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Ingredients
Dough
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk, lukewarm
1 stick butter (melted)
7 cups all-purpose or bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 T yeast
Filling
4 ounces butter (1/2
stick)
2 cups brown sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 T sugar
Icing
2 8-oz. packages
cream cheese, softened
1 cup (2 sticks) butter,
softened
4 cups
confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
extract
2 tablespoons milk
Directions
Electric mixer method
In bowl, whisk
together by hand all purpose and whole wheat flours. In mixing
bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and salt. Combine the warm milk and
butter and add to the egg mixture. Slowly add 4 cups of the flour
and mix until well-blended. Add the yeast and mix thoroughly. Add
the remaining 4 cups of flour and mix on medium until smooth (about
5-7 minutes). Place the dough in a large oiled bowl and cover with
plastic wrap. Let the dough rise to double its size (about 1 hour).
Bread Machine Method
Place ingredients in
bread machine in the following order:
eggs
sugar
salt
milk with butter
flour
yeast
Place bread machine
on "dough" setting, and press "start." Allow bread machine to
complete cycle until dough has doubled in size (bread machine will
probably beep when dough is ready).
Once electric mixer or dough machine process is complete,
transfer dough to floured work surface area. Sprinkle work area lightly with flour.
Sprinkle a little flour every time dough is too sticky to work with. Pat down
and work into a ball. Roll into a 1 1/2 foot x 2-foot
rectangle. Spread the 4 oz. of butter over entire surface of
rectangle, then top with cinnamon, sugar and brown sugar.
With one of the longer rectangle sides
facing you, roll up (rolling up gets easier as you continue).
Cut roll into 12 cinnamon rolls. Place each cut roll onto
greased baking sheet. Rolls double in size, so keep this in
mind when arranging. (Cinnamon rolls sides should touch each
other after baked.) Cover with light-weight towel and let rise for
about 20 minutes.
Bake for 15-20 minutes. (Rolls
will rise even more while baking.) Allow rolls to cool
slightly before applying icing.
Icing
Mix cream cheese and butter in electric
mixer or by hand until smooth and creamy. Mix in all other
ingredients until smooth. Spread liberally to tops and sides of
cinnamon rolls with a knife or rubber spatula . Note: If you
intend to serve only some of the cinnamon rolls and freeze the rest,
see the freezing instructions below before you apply icing.
Freezing and Reheating Leftover Cinnamon Rolls
Freezing & Reheating Rolls with
Icing
I recommend only applying icing to the
amount of cinnamon rolls you intend to serve, as this makes the
freezing and reheating process easier. However, if you have already
applied the icing to all the cinnamon rolls, no problem! You can
freeze them in an air-tight container (do not stack them on top of
each other). I also recommend you place small strips of wax paper in
between the rolls to prevent them from sticking together during the
freezing process. When you are ready to reheat the leftover rolls,
you can allow rolls and icing to sit at room temperature to defrost,
then heat - OR you can use this quick method: Simply transfer iced rolls to microwave and heat individually on
70%
(medium-high) heat for 30 second intervals until warm. Note: Be
careful not to overheat, as this will make rolls dry and tough and
will melt the icing.
Freezing & Reheating Rolls without
Icing
If you have left-over cinnamon rolls
that have not yet had the icing applied, store the rolls in a
plastic air-tight container or a plastic freezer bag, sealed
tightly. Freeze the icing in a plastic container with an air-tight
lid.
When you are ready to reheat the frozen
rolls, you can allow rolls and icing to sit at room temperature to
defrost, then heat - OR you can use this quick
method: Simply place
the container of icing in the microwave on 50% (medium) heat for 30
seconds at a time until it is soft enough to spread. (The goal is to
soften the icing, not heat the icing.) Once the icing is spreadable,
place one cinnamon roll at a time in the microwave on a microwavable
plate for 30 seconds at a time on medium-high. Note: Be
careful not to overheat, as this will make rolls dry and tough and
will melt the icing. When cinnamon roll is soft and warm to
the touch all around, remove roll from microwave and apply the
icing. The icing will melt nicely over the warmed rolls. Serve
immediately. |
