Author Notes
I adapted this recipe from Lauren's Latest by swapping margarine for butter and making extra frosting ... because frosting, but the biggest and most important change is the smear on the bottom of the pan. This adds a gooey cinnamon layer of flavor and texture that will forever and always be a part of any cinnamon roll I make (and it should be in yours too!) —Laura Dembowski
Ingredients
- Dough and Smear
-
3/4 cup
warm water
-
1 packet
active dry yeast
-
1/2 cup
plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
-
1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
-
1/4 cup
milk (I used almond, use what you love)
-
1
large egg
-
1/3 cup
canola oil
-
4 1/2 - 5 cups
all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
-
2 tablespoons
unsalted butter, room temperature
-
1 tablespoon
ground cinnamon
-
3/4 cup
packed light brown sugar
- Filling and Frosting
-
12 tablespoons
unsalted butter, room temperature
-
1 1/4 cups
packed light brown sugar
-
2 1/2 tablespoons
ground cinnamon
-
2 tablespoons
cornstarch
-
8 ounces
cream cheese
-
1 tablespoon
vanilla bean paste
-
1 tablespoon
light corn syrup
-
2 teaspoons
fresh lemon juice
-
3 cups
confectioners sugar
Directions
- Dough and Smear
-
Make the dough. In a large bowl, pour in water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Stir and let proof 5 minutes. When the mixture is bubbly, add remaining ½ cup sugar and salt. Stir to incorporate.
-
In a small bowl, stir together milk, oil, and egg. Add to the yeast mixture and stir to incorporate. Add 2 cups of flour and mix to combine. Add additional flour in ½ cup increments until the dough comes together and is sticky, but not sticky enough to stick to hands. Knead the dough by hand for about 5 minutes. Place the dough in an oiled bowl (the same one is fine), cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a warm place for about 2 hours until at least doubled in size.
-
Prepare the pan. Line a 9 by 13 inch pan with parchment. Butter with the 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Filling and Frosting
-
Make the filling. In a medium sized bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
-
Flour a large, clean surface to roll out the dough. Lightly flour the dough, the rolling pin, and your hands. Roll out dough to a large rectangle, perhaps about 12 by 20 inches, until it is ¼-1/2 inch thick. Just do the best you can – it doesn’t have to be perfect. Spread 4 tablespoons of the butter over the dough and sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over it. Use all of it. Lightly press it into the dough.
-
Starting from one of the long sides of dough, roll into a tight spiral. Cut off the uneven ends. Then cut the roll in half, in half again, and then cut each half into thirds, leaving you with 12 rolls. Place the rolls into the prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours. They should be giant and touching. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
-
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. I highly recommend peeking inside one of the center ones with a fork or knife to be sure it’s cooked.
-
While the rolls bake, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese and remaining stick of butter using a hand or stand mixer. Add vanilla bean paste, corn syrup, and lemon juice and beat to combine. Slowly add confectioners’ sugar while beating on low. Once all the sugar has been added, beat until frosting is light and fluffy.
-
Remove the rolls from the oven and frost immediately with half of the frosting. Allow them to cool a couple minutes and then add more frosting. You can also serve with a dollop of frosting on the side.
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Rolls are best served hot out of the oven, but they may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Warm them in the microwave for 30 seconds. Rolls may also be frozen, wrapped in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for a couple hours or in the microwave for about 1 minute, until warm.
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