Cinnamon Rolls are more than just a dessert in my house. They are tradition. They are Christmas morning. They are memories of my kids, my parents and my husband. I don't know what it is about cinnamon rolls, but they're magical! They are also one of the best products to use with VanillaPura extract AND VanillaPura cinnamon!!
Here's how it's done!
For the Dough:
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Warm Water, (read your yeast packet for temperature suggestions)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast, 1 envelope
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 Egg Yolks
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 4-4 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour, **see note**
For the Filling:
- 5 tablespoons Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed (light or dark)
- 3 tablespoons Ground VanillaPura Cinnamon
- pinch of Salt
For the Frosting:
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
- 2 tablespoons Milk, or Cream
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Madagascar-Rum VanillaPura Extract, For the Frosting
- pinch of Salt
Directions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the milk.
- In a large bowl whisk together the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Then whisk in the egg plus egg yolks. Add the salt, 2 cups of the flour, and the butter / milk mixture. Stir with a sturdy spatula until combined.
- Add the last 2 cups of flour and work it in with your hands, kneading the dough in the bowl for around 8 minutes, only adding more flour if the dough seems too sticky or wet. It should be soft, pliable, and shiny from the butter in the dough.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it into a large oiled bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Line a 9 X 13 baking dish with parchment paper. When the dough has doubled in size lay it on the prepared work surface and roll it out to about 16 X 12, with the SHORTEST side closest to you.
- Make the filling by mixing together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. It will be clumpy. Sprinkle the filling all over the dough, going all the way to the outside edges. Start rolling the dough away from you and cut into 6 equal pieces. Lay the pieces in the prepared baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and let them rise for another 11/2 hours.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake the risen rolls for 25-30 minutes. They will be golden.
- While the buns bake, make the frosting. Beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add in the milk or cream, vanilla and almond extracts, and the pinch of salt. Then add in the light corn syrup. Beat on high until smooth.
- Spread the frosting generously over the hot cinnamon buns.
- ** Add only the LEAST AMOUNT OF FLOUR you can manage. You will definitely need the first 4 cups, but only add additional flour if your dough seems too sticky and wet. Humidity will play a role in how much flour you need and too much can make your rolls tough.
Comments
I just made this recipe and it is wonderful. I did however add a tablespoon of cinnamon to the dough. I just love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.
Merry Christman