Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

If there is one food that makes me think of Christmas time it is cinnamon rolls.  I think it is because that was usually when  my mom made them.  She did make them other times of the year too, but more often at Christmas than other times.  This year I hoped to make them before Christmas but just didn't have time to make them.  There is something comforting about rolling out the dough, spreading on the melted butter, sprinkling on the cinnamon sugar, rolling them up and then slicing them.  The torture is that is takes so long to make them as the dough needs an hour and a half to rise after mixing the dough and another hour to rise after rolled and placed into pans -- then of course they need to bake about half an hour.  But oh is it worth the wait!!! Then you can eat them plain and straight out of the oven like this: 

Or you can soak them in glaze like this:



Either way you do it, they are simply yummy! 

It is best to make them for when you have company over or for get-togethers as these are simply irrestible and you just might find yourself eating them all by yourself!

Cinnamon Rolls:

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup sugar (or can substitute honey)

3 Tbsp. butter (or crisco)

1 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk, scalded (or can substitute powdered milk and warm water)

1 egg

2 1/2 to 3 cups of all purpose flour

Soften yeast in warm water.  In mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, salt and milk.  Cool to lukewarm.  Stir in egg and yeast.  Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough.

No-Knead Method:

Cover; let stand in warm place until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Toss on well-floured surface until no longer sticky.

Knead Method:

Knead on floured suraced until smooth and satiny, 5 to 8 minutes.  Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides.  Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Turn out on floured surface.

Roll dough on floured surface to an 18 x 15 inch rectangle.  Combine 2 tsp cinnamon with 1/2 cup of sugar.  Brush dough with melted butter; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Starting with 18 inch side, roll jelly-roll fashion.  Cut into eighteen 1 inch slices; place, cut side down, in well-greased 13 x 9 pan or in well-greased muffin cups (also can overlap in circle on pizza pan).  Brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled, 45-60 minutes.  Bake at 375  -- 25 to 30 minutes for a pan; 15-20 minutes for muffin cups.

Glaze while warm:  3/4 cup confectioners sugar and 1 Tbsp milk.

Eat and enjoy!  Best served warm.