Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Rolls:

1 1/2 Cups of Milk

3/4 Cup + 1 Tbsp Sugar (Divided)

1 Egg

1 Tbsp Salt

2 Tbsp Yeast

2 Cups Warm Water

9-10 Cups All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup of Butter (melted)

Filling:

1/2 Cup Butter (at room temperature)

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tbsp Cinnamon

Pinch of salt (?)

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream (for pouring over the risen rolls)

Frosting:

6 oz Cream Cheese (softened)

16 Tbsp Butter (at room temperature)

Pinch of Salt

4 Tbsp Milk or Heavy Cream

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

3 1/2 Cups (14 oz) Powdered Sugar

Directions:

1. Scald the milk. (Add milk to a small sauce pan over medium heat.  Heat until a skin forms on top, about 170 degrees.  Watch carefully to make sure the milk doesn’t boil.)
2. Melt butter then add 3/4 cup of sugar.  Add butter and sugar mixture to the scalded milk.
3. Cool it down by adding 1-2 cups of flour then add the egg and salt.  Let it cool. 
4. While mixture is cooling, dissolve yeast in the warm water and add 1 Tbsp of Sugar.  Let it sit for a couple of minutes until it is buddy.  
5. Once the milk mixture has cooled down to just warm, add the yeast mixture.  (Make sure the milk mixture isn’t too hot, otherwise it will kill your yeast.)
6. Using a fork or wooden spoon, gradually add the remaining flour until you reach the 9-10 cups.  The dough will be dense and sticky, you can use your hands to incorporate the rest of the flour.  Be sure not to add too much flour.
7. Knead the dough until it is smooth (typically 8-10 minutes) and it can pass the windowpane test. (Stretching the dough thin enough in one spot that you can see light through it.  If you can without the dough breaking then it is ready.)  
8. Cover and leave in a warm place to rise until double in size.  (About 1 hour.)
9. Make the filling.
10. Spray working space, rolling pin and hands with cooking spray to prevent sticking.  Dump you dough out and roll the dough into a rectangle about 10 x 20 inches. 
11. Spread filling mixture over rectangle leaving 1 inch on the side you a rolling to. (Rolling the long ways to get lesser number of swirls, but more rolls.  Roll the short ways to get more swirls, but less rolls.)
12. After you get your log of dough pop it onto a sheet tray and transfer to the freezer for 10 minutes.  Then using a serrated knife cut the log into evenly sized rolls.  Place onto cookie sheet, in baking pan or muffin tin.  (If wanting to bake later, now is the time to freeze the rolls, before the second rise. See note below of rising and cooking directions for frozen rolls).
13. Let rise until they have doubled in size (45 mins- 1 hour). To test if the rolls are ready to bake, poke your finger into the dough.  If it springs back immediately then it needs more time.  If it holds its place for a moment and then begins to slowly return then its ready to bake! If your finger sinks and doesn’t spring back at all then it is over-proved. You can still bake it if it is over proved, but it may have a different texture when finished.  
14. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour the heavy cream over risen rolls then bake for 10-15 minutes (may take longer) or until dough reaches an internal temperature of 190-200 degrees.  (For doughier rolls bake till 188-192, more firm roll 194- 199 degrees). 
15. Let rolls cool.  
16. To make frosting add cream cheese and butter to a medium bowl and whip together with a mixer until creamy.  Add salt, milk/cream and vanilla.  Mix again, add powdered sugar and whip until light and cream.  
17. Spread evenly on top of slightly warm rolls.  Serve immediately or let cool completely and serve at room temp.  Enjoy!  

Note for cooking frozen rolls:  Thaw rolls in the fridge (preferably over night).  Then put in a warm spot for 30 minutes to 1 hour to activate the second rise.  Then bake as directed.  

Cheryl’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls

INGREDIENTS

SPONGE:

•  1/2 cup (3.75 ounces) granulated sugar
•  1/2 cup neutral-flavored oil
•  2 cups milk, scalded (heat to just below a boil)
•  4 cups (20 ounces) all-purpose flour (I use unbleached)
•  1 tablespoon instant yeast (see note for active dry yeast)

DOUGH:

•  3/4 cup (3.75 ounces) all-purpose flour
•  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•  1 1/2 teaspoons salt

FILLING:

•  8-12 tablespoons butter, softened
•  3/4 cup (5.5 ounces) packed light brown sugar
•  1 tablespoon cinnamon
•  1/4 teaspoon cardamom (optional but delicious)

ICING:

•  3 ounces cream cheese, softened
•  8 tablespoons (1 stick, 4 ounces) butter, very soft
•  Pinch salt
•  2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
•  1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  2 cups powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the sugar and oil. Pour in the scalded milk and mix. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes or so until it is warm but not blazing hot.
2. Add the 4 cups flour and sprinkle the yeast on top of the flour. Mix until no dry streaks remain and scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed. The dough will be loose and wet-looking. Cover the bowl and let the sponge rest until puffy and doubled, 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.
3. Add the remaining 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until the flour is completely incorporated and the dough looks smooth instead of rough and shaggy. It may not necessarily clean the sides of the bowl but it should for a pretty cohesive mass. Add additional flour only if it is too sticky to handle or a small piece of dough won't form a ball in your hands (it's ok if it leaves some doughy residue on your fingers).
4. Scrape the dough into a lightly greased bowl or container, cover with a greased plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about an hour.
5. On a lightly floured counter (I use about 2-3 tablespoons flour), roll or pat the dough into about a 18X12-inch rectangle (try to get as close to the 12 inch as possible). Spread the softened butter evenly across the top. 
6. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon (and cardamom, if using) in a bowl and sprinkle evenly across the top of the butter. Pat down very lightly.
7. Starting with one long end, start rolling the rectangle into a log without pulling and stretching on the dough (but still rolling as tightly as possible). Roll the seam to the bottom and pat the log into an even thickness - it should be about 20 inches long or so at this point.
8. Cut the log into 12 even pieces or 1 inch or slightly larger sections. Place the rolls on a parchment-lined half sheet pan, tucking the loose end of the roll underneath. The rolls should be about an inch apart so they have room to rise. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise until noticeably puffy and almost doubled, about an hour.
9. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-25 minutes until lightly golden and baked through (do not over bake). Let cool until warm before frosting.
10. For the frosting, add the cream cheese and butter to a medium bowl. Whip with a handheld mixer until creamy. Add the salt, milk or cream, and vanilla. Mix again. Add the powdered sugar and whip until light and creamy.
11. Spread the slightly warm rolls evenly with the icing. Serve immediately or let cool completely and serve at room temperature (or warm lightly before serving).

YIELD: 12 LARGE CINNAMON ROLLS

PREP TIME 25 MINUTES

 

COOK TIME 20 MINUTES

 

ADDITIONAL TIME 3 HOURS

TOTAL TIME 3 HOURS 45 MINUTES

NOTES

If you only have active dry yeast, proof the same amount of yeast in a couple tablespoons of warm water and a pinch of sugar until the mixture bubbles and foams, 3-4 minutes. Add it to the recipe per the instructions (when the instant yeast is added).

This recipe doubles great. 

Usually with a yeast dough recipe, I give a big ol' lecture about going by the texture and feel of the dough vs the exact flour amount. With this recipe, the flour amount is important - the dough will probably be softer and slightly stickier than you may be used to - try not to add additional flour. Use the pictures and details in the post to get an idea of how the dough should look and feel. Add additional flour a little at a time only if the dough is too sticky to work with.

These baked cinnamon rolls freeze amazingly well. After they've been frosted and cooled, I'll scoop the rolls one by one into a quart-size ziploc bag, seal and freeze. It gets a little messy with the frosting, but once they are lightly warmed, no one notices - they taste as fresh as the day they were made! It helps to take them out of the bag still frozen and then microwave for a minute or so on 50% power until warm and gooey.

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/the-best-cinnamon-rolls/

Ham & Cheese Sliders

Ingredients for:
 
Honey Mustard

·         1 cup mayonnaise

·         1/4 cup honey

·         1/8 cup mustard

In a small bowl whisk all together and set aside.

Poppy Seed Dressing

·         2 tablespoons poppy seeds

·         3 tablespoons honey mustard sauce from above

·         1 cup butter, melted

·         1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Whisk all together and set aside

Assembly

·         24 white rolls

·         24 slices of ham

·         24 slices of white cheddar cheese

·         mayonnaise

·         honey mustard sauce from above

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice open the rolls and spread the honey mustard sauce on the bottom and mayonnaise on the top.  Place a slice of ham and cheese on each roll and place the top on each sandwich.  Place all the sandwiches on a cookies sheet and drizzle each sandwich with the poppy seed dressing until you have used a little more than half and each sandwich is covered.  Tightly wrap the pan with tin foil and bake for 12-15 minutes.  After baking you can drizzle with a little more sauce (you may need to melt it again) then serve immediately.

Note – sandwiches can be made ahead of time then topped with the dressing and baked when needed.

Breadsticks

30 Rhodes Rolls

1/2 Cube of butter

Parmesan Cheese

Melt cheese on low heat in frying pan.  Add parmesan to melted butter.  With soft roll dough roll between hands and then roll in butter and cheese mixture.  Place on a cookies sheet and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

Orange Knots

Ingredients:
24 Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
1 orange rind, grated
3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

Citrus Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp butter, melted
3 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the grated orange rind with sugar and mix well.  Roll each roll into a 9-inch rope then dip in the melted butter followed by rolling in the sugar/rind mixture.  Tie the roll into a loose knot and place on a prayed baking sheet.  Cover with plastic and let them rise till they have doubled in size.

Uncover and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and place on a cooling rack. Using a pastry brush, brush rolls with citrus glaze while still warm.

Vanishing Rolls

Ingredients:

•  2 Tbsp Melted Butter
• Large Marshmallows
• 1 can of crescent rolls (8) or rolls
• 2 Tbsp White Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
• Cupcake Liners

Directions:

1.     Melt butter in a small bowl on low heat in microwave. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon.  

2.     Roll a marshmallow in butter then coat in the cinnamon sugar. 

3.     Stretch a roll out and place a marshmallow in the middle. 

4.     Pinch the roll shut making sure there it is completely sealed. 

5.     Place rolls into the cupcake liners in a muffin tin with the pinched side down.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Resurrection Rolls for Easter:

v  Crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in after he died.

v  Marshmallow represents Jesus body. (John 19:38)

v  Melted Butter represents the oils of embalming. (John 19:39)

v  Cinnamon Sugar represents the spices used to anoint the body. (John 19:39)

v  Wrapping the Marshmallow represents the wrapping of Jesus body after death. (John 19:40)

v  Oven represents the tomb Jesus was buried in. (John 19:41)

v  When the rolls have cooled open your rolls and discover that Jesus is no longer there. This represent the empty tomb.  HE IS RISEN! (Luke 24:6)

Sticky Buns

Ingredients:
24 frozen Roads Rolls
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
Defrost roll and cut into 4 pieces. Put rolls into a greased bunt pan.  Combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Pour mixture over rolls.  Bake at 325 for 30 mins.  Dump immediately on a plate and serve.