Irresistible Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Savor the sweet aroma of freshly baked goodness with these Irresistible Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. These soft and pillowy treats are the epitome of comfort, featuring a buttery dough swirled with a luscious cinnamon-sugar filling and topped with a creamy vanilla frosting. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time you crave a cozy indulgence, these cinnamon rolls are sure to become a family favorite.

• Ingredients for 14 servings:

DOUGH

– ½ cup unsalted butter (115 g), melted
– 2 cups whole milk (480 mL), warmed to the touch
– ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)
– 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
– 5 cups flour (625 g), divided
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 2 teaspoons salt

FILLING

– ¾ cup butter (170 g), softened
– ¾ cup light brown sugar (165 g)
– 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

FROSTING

– 4 oz cream cheese (113 g), softened
– 2 tablespoons butter, melted
– 2 tablespoons whole milk
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 cup powdered sugar (120 g)

• Preparation:

1. Generously butter two disposable foil pie/cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, melted butter, and granulated sugar. The mixture should be just warm, registering between 100-110˚F (37-43˚C). If it is hotter, allow to cool slightly.
3. Sprinkle the yeast evenly over the warm mixture and let set for 1 minute.
4. Add 4 cups (500g) of all-purpose flour to the milk mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
5. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
6. After 1 hour, the dough should have nearly doubled in size.
7. Remove the towel and add an additional ¾ cup (95g) of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Stir well, then turn out onto a well-floured surface.
8. Knead the dough lightly, adding additional flour as necessary, until the dough just loses its stickiness and does not stick to the surface.
9. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about ½-inch (1 cm) thick. Fix corners to make sure they are sharp and even.
10. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough.
11. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
12. Press the mixture into the butter.
13. Roll up the dough, forming a log, and pinch the seam closed. Place seam-side down. Trim off any unevenness on either end.
14. Cut the log in half, then divide each half into 7 evenly sized pieces. About 1½ inches (8cm) thick each.
15. Place 7 cinnamon rolls in each cake pan, one in the center, six around the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.
16. Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
17. To prepare the frosting, in a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese, melted butter, whole milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.
18. Remove plastic wrap. Bake the cinnamon rolls in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
19. While still warm, drizzle evenly with frosting.

Enjoy the warm, gooey perfection of these cinnamon rolls, freshly baked and generously frosted for your enjoyment!