What do you mean that's not thrilling and exciting?
This morning was a great start to a promising new year even if last night was a dud. We had cinnamon rolls. And NOT the kind from a can either! Thanks to the culinary expertise of P-Dub I have a fool proof recipe for the most amazing cinnamon rolls ever... For my animal-free friends this recipe can easily be adapted to be vegan. And so I bring you a New Years gift pictures and instructions to the best cinnamon rolls known to man.
Start by adding the milk, oil, and 1/2 cup sugar into a large pot (trust me the dough grows you need a big pot).
Heat it up so that its warm when you stick your finger in it but not burning. If you're like me you'll let it get too hot and you'll have to sit around and wait for it to cool off. The temperature is important - too hot and you'll kill the yeast, too cool and the yeast won't work.
Sprinkle on the yeast and 4 cups of flour. Stir it up, cover it and leave it for an hour or more.
See it grow!
Now add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and stick in the fridge for at least an hour.
I made mine the night before so it sat over night. See it grew again!
Take out half the dough and roll it into a rectangle. If you're like me you have two demons helpers who want a chance to roll out the dough too.
Melt 1/4 cup (half a stick - and don't skimp!!!) of butter or vegan butter. Pour it on. Top with the remaining sugar and cinnamon.
Add nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, whatever you fancy. For today's version I used these:
They're like little bursts of sweet cinnamon discovered by my sister! Now roll it up and pinch it to close.
Slice it and place it in a pan to rise for 30 minutes. For some odd reason dough doesn't rise for me at room temperature - in the fridge it rises fine or in a warm (150 degrees oven) but not room temp. So I stick my dough the oven, set it to 150 degrees, once it reaches that temp I it off and let the dough sit and viola my cinnamon rolls have risen.
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Now bake it at 375 (or 350 if your oven tends to over heat like mine) for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool and top with some cream cheese frosting.
Happy New Year!!! I'm off to start 2011 with some bellinis!
