Cinnamon Rolls

Food and friends go hand and hand. When my friends and I want to catch up, our first suggestion is to grab a coffee at Andyman’s and try whatever pastry looks good—apple turnover, asiago bagel, or even a fresh, gooey chocolate chip cookie. So that’s why when my old friend and I had a sleepover, I brought all of the ingredients to make a treat to keep us occupied and to keep our stomachs satisfied.

 Now, our creation was nothing like the doughy rolls you pull out of that familiar blue tin can and drizzle with that questionable white-stuff they call “icing.” These were cinnamon rolls in their most delicious form. Soft, cinnamony-sweet, and coated with a layer of rich vanilla frosting; these rolls were extraordinary.

We prepared the dough during the commercial breaks of our late night movies, and when we awoke to a full fledged snow storm in the morning, these cinnamon rolls were a warm and sweet treat that quickly disappeared before we ventured out in the storm to shovel my car out of the snow bank.

I got my idea from this recipe, and after tweaking a few of the ingredients to my preference (which I show later), I have finally ended my quest for the cinnamon rolls who reign supreme. Enjoy!

Ingredients for dough

• 2 C whole milk
• 1/2 C vegetable oil
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 4 C flour
• 1/2 C flour
• 1/2 heaping tsp baking powder
• 1/2 scant tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tbsp salt

Ingredients for filling

• 1 scant C melted butter
• 3/4 C sugar
• 1/2 C cinnamon

Ingredients for frosting

• 1 bag powdered sugar
• 1/2 C milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 4 tbsp melted butter
• pinch of salt

Directions:
The night before the treats will be served:

1. Mix whole milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan until it reaches 150 degrees.
2. Let cool until room temperature. (be careful, this is important if you want the yeast to rise for light, fluffy rolls)
3. Sprinkle in yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Add 4 C flour and stir together.
5. Cover with clean towel and let sit for one hour.
6. Add 1/2 C flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
7. Stir mixture together.
8. Cover again with towel and allow to sit overnight.

The big day:

1. Seperate the dough into two pieces.
2. Sprinkle counter surface with flour.
3. Mold each piece into a rectangle.
4. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough thin, maintaining a long rectangular shape.
5. Pour melted butter over dough.
6. Sprinkle with sugar.
7. Finish by sprinkling with cinnamon, be generous!
8. Starting from the end furthest from you, roll the dough toward you.
9. Once done, pinch the seam to seal it.
10. Cut rolls 1 inch thick and lay in greased foil pans.
11. Cover the rolls with towel and let sit for 30 minutes.
12. Bake on one rack at 400 for about 15 minutes.

The finishing touches:

1. Combine all frosting ingredients in a bowl and mix.
2. Generously drizzle frosting over warm rolls right after they come out of the oven.
3. Try not to eat them all in one sitting…trust me.