Cinnamon always makes sweet bread taste better.
These cinnamon buns have a sugary cinnamon mixture layered on dough, rolled into a log and then cut, revealing the layers of cinnamon swirls rolled into the bread.
Ingredients
DOUGH:
4 cups flour
2 eggs
1 cup warm milk
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
FILLING:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans (optional)
CREAM CHEESE ICING:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup cream cheese
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
Method
Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Add the sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix together well.
Lightly dust a clean surface with flour and knead the dough into a large ball, keeping your hands dusted with flour if the dough is sticky.
Put the dough into a bowl. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for an hour.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is approximately 21” long by 16” wide and ¼” thick.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and nuts in a bowl. Spread the softened butter over the surface of the dough then sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the surface.
Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough into a log—like a jellyroll. Cut the dough into 2” sections and place on a lightly greased baking pan.
Bake the cinnamon rolls in the oven for 10 minutes, or until they turn light golden brown.
Icing : Combine all the ingredients and mix well with an electric mixer. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool slightly before spreading them generously with icing.