Mouth-Watering Cinnamon Rolls

Although spring is technically right around the corner, it still seems so far away! However nothing will chase away those chilly winter days like a delectable cinnamon roll! I don't know what it is about cinnamon rolls, but they are one of the ultimate comfort foods. This recipe is SO soft, gooey, and delicious! The recipe is not too difficult, though plan on giving yourself plenty of time, since this recipe includes two separate proving times...lol and I mean rising times but I've been watching too much of The Great British Baking Show!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

Dough

• 1 C warm milk

• 1 Tbl instant dry yeast

• 2 Tbl white sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 3 Tbl salted butter softened

• 1 large egg

• 3 C flour

Filling

• 1/2 C salted butter (melted)

• 1 C brown Sugar

• 2 Tbl ground cinnamon

Frosting

• 4 oz cream cheese (softened)

• 1/4 C salted butter (softened)

• 1 to 1 1/2 C powdered sugar

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 to 2 Tbl milk

Directions

• In the bowl of your standing mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar and let sit for approximately 5 minutes and let bubble.

• Add the salt, butter and eggs and flour then mix using your dough hook on low speed.

• As it's mixing you may need to add more flour in small amounts until your dough starts to pull away from the sides. Dough should be tacky, but it shouldn't stick onto your hands.

• Transfer dough into a lightly greased large bowl, cover with a towel and let rise until double in size. This step can be sped up by turning on your oven for a few minutes, then turning it off and placing the bowl in the lightly warmed oven.

• After your dough has "proved" to double it's original size, now comes the fun part! PUNCH that dough down! Transfer it to a slightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle. Approximately 12" by 18".

• Brush dough with softened butter.

• Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of the butter.

• Roll up tightly lengthwise and then use dental floss to cut dough into 12 even rolls.

• Place rolls into a greased 9x13. Cover and let rise until double in size...again.

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees and bake rolls for approximately 15-20 minutes. Now this is the tricky part...bake too long and you're cinnamon rolls will be hard and dry, not baking long enough means under-baked, very doughy cinnamon rolls. So here you'll have to use your judgment but bake until lightly brown on top.

• While cinnamon rolls are baking make your frosting. This step can be made VERY simple by getting a tub of cream cheese frosting from your local grocery store lol but if you want to be able to say you did it ALL by scratch then...

• Use your hand mixer and combine cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.

• Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add enough milk to make your frosting not too runny or too thick.

• Frost the warm rolls and enjoy!!! These are best served immediately but can be stored in an air tight container in your fridge for up to 4-5 days.

• ENJOY!