Cinnamon Rolls 101

This is probably one of my most anticipated recipes; It has definitely become a staple. My family & friends start requesting these in October. I only make them this time of year--when the trees become bare and hot chocolate/coffee become a necessity. I don't know what makes these things  so addicting. I should, because I made them...Since they make so many batches I've started giving them as Christmas gifts, but the recipe can easily be halved.

Ingredients:

For the Dough

1 Quart of Whole Milk
1 cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 Packages Active Dry Yeast, 0.25 Ounce Packets 

9 Cups All-Purpose Flour, Sifted
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder (heaping)
1 Teaspoon  Baking Soda (scant)
1 Tablespoon Salt (heaping)

For the Filling
3 Sticks of Butter, Softened
1 1/4 cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed

1 1/2 Teaspoons  Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon of Flour

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

For the Frosting

1 Stick of Butter, Softened

1 8oz Package of Cream Cheese, Softened

2 Teaspoons of Vanilla 

1 3/4 Cups of Powered Sugar 

1/2 Cup of Condensed Milk

Now comes the home stretch!! Once your rolls are freshly baked, pull them out of the oven and give them a healthy slathering of that frosting. If your frosting isn’t finished once the rolls are done, pull them out and cover them lightly with foil. You don’t want the tops of these getting hard!

You’ll only end up using about half the frosting right away and that will melt right into the rolls. Then once they have cooled off a little more, feel free to go back and re frost them.

  Your house will smell amazing! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Directions:

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until warmed throughout NOT hot. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 2-3 minutes.

Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, then cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place (I leave my on the stove) for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. If the dough is still sticky add another 1/2-1 cup of flour. You can use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. 

Meanwhile in a medium size bowl, stir brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and vanilla together until combined. Cover and set aside.   

To assemble: Punch down dough and remove half. Flour a large clean table liberally with flour. Lightly flour dough as well. Roll dough out to be a 20×30 rectangle {or as close to that as possible} while moving dough around to ensure it’s not sticking to your work surface. 

Spread softened butter over dough, being sure to go right to the edges leaving a 1-inch strip untouched on one of the longer sides of dough. Dump brown sugar mixture onto the middle of the dough and spread with your hands, creating an even layer over top of the butter, still leaving that 1-inch strip of dough untouched. Lightly press the sugar mixture into the butter using a rolling pin. Roll the dough up into a tight log, finishing with the plain dough on the bottom to seal the entire thing together. 

Cut off the uneven ends to even out the log. Score log every 2 inches and then slice your rolls using those marks. Place into parchment paper lined, buttered greased pans. 12 into a 9×13, 3 remaining into a loaf pan, or 8×8 with the small ends. Cover pans with plastic wrap and dish towels. Let rolls rise another 1-2 hours or until they are touching and have risen almost double. My rolls always spread out more than up, so just be aware that they will most likely spread out more than up. Bake in a preheated 350 degree for 17 minutes, or until tops start to brown. Watch them carefully!!

For the Frosting:

In a medium bowl, wisk the butter and cream cheese until smooth, add the remaining ingredients and blend until you reach the consistency of peanut butter.  If you like a lot of icing you may need to double the recipe, or if you like thinner icing add more canned milk.

Happy Eating!