Simply Cinnamon Rolls

I'm sharing with you, dear reader, a very easy dough that can be put together as you are cleaning up from lunch.  Give it a few hours to rise and bake.  When your family walks in the door to the aroma of these rolls baking, they will throw their arms around you for joy.  Just watch. And when you take the first bite of these, your eyes will "roll" up into the back of your head.  :)

Take it step -by- step. Start after lunch and you should easily have them in the oven by supper.

Ok!  Let's get started.  First....

Gather, measure and prep all ingredients (Mise en place)

• 4 and 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pkg. or 1 tbsp. yeast
• 1/2 cup  water
• 1  cup  milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp.  brown sugar
• 2 c. confectioners sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional)
• 1 rectangular jelly roll pan or two square pans, generously buttered
• Dental floss

Soften the yeast.
1 pkg. or 1 tablespoon yeast (I used fast rise,Red Star is my favorite) 
1/2 c.  water
Dissolve the yeast in one half cup of water.  Let it soften while you prep the other ingredients.

Scald the milk.
1 c.  milk
3 tbsp butter, melted in the scalded milk
4 tbsp. sugar

Scald the milk by heating it just until it begins to steam.  Do not let it boil.  Add the butter and sugar.  Let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Make a sponge.

1 c. flour
Yeast/water mixture
1/2 c. of scalded, cooled milk

In the mixing bowl combine the yeast mixture with 1 cup of flour.  Stir  with a wooden spoon or whisk until it is smooth.  Let this sponge set for  a few minutes until it begins to rise.



Make the dough.

3 c. plain flour
2 tsp. salt
1 egg, well beaten
Remaining scalded milk/butter/sugar

Add the egg, remaining milk mixture, salt.  Then begin to work in three c. of flour.  Add enough flour to get the dough nice and soft. Your dough is ready to knead when it begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and has an elastic consistency.

Knead the dough.

Knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured counter or continue with the kneading attachment of your mixer 3-4 minutes.

Dough will be ready when it gently pulls away from the side of the bowl and has an elastic consistency.










First Rise

Let the dough rest about 10 minutes, then shape into a smooth ball and place it in an oiled bowl.  Let it rise until doubled about 1 1/2- 2 hrs.

Prepare the filling.
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together.



Make the rolls.
Sprinkle some flour on your work area and then roll out the dough into a 14x8 inch rectangle.  Spread 4 tbsp. softened butter on the rectangle.  Then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Roll up the dough tightly lengthwise.  

Take the dental floss and  place it under the roll.  Pull the ends of the floss upward then together and cross over to make even cuts through the dough.  You should end up with 18 slices.  

Place the rolls in the pans and brush with melted butter.

Second Rise
Let rise 60-90 minutes, loosely covered in a draft- free place.  A warm oven is a good spot if the weather is cool.  Turn on the oven until it heats to 200 and then turn it off.  Place the pans in the oven.  When the rolls have doubled in size they are ready to bake.










Bake @ 400 degrees, 10-15 minutes.

After the rolls are lightly brown, remove from the oven and let cool.  I usually have to sample them at this point, however. ;)

Glaze the rolls.

Combine the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and almond flavoring until smooth.  When the rolls have cooled a few minutes, pour the glaze over the rolls.

These rolls are fluffy, soft, buttery, sweet and irresistible.  They will turn a  dreary winter day into a sweet delight.

Simply Cinnamon Rolls

• 
  
• Dough
• 4 and 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pkg. or 1 tbsp. yeast
• 1/2 cup  water
• 1  cup  milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 large egg
• Filling
• 4 tbsp. softened butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon
• Glaze
• 2 c. confectioners sugar
• 2 tbsp. milk or cream
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional)
• 
  
• 1  rectangular jelly roll pan or two square pans, generously buttered
• Dental floss

You can freeze these for up to three months.

Make ahead/overnight: This dough can be made the night before.  After mixing the dough,  cover  with plastic wrap and let rise in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and allow to rise at room temperature, about 1 hour.