Just-Like-Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

It's the beginning of summer. It's HOT. I want cinnamon rolls? Deep down I know it's not quite fitting to eat a warm, sticky, cinnamon-y roll in the dead of heat, but I did. And it was totally fitting for me! This recipe takes a little prep time...ok a couple of hours of prep time (because of the dough), but trust me, if you too are having the craving, or just need a staple like this in your recipe book, it is TOTALLY worth the time! Make them the day before you want to serve them, they keep well in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

Dough

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees)

2 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup butter, melted

4 1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour if that's all you have)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Filling

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, softened

Icing  

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees. Meanwhile, with a dough hook attached to an electric mixer, dissolve yeast in warm milk and 1/2 cup sugar. Let it stand for 10 minutes until yeast is foamy. Add the eggs and butter, and then slowly incorporate the flour. Add the salt last. Mix until a dough ball is formed. Turn off the oven. Place the dough in an ovenproof bowl and cover with a moist kitchen towel. Place in the oven for 1 hour, or until dough has doubled in size.

2. After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread the dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll dough into a long log shape and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. (If making the night before, cover the rolls at this point and store in the refrigerator).

4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake rolls until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving. (If making this enormous recipe for just a few people, individually ice the rolls you plan to eat, freeze the remaining rolls and store the rest of the icing in the refrigerator).