Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Cinnamon Rolls

Simple and simply delicious, these are super easy and quick to make!
Follow the instructions to the T and in less than an hour you will have a tray of treats out of the oven!

DOUGH
3 to 4 cups of flour
2 packets of dry yeast (I used instant)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk + 1/4 cup water, warm (~130F)
1/2 cup (= 1 stick) unsalted BUTTER, melted

FILLING
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

ICING (optional)
1.5 cup confectioner's sugar
1 T unsalted butter
3 teaspoons hot water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pre heat oven to 375F.

Making the dough:
Mix 2 cups of the flour with the sugar, salt, yeast, melted butter and warm milk + water mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon or your Kitchen Aid bread hook. (I used the latter!)
Once it's a homogeneous paste, add the egg and another cup of flour. Mix well. Keep adding flour little by little until an elastic dough ball forms. Knead for 5 minutes or so, put it back in the bowl, cover and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Filling
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl using a spatula forming a spread.

Once the dough is ready, roll it out in a rectangle about 1/4" thick. Spread the filling leaving the edges. Roll it tight like a jelly roll.
Using a serrated bread knife cut the roll into 12-15 discs. Set them spread apart in a 9X13 pan lined with non stick aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until golden on the top and filling is bubbly.

Serve immediately with a huge cup of black coffee and try not to eat the whole tray!!
Keep in air tight container for up to 3 days (otherwise it starts drying).
Microwave for 20s if not eating straight from the oven!