The Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Ever Food

THE BEST CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• Whisk together the whole milk and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit 10 minutes to dissolve; you will see a few bubbles, but the mixture won't be foamy. Whisk together the granulated sugar, eggs and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt in a small bowl.
• Add the bread flour, whole-wheat flour, milk powder and beaten eggs to the yeast and mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Fit the bowl in place on the stand mixer and fit the mixer with the dough hook. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together but is still slightly tough, about 3 minutes. Increase the speed to high and add 10 tablespoons of the butter a tablespoon at a time (the dough will look broken after each addition, but it will eventually come together) and beat until the dough is smooth, elastic and very tacky but pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 12 minutes. (This may seem like a long time, but the texture of the bread improves with a long knead time.) Alternatively, knead the dough on a surface lightly dusted with bread flour, adding 1 tablespoon of butter at a time, until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area until it has a buttery, yeasty smell and has doubled in volume, 30 to 45 minutes. (If your kitchen is warm, check it at 35 minutes. It should smell buttery and yeasty, and if it's doubled, it's done. If not, check again in 10 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, whisk together the dark brown sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl until no lumps of sugar remain. Smash in the remaining 12 tablespoons butter with a rubber spatula and stir until completely combined.
• Place a large sheet of parchment paper on a clean work surface and heavily dust with bread flour. Gently deflate the dough by lifting it up around the edges and letting it fall back into the bowl, turning the bowl and repeating if needed. Place the dough on the paper. Roll the dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle, pushing the edges towards the center to make straight sides. Spread the brown sugar mixture over the dough in an even layer, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges. Starting from a long end and using the parchment to help you, tightly roll the dough into a log, pressing the sides occasionally to keep them flush. Transfer to a baking sheet and freeze for 20 minutes to firm up the dough.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan. Cut the dough crosswise into 12 pieces and arrange them cut-side up in the pan in a uniform 3-by-4 grid. There will be about 1/4 inch between each roll and that's ok, the rolls will fill in the gaps as they proof and bake. Let rise, uncovered, in a warm, draft-free area, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the cinnamon rolls until golden brown on top and baked all the way through, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for about 30 minutes before glazing.
• Meanwhile, whisk the confectioners' sugar, cream, vanilla and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl until smooth and creamy, adding more cream if necessary to make a thick glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cinnamon rolls and serve warm.

THE PERFECT CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• PROOF THE YEAST: Warm the milk and water to 110° to 115°. Mix in the sugar and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes, it should be frothy after 10 minutes.
• BREAD MAKER: In a bread maker, add the proofed yeast first, then egg, then butter, then salt. Add the flour last. Set the bread maker the dough setting.
• DOUGH BY HAND: In a large bowl mix proofed yeast, melted butter, salt and egg. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes. Place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Once the dough is ready (from either bread maker or by hand), punch down dough. Roll out on a floured surface into an approximated 15 by 9-inch rectangle (1/2 inch in thickness).
• Spread melted butter all over dough. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough.
• Sprinkle with toasted pecans, if using.
• Beginning at the 15-inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal.
• Cut into 12 to 15 slices using a piece of string or floss and place in greased pan. (See picture posted with recipe) You can also use a really sharp knife, but in my experience the knife squishes the rolls.
• Cover rolls and let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour or so.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
• For the icing: mix all the ingredients together and serve over warm rolls.
• REFRIGERATION METHOD: Once the rolls are cut and placed into a greased pan, you can cover and place in refrigerator overnight and just pop them into a pre-heated oven in the morning. ENJOY!