Another Cinnabon Type Cinnamon Bun Food

ALMOST-FAMOUS CINNAMON BUNS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (don't stir). Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla.
• Whisk the flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 2 more tablespoons flour if necessary.)
• Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Roll out the dough, fill and cut into buns (see Cook's Note). Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; place the buns cut-side down in the pan, leaving space between each. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325.
• Bake the buns until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then whisk in the cream and melted butter. Transfer the buns to a rack and spoon the glaze on top while still warm.

CINNABONS - CINNAMON BUNS FROM HEAVEN

Steps:

• To prepare dough: In a cup, combine yeast, warm water and 1 tsp sugar, stir and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs; stir well and add yeast mixture.
• Add half the flour and beat until smooth.
• Stir in enough of the remaining flour until dough is slightly stiff (dough will be sticky).
• Turn out onto a well-floured board; knead 5-10 minutes.
• Place in well-buttered glass or plastic bowl, cover and let rise in warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• When doubled, punch down dough and let rest 5 minutes.
• Roll out on floured surface into a 15 x 20 inch rectangle.
• To prepare filling: Spread dough with 1/2 cup melted butter.
• Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over buttered dough.
• Sprinkle with walnuts and raisins, if desired.
• Roll up jellyroll-fashion and pinch edge together to seal.
• Cut into 12 slices.
• Coat bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and an 8-inch square pan with remaining 1/2 cup melted butter, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
• Place cinnamon roll slices close together in pans.
• Let rise in warm place until dough is doubled in bulk,about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until rolls are nicely browned.
• Cool rolls slightly.
• To prepare glaze: Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix melted butter, powdered sugar and vanilla; add hot water 1 Tbsp at a time until glaze reaches desired spreading consistency.
• Spread over slightly cooled rolls.
• These will taste most like the originals if you use Makara Cinnamon (available at the Cinnabon Stands) instead of conventional powdered cinnamon from the supermarket.

CINNAMON ROLLS - A CLONE OF CINNABON

Steps:

• For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.
• Add the sugar, margarine, salt, eggs, and flour, and mix well.
• Knead the dough, using your hands dusted lightly with flour (I am lazy and use a stand mixer). After kneading, roll the dough into a ball, place in large bowl and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is ~ 21" long and 16" wide. It should be ~ ¼ " thick.
• For the filling, combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread softened margarine evenly over the surface of the dough, and then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over the surface.
• Working carefully from the top (a 21" side) roll the dough down to the bottom edge.
• Cut the rolled dough into 1 ¾ " slices and evenly place them in a lightly greased baking pan. Place them with 1.5 " of space on all sides to allow for additional rising. (Your pan will look very empty, trust me...if you space them, they will grow).
• Place your baking pan in a warm place for at least one hour. (the longer you allow them to rise this time the larger the rolls will rise, and the lighter and fluffier the dough will become, I let them rise to fill the pan (a couple of hours)).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Bake rolls for ~10 min or until lightly browned on top. (remember residual heat will continue to bake the rolls after you take them out of the oven).
• While the rolls bake, combine icing ingredients. Beat well with electric mixer until fluffy.
• Generously coat the rolls with icing while the rolls are still hot, this will cause the icing to melt into the roll.
• * Vietnamese Cassia Cinnamon - This may seem to be a trivial point, however, this cinnamon is what takes your cinnamon rolls to the next level; one trip to the spice store and smelling the differences in the cinnamon and you'll know why. I am sure its available at several stores, I pick it up at Penzey's Spices.

CINNAMON ROLLS (LIKE CINNABON)

Steps:

• 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.
• Melt the butter in the microwave.
• 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.
• Now make the filling: Combine brown sugar, flour, corn starch, and cinnamon in small bowl. Mix well.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Place 6 rolls on lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan (so you should have 2 pans of 6 rolls each).
• Cover pans with moist towel (any clean kitchen towel will do) and let rise in a warm place for another hour.
• 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).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes until they are lightly golden on top.
• 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.
• When rolls are done, remove from oven and cool for about 4 minutes, then spread icing on top of rolls. Enjoy.