Cinnamon Rolls

All pictures by Sarah Hill (THANK YOU!)

We have a neighbor who has graciously plowed our driveway for the past eighteen winters. The arrangement used to go something like this: when the forecast predicted snow I would make sure I had all the ingredients for cinnamon rolls. The snow would come, I would prepare the dough. The storm would pass and the neighbor would plow the driveway while I baked the rolls. With the driveway cleared, Scott would deliver the warm rolls. It seemed like a fairly good arrangement. Then one year Scott decided it would be a good idea to buy a used snowblower from some friends who were moving to California. When our friend with the plow found out about this disruption he said, "Wait - I thought you were intelligent people! Every time it snows Scott gets his driveway plowed AND warm cinnamon rolls. And now he chooses to blow his own snow and neither of us gets cinnamon rolls?"

Scott claims a belt or some other essential part broke on that snowblower after he used it once or twice. I'm not so sure....

Cinnamon Rolls

Rolls:

½ cup warm water (about 105 degrees)

5 teaspoons instant yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

3 ½ oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix (don't judge me)

2 cups milk

½ cup butter, melted and cooled a bit

2 eggs

2 teaspoons salt

8-9 cups flour (36 to 40 ounces)

Filling:

1 cup butter, softened to room temperature

2 cups light brown sugar

½ cup flour

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Frosting:

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

In a medium bowl combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Whisk until dissolved and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, prepare pudding mix according to package directions (I warm the milk first to about 105 degrees). Add melted butter, eggs and salt; mix briefly. Add yeast mixture and mix until incorporated. Switch to dough hook; gradually add enough flour to make a soft dough; knead about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled. Punch down and let rise again. I always let the dough rise the second time overnight in the fridge. It is much easier to roll out this way.

Prepare the filling by mixing the butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl until a paste forms.

Line three 10-inch cake pans with parchment paper (see photo).

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured counter top to a very large rectangle, about 34" x 21". Using an offset spatula, spread filling over entire surface of dough. Starting on a long side, roll dough into a cylinder. Using your sharpest serrated knife, cut dough into 18 rolls.

Place 6 rolls in each pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise 10 to 15 minutes while oven preheats to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and place pans in oven (I can only fit 2 pans in my oven at a time). Bake about 30 to 35 minutes or until rolls are light brown. While rolls are baking prepare frosting by whisking vanilla, powdered sugar and heavy cream until smooth. Add more cream if necessary to achieve a drizzle. Let rolls rest for 5 to 10 minutes in pans then drizzle with frosting. Serve warm.