Cinnamon Rolls

Who doesn't love an ooey gooey, yummy cinnamon roll? It screams breakfast, snack or dessert. Quick to grab for an on-the-go option, too. These are the least picky bread I've made so far. The trick is all in the temperature of the milk before adding the yeast. That, and letting them rise twice, once before rolling and again after cutting. I could have gone a little heavier on the glaze but I liked them a little less on the sugary side. These were made for a potluck at work so I doubled the recipe and they still came out great!

Ingredients:

Rolls:
1 1/2 cups milk, scalded and cooled to 105 to 115 degrees
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter, room temp
2 .25 oz packets dry active yeast
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs, plus 2 yolks
7 cups flour
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

Glaze:
2 tbsp milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Supplies:

Stand mixer with dough hook
Candy thermometer
Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Whisks
Mixing bowls
Saucepan
Pastry brush

Directions:

Scald milk, and cool. Add butter, vanilla sugar, salt and whisk until combined. Add yeast and stir until dissolved. Let sit 5 minutes covered with a warm damp towel.

Beat eggs and add to wet mix.

Using stand mixer with dough hook, add flour one cup at a time until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Cover with a warm, damp towel and let rise 30 minutes in oven with light on until doubled in size.

Separate dough into 2 balls. Roll each into a 15x15" square, brush with half of melted butter/vanilla and half of cinnamon sugar mix. Roll into log and cut into 12 rolls each.
Place into 2, 9x13" pans and let rise in oven again for 30 minutes.

Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes until they sound hollow when tapped and are golden brown. If tops brown too quickly, cover with foil.

Top with glaze while hot.


Makes 24 servings

Tips:

When using yeast, remember that it is a live organism that thrives on sugar to feed it and a warm environment for it to grow. It's a Kansas thing: try cinnamon rolls paired with a hearty bowl of chili. You won't regret it!