Happy New Year!

As a New Years treat, I made cinnamon rolls for my family this morning (LATE this morning). I have only made cinnamon rolls a couple of times, but this time I finally found a recipe that satisfies this Cinnabon loving girl's craving. It is modified from a recipe from Pioneer Woman found here:

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

2 c. milk
1/3 c. oil
1/2 c. sugar
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
5 cups flour (seperated)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp salt

Mix the milk, oil and sugar in a large pot. "Scald" the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn the heat off and leave to cool for 30-45 minutes. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but not hot, add the yeast. Stir until fully dissolved. Add 4 cups of the flour. Stir thoroughly. Cover and let rise for an hour. After rising, stir in 1 more cup of flour and the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. You can either immediately proceed with the following steps or cover and refrigerate the dough for up to 2 days. (if the dough starts to overflow out of the pot while in the refrigerator, just punch it down as needed)

Roll out the dough into a large rectangle on a well floured board. Roll about 1/4 inch thick, making a rectangle approximately 18x12. Melt 1 stick of butter (1/2 c.) and pour on top of the dough. Use the back of a spoon or a basting brush to spread over the whole rectangle (not too close to the edges). Mix 1/2 c. sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle over the dough. Starting at the long, opposite end, roll the dough neatly and tightly toward you. When completely rolled, pinch the edge to seal it. Grease a 13x9 pan. Cut the large roll into 15 slices, about 1" thick each and place in the pan close together. Preheat the oven to 400 and let the rolls rise in the pan on the top of the stove for 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, 15-18 minutes. (The two rolls in the center of the pan will probably still be a little doughy, but the rest will be perfect!)

While the rolls cool, make the frosting. This makes a generous amount:

3 cups confectioners' sugar
4 ounces package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk
(add more powdered sugar or milk to get the right consistency--should be thick but pourable)

Pour onto the rolls while they are still warm. Enjoy immediately with a big glass of milk. :)

These are a great New Years treat.
*note, I said treat. These are not the ideal way to start your New Year's diet!

Dawn