I Love Pinterest for the simple reason that you can find almost anything you want to bake!!! Shout out to #JOCOOKS for sharing this mouthwatering copycat Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls recipe. I’ve been searching for the perfect recipe to make for Christmas morning breakfast. I made these amazing rolls last weekend & they were a total hit!!! Below I’m sharing her recipe which I followed last weekend – its a little long but totally worth it, especially for a special occasion such as Christmas breakfast! Who wouldn’t love a homemade Cinnamon Roll for breakfast anyway?!
Heres the link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543950461225125553/
Recipe:
Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls – a Cinnabon copycat recipe, about the closest you’ll get to the real thing. Super easy to make.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 499 cal
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Ingredients
Dough
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup milk warm
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup margarine (I used softened unsalted butter)
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
1 cup brown sugar packed
3 tbsp cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine softened
Cream cheese icing
6 tbsp margarine (I used unsalted butter)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. If the yeast is good, it will start to froth up.
Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs and flour to the bowl of a mixer and mix well.
Pour the milk/yeast mixture in the bowl and using the dough hook, mix well until well incorporated.
Place dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. It should be approx 1/4 inch thick.
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
To make filling, combine the butter or margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
Spread the mixture evenly over the surface of the dough. Alternatively you can spread the butter first on the dough and then the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Working carefully from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. The roll should be about 18 inches in length. Cut the roll into 1 1/2 inch slices. You might find it easier if you use a piece of floss vs a knife.
Place the cut rolls in the prepared pan. Cover them with a damp towel. Let them rise again for another 30 minutes until they double in size.
Bake for 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cooking time can vary greatly!
While the rolls are baking, make the icing by mixing all ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.
Recipe Notes
Prep time does not include time to let the dough rise.
Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn’t expired. All your yeast products, whether it’s in a jar or a package, should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast – it could have been on the shelf past its expiration date.
To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard. However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
One thing to remember about your yeast, is that it is a living organism and over time it will lose activity, even if you’ve never opened the jar or package. So if you don’t bake often, buy the smaller yeast packages rather than a big jar of yeast.
Make sure your milk is not too hot or it could kill the yeast which will cause your dough not to rise at all. The ideal temperature for the milk should be between 105 F degrees and 110 F for proofing. While 95 F degrees is the best temperature for yeast to multiply, that’s not warm enough for proofing active dry yeast.
If after dissolving the yeast in the warm milk, the yeast didn’t start to froth up, do not continue with the rolls, your dough will not rise.
You could also use instant or rapid-rise yeast instead of the active dry yeast. If you do, you do not need to dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. It could be mixed right into the dough.
TIP:
To speed up the dough rising process, heat your oven to 200 F degrees. Turn off the oven and place your dough as specified in step 4 in the oven with the door closed. This will ensure a warm environment for your dough and the dough will rise fairly quickly, assuming the yeast was good.
You could prepare this the day before up until step 10. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight. The rolls should continue to rise in the fridge but if by morning they have not doubled in size, turn your oven on to 200 F degrees until it warms up, then turn it off. Place the pan in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls double in size. Then you can bake them as instructed.
To freeze unbaked rolls, complete everything up to and including step 10, then wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze for 8 hours up to 6 weeks. The night before you want to bake the rolls, thaw them out in the refrigerator, still wrapped. They will thaw overnight. Finish the rest of the steps to bake them.
