OK, so I am a sucker for Cinnamon rolls, ANYTHING sweet actually. It's a terrible thing, but I can't stand it!! I make these cinnamon rolls on special occasions for breakfasts (first day of school, birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas morning, and any other day I deem "special"). These are also fun to give out for Christmas gifts in a circle tin pan smothered in butter, sugary goodness - how can anyone resist, seriously!!!!!
I do have a KitchenAid which makes the process so much more enjoyable!!! But these are dooable (is that a word?) by hand (I've done them that way), they just aren't quite as easy.
*4 cups scalded milk (heated almost to the point of boiling)
*1 cup butter
*2 cups potato flakes
*1 cup sugar
*1 Tblsp Kosher salt
*4 eggs
*2 Tblsp. SAF instant yeast
*flour
*1 cup melted butter, cinnamon and sugar
FROSTING
*2 lb bag powdered sugar
*1/2 cup melted butter
*4 tsp. vanilla (or to taste)
*2 tsp. Maple flavoring (or to taste)
*water
Combine the milk with butter until it is melted, or soft enough to ix in. Add potato flakes, sugar, salt, about 4 cups of flour and yeast. Mix VERY well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing between each addition. Add flour one cup at a time until a nice dough forms. If you are using a KitchenAid or Bosch, it is when the dough comes off of the edge, making the bowl look somewhat clean. Knead the dough with the KitchenAid for a little bit or by hands if you don't have one, until it is elastic. Let rest about 3 minutes, and divide into 2 balls. Wipe shortening on your counter where you will be spreading the dough at.
Spread out dough in a rectangle about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Pour on about 1/2 cup butter and spread evenly. I like to mix my sugar and cinnamon about 1/2 cup sugar to 2 or 3 tblsp cinnamon, I usually just guesstimate and I'm sure I put on more than this, but until I think it looks good. Roll it up jelly roll style, rolling the shorter side (this will help make the hugeness of the cinnamon rolls). Pinch the edges to close. I use dental floss or any other type of string to cut the rolls (a knife for me usually smooshes them). Slide the string underneath and pull the string together above it to cut the cinnamon rolls. Place on a shortening wiped sheet cake pan 3 rolls across. This recipe fills about 2 sheet cake pans full. If you are making these for friends, you can make them smaller or fit about 3 or 4 in a circle pan. Let rise until double in size.
This is a picture of my cinnamon rolls after they are done rising.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes to 20 minutes depending on your oven. They should be browned on top. If you don't get them browned good enough, the middle ones will not be done in the middles. While baking, make the frosting by mixing together the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and maple. Add the water until your desired consistency of glaze.
When they are done SMOTHER these babies with that sugary goodness and let those big babies soak it up!! When they're warm is when they get NICE and GOOEY!! So smother, smother, smother!! Now you can either share these with your friends, or, if you are like me - you might eat the ENTIRE batch!!!!!
