Waking up just got that much better! A few minutes tonight can prepare you for gooey, hot, cinnamony (yes I said cinnamony) goodness tomorrow morning! Don’t let yeast doughs frighten you! Pull up your big girl panties and your sleeves and get right to it! Trust me, these rolls are worth it! Think mug of hot coffee or glass of ice cold milk and your morning treat will be complete!
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 1/2 cups flour (additional)
FOR THE FILLING
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
FOR THE FROSTING
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Directions:
- Pour the yeast into a large bowl. Pour warm water over the yeast and stir to dissolve.
- Pour the warm milk over the yeast. You want all your liquid ingredients to feel warm, but not hot.
- Stir in the sugar and beaten egg.
- Add 2 cups of flour and salt, and then mix well by hand.
- Pour melted (but not hot) butter in, and mix.
- Add another 1 1/2 cups of flour, and mix by hand until the dough is sticky, but pulls away from the sides of the bowl into one large ball.
- Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise for 1 1/2 hours.
- Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a well floured surface. Use flour as you roll the dough to prevent it from sticking to the counter.
- Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick, into the shape of a rectangle measuring 12 by 18 inches.
- Smear your softened butter all over the dough. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl Then sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon, taking care to go to the edges.
- Starting with a long edge of the rectangle, roll the dough up.
- Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the rolled up dough in half. Cut each half in half again. Then cut each quarter into equal thirds so you have 12 pieces.
- Place each piece into a greased 9 by 13 inch baking dish with the spiral side up.
- Cover the baking dish and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, remove the baking dish from the fridge and let it sit in a warm spot in your kitchen for one hour.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place the baking dish on the center rack of your oven, and bake for 17-20 minutes. The tops will be golden brown.
FOR THE FROSTING
- Place softened butter and cream cheese into the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk together until smooth and then add powdered sugar and whisk again on low speed. When all of the powdered sugar is mixed in, add heavy cream and whisk on medium high speed for about a minute.
- I like to slather the frosting all over the tops of the hot cinnamon rolls! Enjoy!
Butter, Baking, and Bacon! 