50 Shades of Cinnamon
If you're in search for The Best Cinnamon Roll Recipe, look no further. Your Cinnabon fantasies have been answered.
Cinnamon rolls are more than a comfort food. They are an experience that engage all senses. Their distinctive cinnamon and butter waft rival the most exquisite of French perfumes. fill the void of an airport terminal. The imagery of them being pulled from an oven, oozing with icing, guarantee a second look from each passerby.
Once in a while, we even convince ourselves that one cinnamon roll won't ruin our disciplined diet. And if it does, we know that the yoga class or the jog on the treadmill later on today will surely be able to erase every calorie. After all, aren't you worth it?
So, you take your first bite. Your mouth waters as you unwind the warm airy dough. Your teeth seductively slice through the caramelized brown sugar just as the cool buttercream icing kisses your lips.
Before this blog post turns into 50 Shades of Cinnamon, it's time to focus on the task at hand. So, let's get started with the best cinnamon roll recipe. This way, whenever the urge hits, you'll be able to privately satisfy your cravings.
Cinnamon Roll Recipe
There are a few tricks to know ahead of time. First, this recipe takes about 2-½ hours to make. Most of that is spent waiting on the dough to rise. But you can write a blog while waiting. Secondly, the butter and eggs should be room temperature. It helps the dough rise and keep ingredients from congealing. Thirdly, use bread flour. It helps provide an airy dough. Finally, use warm milk, but not hot enough to kill the yeast. The best temperature is around 110 degrees - like bathwater.
This recipe has 3 parts: 1) the dough, 2) the filling, 3) the icing. It's best to use a stand mixer with a hook to knead the dough. It takes about 8 minutes of kneading on the "Stir" setting. Once the dough is made, you place it in a greased bowl, covered with plastic and let nature do its thing. After 1-2 hours the dough will double in size.
In the meantime, prepare the filling and the icing. Both require room temperature butter. The icing also requires room temperature cream cheese.
Once the dough has risen, place it on a well dusted counter and roll it out into a 9" x 14" rectangle. Spread the brown sugar filling with a pastry brush or butter knife, then tightly roll the dough from the 9" side. Using a serrated knife, slice into 1" thick slices. Place in a greased baking dish, seal with plastic and a warm cloth and let raise again. Remove cloth and plastic wrap and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees or until lightly golden brown. Preferably, you'd rather undercook than overcook the cinnamon rolls so that the centers remain moist.
Final Touches
Remove the cinnamon rolls from the oven and begin spreading the icing in a circular motion. The warmth of the rolls will help melt the icing, making it very pliable and easier to spread. Work your way from the middle to the outside edges. Repeat for each cinnamon roll. Take pictures, then serve warm (with a hot, steaming cup of coffee). Whew!
Want more dessert recipes? Click here to check out the Kosher Cowboy's desserts.
The Best Cinnamon Roll Recipe
DESCRIPTION
INGREDIENTS
- For the dough:
- ¾ cup milk (warmed to around 110 degrees)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active yeast
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg (at room temperature)
- 1 egg yolk (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 cups bread flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- For the filling:
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- For the frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
- Instructions
- Warm milk to around 110 degrees. It should be like bathwater. You can microwave it for 40 seconds. Pour into electric stand mixer bowl then add yeast, egg white, egg yolk and melted butter. Mix until well combined. Next stir in flour and salt until a dough begins to form. Switch to dough hook and knead for 8 minutes. Dough should form into a nice ball and be slightly sticky.
- Transfer dough ball to a well-oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Allow dough to rise for 1 hour to 1 ½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and roll out into a 14x9 inch rectangle. Spread the filling mixture with a pastry brush or butter knife. Tightly roll the dough from the 9" side and place the seam down. Cut into 1" thick slices with a serrated knife.
- Place cinnamon rolls in a greased 9x9 inch baking pan or round 9 inch cake pan. Cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel and let rise again for 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and towel and bake cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes or until just slightly golden brown on the edges. Allow them to cool for 5-10 minutes before frosting.
- To make the frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. Using a butter knife, spread over cinnamon rolls and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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