Cinnamon Rolls
Preparation time: 3 hours, including dough risings
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients:
For Rolls:
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1/4 cup warm water
* 1.7oz instant vanilla pudding (1/2 box)
* 1 cup milk
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 Tbsp sugar
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 4 cups bread flour
* 2 1/2 tsp yeast
For Filling:
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 2 tsp ground cinnamon
For Frosting:
* 4oz cream cheese
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 tsp milk
Preparation:
For Bread machine: Put all ingredients in bread machine pan in the order suggested by the bread machine manufacturer. Set machine to dough cycle and start. Dough should complete this cycle in about an hour and a half, including the 1st rise.
Without Bread Machine: Dissolve yeast in water, stir in butter (slightly cooled, as to not kill yeast), milk, egg, pudding and sugar. Add in dry ingredients and knead until dough is well mixed, approximately 5 minutes. Knead dough an additional 30 minutes; dough will be smooth and silky in texture. Set dough in bowl, covered with a towel, in a warm area and let rise 1 hour.
While dough is rising, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl for the filling. Nuts or raisins can be added, if desired.
After 1st rise, roll dough into 11x17 rectangle. Spread softened butter onto dough and sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly over it. Roll dough tightly, from long end, sealing ends when finished. Slice roll into 15 slices (or less for bigger rolls, more for smaller rolls).
Place slices on lightly greased baking pans, so that cinnamon rolls are not touching. Lightly cover with a towel and let rise until rolls are doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For frosting, mix together cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add in sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until it's a smooth frosting consistency.
After 2nd rise, bake rolls for 15-20 minutes.
Spread frosting over baked rolls.
The rolls are best eaten fresh out of the oven. However, 15 seconds or so in the microwave will make cooled rolls almost as yummy.
