Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I love cinnamon rolls.  I love them in the mornings.  I love them at night as a 'dessert'.  I love them on Sunday afternoons.  I pretty much love cinnamon rolls at any given time.  Usually we keep a roll of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the fridge in case a craving arises, but tonight we didn't have any (gasp!).  And of course, the commissary is closed on Mondays - what grocery store is closed on Mondays?!

I found a few recipes that looked promising, but a couple looked a little too tedious, and one made like 50 cinnamon rolls.  Even if I halved the recipe I would still be left with 25 cinnamon rolls.  THEN I found a recipe that looked perfect.  Easier than the others, made a decent amount of rolls.. and from a trusted source.

And let me tell you.  They are SO. GOOD.  Soft and gooey and absolutely delicious when they're warm.  And with a big glass of orange juice.  My husband gave me the side eye because I had four of them.  What, don't judge me.  They were small...

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
recipe from Our Best Bites

Dough

• 1 cup milk
• 4 tbsp. butter, cut into chunks
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 egg

 Filling

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 1/2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
•  1/2 cup butter, softened

 Icing

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. melted butter
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1-2 tbsp. milk

Dough: Place milk and 4 tbsp. butter in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high for 1 minute 30 seconds. Butter should be at least partially melted.  Stir and set aside.  In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups flour, yeast, white sugar, and salt.  When milk mixture has cooled to warm (not hot) add it to the flour mixture along with the egg while beating with a mixer.  Beat until well combined, about 1 minute.  Switch to a dough hook attachment, if you have one.  Add remaining flour only until dough barely leaves the sides of the bowl.  It should be very soft and slightly sticky.  Continue to let the dough knead for 5 minutes.  If you are not using a stand mixer, turn dough out onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes by hand.  Turn dough out onto a floured surface and let rest for about 10 minutes while you make the filling.

Filling: make sure butter is softened well. Mix with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Assembly: Roll dough into a rectangle about 12 x 14 inches. Spread brown sugar mixture over the surface and use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently spread around. Roll up from the longer side of the rectangle and pinch edges closed. Score the roll into 12 equal pieces and then cut into rolls.  It's easiest if you use a piece of floss to cut them.  Place in a 9 x 13 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover pan with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes - I turn on the oven and set mine on top of the oven.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

When rolls have finished rising, bake for 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown. If desired spread with icing while still warm. Makes roughly 12 rolls (depending on how big you cut them).

Rollin' out the dough..

Ready to bake!  Aren't those swirls just beautiful? :)

Soft, gooey, and perfect after they're drizzled with icing!