Cinnamon Rolls


This is, by far, an absolute favorite recipe in this household.  While you can certainly take a shortcut and use store bought frozen bread dough as the base, making it from scratch is really not too difficult or time consuming and it's soooooo worth it.






Cinnamon Rolls

1 cup milk
2 1/4 teaspoons Active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter {1 stick}, softened & divided
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
3/4 cups confectioner's sugar {powdered sugar}
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

To Make The Dough:
Heat the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until warm but not hot, 105 - 115 degrees Fahrenheit.  Add it to a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle yeast over the warm milk and let sit, until dissolved, approx. 3 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup of the butter.  Whisk the granulated sugar, eggs, and melted 1/4 cup butter into the milk mixture.  Stir in the flour and salt with a wooden spoon, mixing well until combined.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap or clean damp kitchen towel and let rest 30 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3 minutes.  Lightly oil another large bowl.  Place the dough in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm, draft-free area until doubled in volume, 30-40 minutes.

To Make The Filling:
While the dough is resting, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Set aside.

To Make The Cream Cheese Frosting:
Beat the 4 Tablespoons softened butter with the cream cheese in a medium-size bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.  Beat in confectioner's sugar and vanilla.  Cover with plastic wrap and set aside until ready to use.

To Make The Rolls:
Butter a cinnamon roll pan or a 13x9" baking pan.  Once the dough has risen, punch it down and transfer to a lightly floured surface.  Roll out into a 15x20" rectangle.  Spread the remaining 1/4 cup softened butter carefully over the dough using a spatula and then sprinkle with all of the cinnamon-brown sugar mixture.  Starting at the long side, roll up jelly-roll style, forming a log.  Pinch the seam and ends to seal.  Using a serrated knife, cut log into 12 equal sections.  Arrange the rolls about 1" apart, spiral side up, in the prepared pan.  Cover with damp kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.  After 45 minutes preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the rolls have risen, remove the towel and bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and immediately spread with cream cheese frosting.  Let cool, serve warm.

1 comment

  1. OMGosh. My husband would absolutely love these. They look amazing.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on this post!