For a long time we bought a can of Pillsbury one's that we would pop in the oven. But after I took a cooking class in 8th grade and learned how to make them from scratch, I decided that we would have real homemade one's for Christmas. Every Christmas Eve I prep the dough and then roll them out and bake them the morning of. It is a special holiday treat that I love. Now there is only one recipe that I will use. There was one Christmas I couldn't find my recipe and I used a different one that I found online, and the cinnamon rolls didn't turn out. So I am hear today to share with you the best cinnamon recipe. So that you too can enjoy cinnamon rolls on Christmas or any other day of the year.
Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls
Yields: About 8 big (The size of my hand) cinnamon rolls
Dough:
1 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
2 cups unsifted flour
Dash of salt
1. Heat the milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds. You want to get it warm, but you do not want to scald it. If you create a film on the top of it then you have scaled it and it will not work.
2. Combine the yeast and milk in a large mixing bowl and stir.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds
4. Add the sugar, melted butter, salt and egg to yeast mixture and stir until well mixed
5. Add the flour to the mixture and still with a wooden spoon until combined. Do not over mix!
6. Knead the dough into a ball for about 2-3 minutes. Make sure you flour your hands first so they don't stick to the dough.
7. Place the dough in a large floured bowl and cover it with saran wrap. If you have time, place it in the fridge and let it rise over night. If you don't have time, place it in a 140 degree oven for 45 minutes to rise.
Filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter
1. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
2. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds
3. Sprinkle flour on the counter and begin rolling out the dough with a rolling pin into a rectangle about 10 inches long and 16 inches wide.
4. Spread the butter over the dough with a pastry brush.
6. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on the dough so it is evenly covered
7. Along the edge of the dough begin snugly rolling the dough up into a log shape. Pinch it together once it is all rolled.
8. Take a sharp knife and cut the log into rolls. You can make them as big or little as you want. The smaller you make them, the more you will make.
9. Place onto greased cookie sheet
10. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown
11. Add frosting if desired
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of salt
1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth
2. Drizzle on cinnamon rolls.
Enjoy!