How to Make Cinnamon Rolls Rise Faster? [7 Methods]
Growing up, I’ve always loved to watch cinnamon rolls rise. My grandma would make the dough, let it rise, and I would count the seconds and notify her of the progress. They’ve always been my favorite sweet pastry because my grandma made them fast and easy, but they do require some proper skill. Even though cinnamon rolls rise fast enough, it is always nifty to have a few tricks when you are in a rush. So, how to make cinnamon rolls rise faster?
Using quick-rise instant yeast, placing the dough in a moist and warm area, placing it in the oven with a bowl of water, using the microwave, adding sugar to the yeast, and using an instant pot are all clever ways to make your cinnamon rolls rise faster.
To ease your job and help you get delicious and puffy cinnamon rolls quicker, in the following paragraphs, I will share some tips and tricks about making your cinnamon rolls rise faster.
Quick Rise Instant Yeast
Quick-rise instant yeast makes the dough rise faster than regular yeast. You don’t have to dissolve it in water before adding it to the flour, as it will do so on its own and make the dough rise simultaneously.
Nevertheless, I usually dissolve the yeast in some warm milk and pour it into the flour for better results. Just make sure the milk isn’t hot but lukewarm, as hot milk can kill the yeast and prevent it from rising.
Warmth and Moisture
After you make the cinnamon rolls, let them rise in a moist and warm room. Cover them with plastic wrap to seal the warmth and let the magic happen. Don’t place them in the fridge or near another cooling appliance.
Don’t cover the cinnamon rolls with paper or a cotton kitchen towel; they will absorb the moisture slowing down the rising process.
One Rising Only
To speed things up, let your cinnamon rolls rise only once. Many recipes call for two dough risings, once when you make it and the second after you have formed the cinnamon rolls.
Since cinnamon rolls are supposed to be a simple dessert, and even more so since you can buy the dough ready-made, two risings are unnecessary. If you let the dough rise after you make it, the second rising, i.e., after you have made the cinnamon rolls, is unnecessary.
This goes the other way around; if you plan to let the rolls rise after making them, the initial rising is unnecessary. Eliminating one rising will significantly reduce the making process of the cinnamon rolls.
Use the Oven
Pop the cinnamon rolls or the dough in the oven to make it rise sooner. Set the oven to about 200 °F, i.e., 100 °C, and let it get all warm and toasty. Turn off the oven a few minutes before popping the dough inside, but keep the light on inside.
Place a water bowl inside the oven to keep the environment moist and prevent the dough or cinnamon rolls from drying out.
Place the dough or the cinnamon rolls inside the oven on a greasy plate and let the dough rise. Monitor the dough, as this process happens pretty quickly. Once the cinnamon rolls have doubled in size, they are ready to bake.
Use the Microwave
It is important to remember that if you use the microwave to make the cinnamon rolls rise faster, you aren’t microwaving them but simply warming them up. Therefore, set the temperature and time intervals accordingly. The mode you should use is “convection,” and the temperature should be 100 °F (40 °C).
Even though the microwave creates a moist environment for the dough, you should still add an additional moisture source. Hence, the microwave is moist even before you place the dough inside.
To this end, you should place a bowl of water in the oven and set the timer to 4-5 minutes. The water will moisten the microwave chamber and create a favorable atmosphere for your dough/cinnamon rolls to rise faster.
Add Sugar
We all know that these bundles of joy taste bland without salt in the dough, but the dough rises faster if you add some sugar to the yeast. Half a teaspoon is more than enough to significantly speed up the reaction between the yeast and flour and therefore speed up the rising.
I like to dissolve the yeast in some warm milk and add the sugar to the mixture. Mix gently but thoroughly to ensure the sugar homogenizes with the water and yeast. This will make your dough rise much faster.
Use an Instant Pot
Using an instant pot to make your cinnamon rolls rise faster may sound a little unorthodox, but it is an excellent leavening option. This method doesn’t work for already-shaped cinnamon rolls but is great for a lump of cinnamon rolls dough.
This mode specializes in rapid yeast growth, making your dough rise in half the time it would otherwise take. Make sure you generously grease the dough and use a thick layer of parchment paper. Place the parchment paper and press the “yogurt” option with a normal setting.
