Tag: happy

Welcome back friends! Who would like some warm and comforting, homemade cinnamon rolls on one (or more) of these cold winter mornings? Maybe at a table with some coffee or tea and a good book? Or maybe a good movie or show? I know I do, so let’s bake some!

INGREDIENTS

DOUGH

• 1 cup of warm milk
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of instant dry yeast
• 1/2 cup of salted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 4 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon of salt

FILLING

• 1 cup of brown sugar, packed 
• 1/2 cup of salted butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons of cinnamon
• 1 cup of heavy cream, divided

TOPPING

• 1/3 cup of salted butter, softened 
• 6 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour the warm milk into a large bowl and sprinkle it with the yeast.
2. Add the butter, eggs and sugar, then mix until well combined.
3. Add 4 cups of the flour and the salt, then mix until well combined.
4. Scrape the dough off the beater blade and knead for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the dough is elastic and smooth.
5. Spray another large bowl with cooking spray and use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place in the greased bowl.
6. Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size (about 30 minutes to an hour).
7. While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the soft butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 cup of heavy cream; mixing it until well combined, then set it aside.
8. Once the dough has risen, sprinkle a pastry mat generously with flour, and turn the dough onto the mat. Sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour.
9. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to about 24” x 15” rectangle (though it does not have to be exact).
10. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the filling over the whole dough rectangle.
11. Starting at the long end, roll the dough up tightly.
12. Cut the roll into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13” baking pan.
13. Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes or until nearly double.
14. Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
15. Warm the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream until the chill is off, then pour if over the risen rolls, allow it to soak in and around.
16. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until gold brown and the center rolls are cooked through. Time will vary so keep an eye on them! If they are getting too brown, cover with aluminum foil.
17. While the rolls are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a large bowl combine the cream cheese and butter, blending well.
18. Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar, then beat until combined.
19. Spread the frosting over the cooled rolls.

*To save time in the mornings, you can also prepare the dough the night before. Make the dough and proceed to the second rise when the rolls are in the pan. Once risen, cover them up again and put them in the refrigerator until morning. In the morning, remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to sit for about 30 minutes before baking.