Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 cup warm milk (115 degrees F)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast (or one packet)
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1/2 cup salted butter (Melted, but make sure it isn’t over 110º)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (divided)

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup salted butter (very soft)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half (for pouring over the risen rolls)

For the Frosting:

• 6 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 1/3 cup salted butter (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract (I’ve also used maple which is delicious!)

Instructions

1. Pour the warm milk (115ºF) in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast overtop. Allow this to sit for 5 minutes. The yeast will get a little frothy to show it is activated.
2. Add the room temperature eggs, butter and sugar. Mix until combined.
3. Add in salt and 4 cups (save the other 1/2 cup and add only if you need it) of flour and mix using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids.
4. Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it. Attach the dough hook.
5. To knead, beat the dough on medium speed for 5-7 minutes, adding in up to 1/2 cup more flour only if needed to form a dough. The dough should be elastic and smooth. **The dough should be tacky and will pull away from the sides of the bowl but may stick slightly to the bottom. That’s ok! Don’t be tempted to add more flour at this point. I add about 4 1/4 cups, but start with 4 cups.
6. Grease a large bowl. Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper.
7. Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until double. I like to turn on the oven to the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes. Then turn off the oven and place the dough to rise in there. It normally takes about 30 minutes for the dough to rise. Do not allow the dough to rise too much or your cinnamon rolls will be airy.
8. While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. In a medium bowl, combine the soft butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing until well combined. Set aside.
9. Sprinkle a pastry mat or work surface generously with flour. Turn out the dough onto the surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with additional flour. 
10. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to about a 24×15″ rectangle. (the size of the rectangle can vary…it does not have to be exact!)
11. Use a rubber spatula to smooth the cinnamon filling over the whole dough rectangle.
12. Starting on the long side, roll the dough up tightly jelly roll style. 
13. Cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan.**** Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes while the oven is preheating.
14. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
15. Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off. Don’t make it hot…you just don’t want it cold. It should be warm to the touch. Once the rolls have risen, pour the heavy cream over the top of the rolls, allowing it to soak down in and around the rolls.
16. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through. If they start to get too brown, cover with foil for rest of baking time.
17. While the rolls are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting.
18. In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and butter using a mixer. Blend well.
19. Add in vanilla, maple or almond extract and the powdered sugar. Beat until combined. Spread the frosting over the cooled rolls.

Overnight Instructions

I often make the cinnamon rolls and get them to the point of the second rise (when they are rolled out, cut up and put in the pan). Cover and refrigerate until morning.

The morning you want to bake them, pull them out of the refrigerator. They may have doubled in size in the fridge overnight. If they have, let them sit for 30 minutes to get the chill off, then bake.

If they did not rise in the fridge overnight, allow them to rise at room temperature. Plan about at least an hour for this. Then pour on the cream and let them bake.