Receipe: Cinnamon Buns

Who does not love cinnamon buns? And these are literally to die for. No really, my co-workers stampede into the lunch room when I make them!

They taste like Cinna-Bon cinnamon buns. Mmmmm....yummmy! They pretty much melt in your mouth.

I tend to make the dough and roll them up and cut them, put them in the pan, and let rise, and then throw them in the fridge covered in Saran Wrap the night before. Get up for work, bake them, put icing on them and run out the door with them. If my husband is home I am usually missing about 4-6 of them before I leave the house as he takes "his" stash.

Now my cheat tip is follow the reciepe using your bread maker (I have alway made them without) and use Quick Rise Yeast. I own a huge 3lb loaf and quite honestly the dough when it rises pushes the lid off. If your breadmaker is smaller you may want to take it out for the rising part. Just place it in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a slightly damp tea towel. Let rise until double.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we all do!

CINNAMON BUNS

Ingredients
DOUGH

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix or 2 vanilla pudding cups (the
pudding cups will give you a stickier but lighter dough)
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

FILLING

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

ICING

• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons milk


Directions

1. In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start.

2. When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle with pecans (optional).

3. Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.