Cinnamon Rolls

 

I love cinnamon rolls, particularly the glorified cinnamon roll known in Louisiana as the king cake. While this is not a king cake recipe, it's close.  What I like most about this recipe - besides the aroma - is the incorporated cleaning breaks.  When you have a tiny alley kitchen like I do, baking can become a HUGE mess.  So thanks Paula Deen, I now have a clean kitchen and a dozen gooey delicious buns.

CINNAMON ROLLS 

- Adapted from Paula Deen's recipe

- Makes approx. 12 rolls

Ingredients:

Dough

* 1/4 oz. package of active dry yeast

* 1/2 cup warm water (important that water is WARM)

* 1/2 cup scalded milk

* 1/4 cup granulated sugar

* 1/3 cup melted butter

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 egg

* 3.5 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

Filing

* 1/2 cup melted butter (and a little more for greasing pan)       

* 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 

* 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

* Optional: 3/4 cup raisins, crushed pecans, or crushed walnuts

Glaze

* 4 tablespoons butter

* 2 cups powdered sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 3 to 6 tablespoons hot water

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix yeast with warm water and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, with a wooden spoon mix butter, milk, egg, salt, and sugar.  
3. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. 
4. Add yeast mixture. 
5. Mix in the remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. 
6. Knead dough for 5 to 10 minutes (at least 5 minutes) on a lightly floured surface.  
7. Place dough in a well-greased bowl and cover and let dough rise until it doubles in size (about 1.5 hours)
8. When doubled in size, punch dough down.
9. Roll out the dough into a 9"x15" rectangle on a lightly floured surface. 
10. Spread melted butter all over rolled dough.
11. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
12. Sprinkle sugar mixture all over buttered dough.
13. Sprinkle with nuts or raisins if desired.
14. Grease the bottom of the baking pan. 
15. Beginning at the 15" side, roll up dough and pinch edge together to seal.  Cut into 12 or 15 (approx. 1" in thickness).
16. Place cinnamon roll slices close together and let rise for about 45 minutes.
17. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
18. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
19. ***Glaze*** I used packaged frosting instead, but here's the posted recipe for the more ambitious: Mix butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Add hot water one tablespoon as a time until glaze reaches the desired consistency. Spread over slightly cooled buns.