Cinnamon Rolls!

Anyone of my good friends can tell you, I love anything with cinnamon. What can I say? There is something so comforting about even the smell of something cinnamon in the oven. This is a huge reason why I make batch after batch of cinnamon rolls in the fall, winter and spring- they are delicious AND make the entire house smell amazing. When I'm feeling lazy, I disappoint foodies everywhere by simply buying Pillsbury pre-made cinnamon rolls BUT on days when I've got more time or energy I make the recipe below. Add delicious things like pecans or dried fruit to put a little flair of your own. 

Cinnamon Rolls

        Dough                                                          

                                   1 Cup Milk 
                                   1/2 cup butter
                                   1/2 cup brown sugar
                                   1 tablespoon vanilla
                                   1 teaspoon salt
                                   5 cups flour
                                   1 package instant yeast                                     
                                   4 eggs

        Filling

                                  1/2 cup butter, room temperature
                                  1 cup brown sugar                                                                                                         2 Tablespoons Cinnamon

        Glaze

                                1 tablespoon vanilla
                                 4 tablespoons cream    
                                 1 cup powdered sugar

Mix all the dough ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside. Do the same for all the filling ingredients (DO NOT combine these two collections of ingredients). The glaze will be made at the end and drizzled over the rolls. 

1) In a small pot gently warm the milk along with 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, the vanilla and the salt. Don’t bring to a simmer, warm just enough to melt the butter. Meanwhile measure half the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer along with the yeast. Add the warm melted milk butter mixture to the flour, beat with a paddle attachment until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until smooth before proceeding. Switch to a dough hook and add the remaining flour. Knead until a soft dough forms that is no longer sticky to the touch, about five minutes. Rest the dough in a warm place, covered in a lightly oiled bowl until it doubles in size, about one to two hours.  2) Knock the dough down and let rest for a few minutes. Meanwhile thoroughly mix together the room temperature butter with 1 cup of brown sugar and the cinnamon. Flour your work surface, the dough, your hands and a rolling pin. Roll out the dough into a long rectangle shape, about 18x12-inches. Evenly spread the cinnamon butter over the top of the dough leaving an inch or two uncovered along one long edge. This will help a seal form. Roll tightly into a long cigar shape from the covered long edge to the uncovered long edge. Brush the outside of the log with oil or melted butter.   3) Slice the dough log into 12 or 16 sections. Turn each on its side and position evenly in an appropriately sized lightly oiled baking pan. Rest, uncovered, until the dough doubles in size again and the rolls swell into each other.  4) Meanwhile preheat your oven to 350 F. When the dough is ready, bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  5) When the cinnamon rolls have cooled enough to handle stir together the glaze ingredients and drizzle all over them. Serve immediately!