I love cinnamon rolls, cinnamon buns, cinnamon bread, well…just about anything that’s a cake, cookie, muffin, cupcake, bread, cookie or dessert with cinnamon in it.  I have a very hard time passing by the Cinnabon store at the mall.  I can smell aroma of cinnamon as soon as I walk through the door.  This is a special treat for me when I make cinnamon rolls as I’m sure loaded with fat and calories.  If you want something special for breakfast on a weekend or when company is visiting and you want them to wake up to the wonderful aroma cascading from the kitchen to their noses while in bed, this is a sure-fire way to get them out of bed! I have various recipes for cinnamon rolls or cinnamon buns, but this one sounded a little different so I thought I’d give it a try and I was not disappointed.  Next time I make these I may add some raisins and nuts, but they really don’t need them.  They have a hint of orange when you bite into them, and the creamy yummy cream cheese icing will have you go back for a second one, or maybe a third! lol  This recipe is from the February issue of:

“Ladies Home Journal”

Enjoy!

 

 

For the Dough:

 

1 package active dry yeast

3/4 cup whole milk, warmed

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs (room temp)

4 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

1 and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into chunks

 

For the Filling:

 

4 Tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into chunks

2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Zest of 1 orange

1 eggs, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water (for brushing on top)

Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe will follow)

 

Instructions:

 

1. To make dough, in the bowl of a mixer dissolve yeast in warm milk and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add the granulated sugar, eggs, flour and salt.  Use the dough hook and knead on low-speed, adding a little more flour if needed, until the ingredients come together.  Toss in the butter and continue to knead until the dough is smooth and springy, about 7 minutes.  Form dough into a ball, put it in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Let dough rise at room temperature until it doubles, about 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.  Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface.  Cut dough in half.  Roll out one half of dough to a rectangle about 9-by-14 inches.  Spread with half the butter (the other half will be used on the second half of dough), then sprinkle evenly with half of each brown sugar, cinnamon and zest.  Starting at the long side closer to you, roll the rectangle tightly away from you, forming a log.  press edges together to seal seam.  Cut the long crosswise into 8 equal slices.  Arrange slices, cut side down half of the prepared pan.  Repeat with the remaining dough and filling ingredients and arrange slices n the other half of the pan. Cover pan loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm, draft-free spot until puffy, about 1-2 hours, or refrigerate over night, then let stand 30 to 60 minutes before baking.

3. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400 F.  Brush rolls lightly with beaten egg wash. Bake rolls are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in one of the rolls comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.  Let rolls cool slightly in a pan on a wire rack, then spread with cream cheese frosting while they are still warm.  Makes 16 rolls.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

 

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese (room temperature)

1/4 cup unsalted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup confectioners’ sugar.

 

Cream butter and cream cheese well, add vanilla, then add confectioner sugar.   Mix until creamy and smooth.  Frost cinnamon rolls while still warm.

 

Original Recipe from 2012 February issue of Ladies Home Journal.