I volunteered to make cinnamon rolls for a children's breakfast at our church. A bit nervous about the prospects, I tried out three more cinnamon roll recipes to be sure I ended up with perfect rolls. This recipe is adapted from a recipe in "A Real American Breakfast" by Cheryl and Bill Jamison. I tried a hint I got from a fellow cinnamon roll baker and it worked out great. She suggested NOT preheating the oven. Putting the dough in a hot oven stops the growth of the yeast quickly. She puts her rolls in a cold oven and as the oven heats up, the rolls have a chance to rise a bit more as they begin cook. I was apprehensive at first, but it worked out beautifully in my oven.
Start by sprinkling yeast over the 1/2 cup lukewarm water.
02In heavy-duty mixer with dough hook on medium speed, cream together the 1 cup butter and 2/3 cup sugar until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is light and fluffy.
03Beat in the yeast mixture, milk, salt, 1/12 teaspoons vanilla, eggs, and 5 1/2 cups of the flour.
04Beat for a couple of minutes, adding additional flour 1/4 cup at a time.
05When dough is thick enough to start pulling together in a ball, reduce speed appropriate for kneading.
06Add no more flour than necessary for it not to be sticky.
07Knead for about 15 minutes.
08(I think this extended kneading help makes dough light and soft).
09Transfer to an oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil.
10Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free spot, until dough doubles (1 to 1 1/2 hours).
11While dough is rising, prepare filling: Stir together 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons cinnamon in small bowl.
12Line two 15 x 10-inch cookie sheets with parchment and brush with melted butter.
13Roll dough until it is 12 x 18-inch rectangle.
14Brush with remaining butter (but leave about 1/2 inch at long side[on other side from you] with no butter so it will stick when rolled up).
15Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon filling mixture.
16Roll up dough from longer side[close to you], snug but not too tight.
17Cut dough with sharp knife (or dental floss--if you know that trick--crossing it around roll and pulling quickly) in slices approxamitely 1" thick.
18Arrange in pan and cover loosely with foil (coated with non-stick spray so it won't stick). (DON'T BE TEMPTED TO CROWD THEM IN THE PAN -- they will end up doughy--not cooked all the way through. They rise and spread.).
19(I also brush a bit of butter between sides of rolls so that when they rise they won't stick completely to each other--helps separate them when you serve them).
20To prepare glaze, mix ingredients with 2 tablespoons warm water.
21If it is too thick, add additionly warm water until it is thin enough to drop easily from a spoon.
22WANT TO EAT THEM IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF?.
23Let dough rise until doubled again, about 45 minutes to an hour.
24Preheat oven to 350°F.
25Bake rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until puffy and golden brown.
26Let cool 5 minutes or so and then drizzle glaze over warm rolls and serve.
27FOR OVERNIGHT RISING, after rolls are shaped and arranged on pan, cover and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight (8 to 10 hours).
28Take them out to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking.
29There is plenty of cinnamon sugar--I don't use all of it. Use according to your own tastes.