CInnamon Rolls

You know you want one. Maybe even two. Slathered with the most buttery, sugary, cream cheesy icing.  Who could resist? And these are even better a couple days later. Just stick 'em in the microwave and the flavor is even more intense.

I have cravings for buttery sugary treats these days. But I was told to lower my carb intake due to a very close diagnosis of gestational diabetes. I just passed the three hour glucose test. Whew. But I do treat myself. I mean seriously, what's a pregnant mama to do when the growing baby inside of me is  requesting a bit of sweetness to my diet. So I compromise. I treat myself on the weekends. Fair enough, right? Okay, I lied. I cheat sometimes during the week but I keep in under control with very small portions.

You all have tasted Cinnabons, right? Well I wanted to find a recipe that was very close to those as possible. I found that this recipe tasted a bit dry right out of the oven. But after a few days later, they were closer to the heavenly, oh so tasty Cinnabon's. Now, you can bake the rolls in a baking pan as I did or place them in a round or rectangular cake pan. I thought for the purposes of photos, placing them separately so they do not touch, would yield prettier rolls. Now some did lose its shape but most of them came out very nice.

Printable Recipe
Ingredients
Recipe Courtesy of Todd WIlbur
The Dough
1-1/4 Ounce Package Dry Yeast
1 Cup Warm Milk
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Margarine (I used my friend Mr. Butter)
1 Tsp Salt
2 Eggs
4 Cups Flour

Filling
1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
2-1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/3 Cup Softened Margarine (Yet again, I used Mr. Butter)

Directions
1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl enough to fit the flour.

2. Add the sugar, butter, salt, eggs, flour and mix well.

3. Knead the dough into a large ball, get dirty and use your hands dusted lightly with flour.

4. Put the dough in a bowl, cover and allow to rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size. While the dough is rising make the filing.

5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approximately 21 inches long by 16 inches wide. Preheat oven to 400º degrees.

6. Melt the butter and combine the brown sugar & cinnamon and mix well (my love is demonstrating below). The recipe states to spread the butter out then sprinkle the sugar/cinnamon mixture on top, but that just seemed like extra work to me so I just combined the ingredients and spread it out onto the rolled out dough.

7. Carefully lift one end and using your finger tips and palms, roll the dough to the other end.

8. Cut the dough into 1-3/4 or whatever size you prefer, and place on your baking pan. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden. Make your frosting while the rolls are baking.

Icing
8 Tbsp Margarine (You know it, I used Butter)
1-1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/4 Cup Cream Cheese (I added more, probably closer to 1/2 cup of cream cheese but taste as you go)
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1/8 Tsp Salt

Directions
1. Combine the ingredients above and beat in your electric mixer until fluffy. And generously spread on your warm rolls straight out of the oven or use as a dip to your liking.

And tada! You have deliciously, buttery, cinnamon-y Cinnamon Rolls! And of course a demonstration of how my love eats his cinnamon roll...

Make a funny face (a must according to a toddler).
Then get serious.
And of course take a lick of the icing.
Finally take a bite. Icing side first. Always.
And don't forget to chew then swallow (=