Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

 

I have been craving cinnamon rolls for two weeks now. It would have been so easy to buy a can of Pillsbury or go to the Wal-mart Bakery but I resisted instant gratification and made my own. Honestly, I could not wait to make something out of my new cookbook (The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond pgs 36-39) my wonderful hubby gave me for Christmas. It was too cold to go any where and my honey was home. Today was the perfect day to make them. I like to visit one of my favorite music sites, Pandora I love listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. I think I was born in the wrong time period. So here in my kitchen I was serenaded by fabulous men on Valentine’s Day and my husband popping in the kitchen to dance with me occasionally I made MY cinnamon rolls.

Ingredients:

Dough

1 qt whole milk

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

2 pkgs (4-1/2 tsps) active dry yeast

9 cups  all-purpose flour

1 heaping tsp baking powder

1 scant tsp baking soda

1 TBSP salt

• 
  
  For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat; do not allow the mixture to boil.  Set aside and cool to lukewarm. 
• 
  
  Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute. (Make sure milk is lukewarm if its hot it will kill the yeast and it won't rise)
• 
  
  Add 8 cups of the flour, stir until just combined, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour.  (I put mine in the microwave)

 

It has RISEN, Allelujah!!!

I don't have the best of luck when it comes to yeast!  I can't tell you how many times I have tried.  This was exciting and yes I did pray.

• Remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour.  Stir thoroughly to combine.  Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to three days, punching down if it rises to the top of the bowl.

Filling:
2 cups melted butter, plus more as needed
1/4 cup ground cinnamon for sprinkling
2 cups sugar, plus more as needed.

• To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan.  On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30x10 inches.
• To make filling, pour 1 cup of melted butter over the surface of the dough.  Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly.
• Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and I cup of sugar (I also added chopped walnuts)
• Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly toward you.  Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight.  Don't worry if the filling oozes as you work.
• when you reach the end, pinch the seam together. 
• Transfer to a cutting board and with a sharp knife, make 1-1/2 inch slices.  One log will produce 20-25 rolls.
• Pour a couple of tablespoons of melted butter into the desired pie pans or baking dishes and swirl to coat.
• Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd them.
• Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cover the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for a t least 20 minutes before baking.  Remove the towel and bake for 13 to 17 minutes, until golden brown.  Don't allow the rolls to become overly brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the icing.

Maple Icing
2 pounds powdered sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
6 TBS (3/4 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup strongly brewed coffee
dash of salt
1 TBS maple flavoring or extract.

• In a large bowl, whist together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee and salt. 
• Splash in maple flavoring,
• Whisk until very smooth.  The icing should be thick but still pourable.
• While the rolls are still warm, generously drizzle icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top.

Notes:

• Add finely chopped pecans to the rolls after sprinkling on the cinnamon and sugar.
• Subsitute 8 Tbs. of orange marmalade and 1 cup brown sugar (per half batch of dough) for the cinnamon and white sugar, then substitute orange juice for the maple and coffee in the icing.
• ( I used cinnamon, sugar, and chopped walnuts.  For the icing I used OJ)
• Cinnamon rolls can be frozen in the pan, unbaked.  Just cover with foil after you place them in the pan but before they rise.  Then when your ready to bake, allow them to thaw and rise befoe baking , ice as directed. 
• An easier method is simply freeze the baked, iced cinnamon rolls after they've cooled slightly.  Then just pull them out of freezer and warm them in a 250degree f oven for 15 min. 

I used 6 disposable aluminum pie plates.  I thought I was going to freeze them but when hubby saw them he asked if he could take them to work in the morning how could I say no. I was surprised he ate two! My husband very seldom eats sweets. I can’t wait to share them with my friends. Have a wonderful evening and Happy Valentine's Day!