Cinnamon Rolls (like Cinnabon)

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk (i use 2%)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups flour, all purpose
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons flour, all purpose
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (can use smart balance spread)
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened (can use 1/3 less fat)
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 for the rolls: dissolve yeast in milk that is between 100-110 degrees f. add the sugar and let sit (proof) for 5 mins until slightly foamy.
• 2 melt the butter in the microwave.
• 3 in large bowl, add flour, salt, melted butter, and yeast mixture. (can also use kitchenaid with dough hook attachment). mix ingredients on low, adding eggs one at a time, continue mixing until dough ball is formed, knead for about 3-5 minutes, then set aside in bowl covered with moist towel and let rise for 1 hour.
• 4 now make the filling: combine brown sugar, flour, corn starch, and cinnamon in small bowl. mix well.
• 5 after dough has risen, punch down dough and roll out on lightly floured surface until it's abou 20-24 inches long and 16 inches wide. (should be about a 1/4 inch thick).
• 6 spread softened butter (or smart balance spread) over dough. top with brown sugar mixture. working from the long side, roll the dough (like a jelly roll), i go from bottom to top, but do whatever's easiest for you.
• 7 cut the rolled dough in half, then in quarters. now you should have 4 equal logs of dough. cut each log into 3 equal pieces giving you 12 rolls.
• 8 place 6 rolls on lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan (so you should have 2 pans of 6 rolls each).
• 9 cover pans with moist towel (any clean kitchen towel will do) and let rise in a warm place for another hour.
• 10 at this point, you can also refrigerate (covered with plastic wrap) and keep for the next day- just take out of fridge at least 30-45 minutes before baking).
• 11 preheat oven to 400 degrees f.
• 12 bake rolls for 15-20 minutes until they are lightly golden on top.
• 13 while the rolls bake, prepare the icing by creaming the cream cheese along with the other ingredients using an electric mixer (i use hand mixer). combine until smooth and creamy.
• 14 when rolls are done, remove from oven and cool for about 4 minutes, then spread icing on top of rolls. enjoy.