Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients (half recipe in parenthesis)
Rolls
- 1 C warm milk (½ C)
- ½ C sugar (¼ C)
- 5 TBSP butter (2½ TBSP)
- 2 large eggs (1 egg)
- ½ tsp vanilla (¼ tsp)
- 4 C unbleached all-purpose flour (2 C)
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1¼ tsp)
- 1 tsp salt (½ tsp)
Filling
- ⅔-1 C packed brown sugar (⅓ C)
- 2 TBSP cinnamon (1 TBSP)
- ⅓ C (a little shy of 6 TBSP) unsalted butter, softened (3 TBSP)
Frosting
- 8 oz (1 package) cream cheese (4 oz / ½ package)
- ¼ C (4 TBSP) unsalted butter (2 TBSP)
- 1 TBSP milk (½ TBSP)
- ½ tsp vanilla (¼ tsp)
- Pinch of salt
- 2 C powdered sugar (1 C)
Alternative Icing
- 2 C confectioners` sugar
- 2 TBSP butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 TBSP milk (orange juice works so great too)
Directions
- Mix milk, sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs with a whisk or a stand mixer.
- Add flour (one cup at a time), yeast and salt.
- Knead for about 5-7 minutes.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and set aside to rest until doubled.
- For the filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Place dough onto clean surface and roll into rectangle.
- Spread the softened butter over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the surface.
- Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. Cut the dough into 1 ½ inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown.
- While the rolls are baking, combine the icing ingredients, adding the powdered sugar a little bit at a time to avoid a mess.
- Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
- Frost rolls once removed from the oven.
Variation
- Add 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup to the icing.
Alternative Icing
- Mix the confectioners sugar, butter, and vanilla together.
- Adding half the milk (or orange juice) to start with, stir in to make a thick glaze, adding just a drop at a time more until you get a nice thick glaze.
- Spread or pour immediately over cooled cinnamon rolls, pastries, pound cakes, or Danish.
- Glaze will form a crust and harden as it cools, but you can spread over warmed cakes and serve that way as well.