Cinnamon Rolls

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls are always a hit any time of year.

This post was originally published in December 2015. The pictures have been updated.

We have a tradition in our house; Christmas morning we always have homemade cinnamon rolls on the table for breakfast. Christmas breakfast is a pretty big deal.  My mom always sets the table the night before.  It always looks beautiful and festive.  

The actual breakfast is a sit down affair with all 20+ of us.  On the menu:  eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, homemade hot chocolate, coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, and homemade cinnamon rolls.  Sometimes the menu will vary slightly. But I don’t think there has ever been a year without cinnamon rolls.  On the years we don’t travel to my parents’ house for Christmas, cinnamon rolls are on our breakfast table too.

Cinnamon rolls are my mom’s specialty!  These do double duty for other special occasions…Easter, family events…or any other time she feels like baking.  We often bake these the day before a big breakfast.  On Christmas morning, they are wrapped in foil and heated in the oven for about 15 minutes.  If you are reheating before serving, add the glaze after they are reheated.

Making cinnamon rolls is fun…especially the rolling out part!  I try to roll as thin as possible so I can get as much cinnamon and sugar in there as possible.

This isn’t a really sweet dough.  I let all the sweetness come from the cinnamon sugar and the glaze.

Are you a glazed cinnamon roll person, or an un-glazed?  I’m all about the glaze…as long as it is thin!  I don’t want a thick frosting to overshadow the cinnamon roll.  The cinnamon roll is the star here…the glaze is just a supporting flavor!

5 from 3 votes

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Cinnamon Rolls

Prep Time

2 hrs

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 25 mins

 

Sweet rolls with cinnamon

Course: Bread, Breakfast

Servings: 18 rolls

Calories: 146 kcal

Author: Kathy

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk warmed
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast or one package
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 3 whole eggs
• 1/2 cup butter melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 - 5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Filling

• 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter melted

Glaze

• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 Tablespoons milk.

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl add milk, yeast and sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes until yeast is bubbly.
2. Add eggs, butter, salt and 2 cups of flour. Mix
3. With mixer running, continue adding flour 1 cup at a time. You might not need all the flour.
4. Knead for 5 minutes in a stand mixer or 10 minutes by hand.
5. Place in a well greased bowl and cover.
6. Let stand until doubled, 60-90 minutes.
7. Punch down and place on a flat surface.

Forming the Rolls

1. Roll out into a 12 x 18" rectangle.

2. Brush with melted butter 

3. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. Sprinkle entire mixture on top of rolled dough.

4. Roll dough into a log and seal seam.

5. Cut into 1" slices and place in a greased baking dish.

6. Let rise 30-45 minutes

7. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

8. Let cool in dish slightly in baking dish.

9. Mix glaze ingredients together and pour over baked cinnamon rolls while still slightly warm. 

Nutrition Facts

Cinnamon Rolls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 146 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 24mg 8%

Sodium 212mg 9%

Potassium 35mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 15g 5%

Sugars 14g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 5.8%

Calcium 2.5%

Iron 0.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Pork Breakfast Sausage

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