TIGHT!
A loose roll will fall apart upon slicing and bake unevenly. Instead, begin with a very tight roll and keep that momentum throughout the roll. The dough is sturdy and can handle being rolled tightly due to its elasticity.
Absolutely! Usually, I make my cinnamon roll dough via my electric stand-mixer which has the appropriate attachments for the kneading process, however, with these cinnamon rolls, I have had the pleasure of doing this all by hand and it wasn't difficult.
It just requires a bit more arm work, that's all! Plus, there’s nothing that a light drizzle of flour can’t help, right?! You'll basically follow all the steps for making the dough in a large bowl and once it begins to come together and can form a ball, then you'll begin working the dough in a front-to-back and folding motion a few times until you begin to feel the dough "soften" and become elastic-like. It took me about 5-6 minutes or so total. Not bad!
Knowing when your cinnamon rolls are done is key to achieving that soft, fluffy center without underbaking—or ending up with dry, tough rolls. Here's how to get it right every time:
Golden-Brown Tops
The tops should be a light golden brown, not pale or overly dark. If the center still looks pale while the edges are browning, tent the rolls with foil and bake a few minutes longer.
Center Rolls Are Set, Not Doughy
Gently press the center roll with a clean finger or fork—if it feels soft but springy, it’s done. If it feels too squishy or sinks in deeply, it likely needs 5–10 more minutes.
Internal Temp Reads 190–200°F
Use a kitchen thermometer in the center roll. The ideal internal temperature for baked cinnamon rolls is between 190°F and 200°F. This ensures they’re fully cooked but still tender and moist.
The Edges Pull Slightly from the Pan
When done, the outer rolls will slightly pull away from the sides of your pan. If they’re still sticking tightly to the edge, they probably need more time.
Smell That Sweet Aroma
You’ll know you’re close when your kitchen smells like caramelized sugar and spiced peaches. Trust your nose!
TIP: If your rolls brown too quickly but the center isn’t fully baked, cover loosely with foil and continue baking until done. This protects the top while allowing the center to finish cooking.
Leftover Cinnamon Rolls can be kept fresh at room temperature when tightly wrapped or sealed for up to 3 days. Fresh for up to 1 week in the Refrigerator.
Yup! You can freeze both baked and unbaked cinnamon rolls. Baked rolls can be frozen up to 2 months. To freeze baked rolls, ensure they are fully cooled before freezing and don't top with crushed cookies to avoid them from getting soggy. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in freezer-safe bags or containers.
To freeze unbaked rolls, you can freeze them after shaping and before rising, or you can freeze them after the first proof. When ready to bake, thaw frozen rolls in the refrigerator overnight.
If you’re not using the Rapid Rise Yeast for this recipe, please know that the rise time will be twice as long (about 3 hours) since regular Active Yeast doesn’t work as quickly.
Basically, the main reason why your rolls aren't rising is because the yeast didn't fully activate as it should. All in all, your ingredients were TOO HOT or TOO COLD for the yeast to create a warm enough environment to do it's thing and "activate".
However, when using Rapid-rise or quick-rise yeast, it's usually easier to maneuver since it doesn't necessarily need to be "bloomed" before using. It's not dormant as regular active dry yeast, which makes it more convenient!
Absolutely! When it comes to these cinnamon rolls or any for that matter, you always have the option of making them the traditional way which requires a 1-2 hours initial rise and then another 20-25 minute rise before baking OR an overnight option.
However, if you're in a rush to make these or don't want to deal with a long rise time, you can simply create your dough and do a quick rise (20-25 minutes) and placing them straight in the oven to bake. Either way, cinnamon rolls are AMAZING and worth whatever wait time you choose!
OK, so the great debate has been the idea of needing to add heavy cream or yogurt to your cinnamon rolls in order to add moisture. Now, I've seen many people top their cinnamon rolls with a few cups of heavy cream right before baking after it rises to create a soft, tender roll, BUT I've found a better trick.
Simply, make your glaze/frosting a few minutes before your rolls are out of the oven, then once you take them out, allow them to SLIGHTLY COOL for 10 minutes before topping half of your glaze atop the warm rolls. This way, it'll melt and seep through your rolls and add moisture. Then after 5-10 minutes, add the remaining glaze as your "final layer" and wallah! PERFECTLY MOIST ROLLS!
Absolutely! If you're looking to make these GF, I recommend substituting both flours with Bob's 1:1 Baking flour and slightly reducing the amount by 1 cup, slowing adding more if the dough is too sticky.
To make these peach cobbler cinnamon rolls vegan, simply omit the eggs and substitute with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Also, substitute the butter with vegan butter and ensure that you use plant-based milk. Lastly, omit the cream cheese and substitute with vegan cream cheese or vegan butter.
OK, so you might think it's possible, but you can totally make cinnamon rolls, including these strawberry cinnamon rolls without yeast, if you ever need to! Just know that the texture wouldn't be as brioche-like or fluffy, and they'll be more dense, but still good.
Instead of yeast, you'll just need to substitute with 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder to allow some level of rise to occur.
Yup! If you don’t want to make your Cinnamon Rolls on the same day, you can simply follow all steps (including the initial 1+ hour rise and making of diced peaches for filling) and after cutting rolls and placing them into your baking pan, just cover them tightly (using foil paper of plastic wrap) and refrigerate them overnight or for 8-12 hours instead. The following day, remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 ½ hours.
Yes—drain well and sauté per the recipe to enhance flavor.
Absolutely. Hand-knead the dough until smooth and elastic. It just requires a bit more arm work, that's all! Plus, there’s nothing that a light drizzle of flour can’t help, right?! You'll basically follow all the steps for making the dough in a large bowl and once it begins to come together and can form a ball, then you'll begin working the dough in a front-to-back and folding motion a few times until you begin to feel the dough "soften" and become elastic-like. It took me about 5-6 minutes or so total. Not bad!
Yes! Let shaped rolls rise overnight in the fridge. Bring to room temp before baking.
If you tried this Southern Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @shanikagrahamwhite on Instagram. I love hearing from you!
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These were SO good!! Peach cobbler anything is where it’s at.