Ultimate Cinnamon Rolls with Frosting: Cinnabon

350° - 25-30 minutes. Serves 12

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbls. ground cinnamon
(2) .25 oz. pks. active dry yeast (I use 2 TB instant yeast)
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1 cup 110 degree water (approximately)
1 cup warm milk
2/3 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup melted butter OR margarine
2 tsp. salt
2 eggs – slightly beaten
Up to 8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans – optional
1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine
1/3 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

• Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and the cinnamon; set aside (this will be used later to spread on dough)
• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in warm water; set aside (if using instant yeast, you can skip this step)
• In a large bowl, mix together milk, 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup melted butter, salt, and eggs; add yeast mixture and 4 cups of flour to mixture; beat until smooth; stir in enough flour to form a slightly stiff dough.
• Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead for 8 minutes. I always know when my dough is finished kneading (either by hand or machine) when it can stretch quite well. It must be elastic enough.
• Place dough into a large greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 – 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Roll dough out onto a floured surface into a 15″ X 20″ rectangle.
• Brush 1/2 cup melted butter over dough; sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over dough; sprinkle nuts evenly over dough, if desired.
• Tightly roll up dough and pinch edges together to seal; cut the roll into 12 – 15 slices using dental floss or thread.
• Coat the bottom of a 13″ X 9″ X 2″ baking pan with 1/2 cup melted butter; sprinkle 1/3 cup sugar evenly in the bottom of the pan. ( When attempting to make these a little bit of a lower fat version, I do not do this. If I do, then make sure after they are done baking, that you flip the pan over so that all the delicious drippings go onto the rolls.)
• Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the prepared pan; cover pan and allow to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or just eye ball them.
• Bake rolls in a 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cinnabon like Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 8 ounces margarine
• 1 tsp. vanilla ( I love using almond extract for variety)
• 1/2 tsp lemon
• 16 oz. powdered sugar

Beat together, margarine, sugar, and vanilla. Spread frosting on warm rolls and eat until you are stuffed
Notes:



source: Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

image courtesy Morgue File