The cinnamon roll is a classic American dessert made from a dough leavened with yeast.
They are adorned with a blend of cinnamon and sugar, rolled into coils, sliced into sections, and then either baked or fried in the oven.
To complete the process, these rolls are typically crowned with frosting, buttercream frosting, pearl sugar, or even a simple layer of jam for added moisture and flavor enhancement.
In North America, these delectable treats frequently grace breakfast tables or conclude meals as desserts. Typically, they're adorned with icing, frosting, or a straightforward glaze. However, in Northern Europe, a sprinkling of pearl sugar is often preferred.
Below is a straightforward and foolproof recipe for crafting incredibly soft cinnamon rolls, draped in a creamy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients:
Dough:
- 1 cup of warm milk (236ml)
- 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of dry yeast (7g)
- 2 eggs (at room temperature)
- 1/3 cup of melted unsalted butter (75g)
- 1/2 cup of sugar (100g)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 4 cups of medium/high gluten flour (408g)
- 3/4 cup of whipping cream (177ml)
Filling:
- 1 cup of brown sugar (200g)
- 2 and 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon (19g)
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg powder (1.3g)
- 1/3 cup of softened unsalted butter (75g)
Frosting:
- 4 ounces of softened cream cheese (113g)
- 1/4 cup of softened unsalted butter (56g)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (5ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- 1 and 1/2 cups of powdered sugar (187g)
- 2-4 tablespoons of milk
Steps:
1. In a spacious bowl, blend the warm milk with all the sugar until the sugar dissolves completely. Then, introduce the dry yeast to this mixture and allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast.
2. Once the yeast is activated, whisk in the eggs, melted butter, and salt. Gradually incorporate the flour into this mixture until well combined.
3. Sprinkle some flour onto a work surface and knead the dough until it turns smooth and non-sticky. Place the dough in a buttered bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise for 45-60 minutes until it doubles in size.
4. After the initial rise, roll out the dough on a floured surface to create a 1cm thick rectangle.
5. Spread softened butter evenly over the dough, preparing it for the later addition of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
6. Mix the cinnamon, nutmeg powder, and brown sugar together, creating the cinnamon sugar mixture.
7. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough.
8. Starting from one long side, gently roll the dough toward the other side.
9. Halfway through rolling, slice the rolled dough into two portions, then slice each portion evenly based on your preferred thickness.
10. Place the slices on a baking sheet, cover them with a towel, and let them rise for about 1 hour until they double in size.
11. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the rolls for 10-15 minutes, pouring whipping cream on top halfway through, to achieve a golden-brown finish.
12. While the rolls are baking, mix all frosting ingredients except the milk/half-and-half. Gradually incorporate the milk/half-and-half to reach your preferred frosting consistency.
13. Once the rolls are baked, spread the freshly prepared cream cheese frosting onto them while they're still warm.
14. Allow the rolls to cool completely before indulging in these delicious, fluffy treats.
