A cinnamon roll is a sweet roll served commonly in Northern Europe and North America. In North America, it is most often served as breakfast. It consists of a rolled sheet of yeast-leavened dough onto which a mixture of butter, sugar, and cinnamon is spread. The dough is then rolled, cut into individual rolls, and baked.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
- In a small saucepan, heat milk, water, sugar, and salt until just warm and sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted. Sprinkle yeast over top and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Make a well in the centre and pour in milk mixture. With a wooden spoon or your hands, mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine softened butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16-inch (40 cm) long rectangle. Spread cinnamon mixture over top, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border. Sprinkle with raisins and nuts, if using.
- Starting at the long end, roll up dough into a log. Cut log into 12 equal pieces and place in a greased 9-inch (23 cm) baking pan. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Bake rolls for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together icing sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Drizzle over rolls.
Potential changes & improvements
If you want a sweeter roll, you can add more sugar to the filling. For a less sweet roll, you can reduce the amount of sugar. You can also add other spices to the filling, such as nutmeg or cloves. If you don’t like raisins, you can leave them out or substitute them with other dried fruits, such as Cranberries or apricots.
What other food it works well with
Cinnamon rolls can be served with a variety of foods, such as eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, or fruit. They can also be enjoyed on their own as a snack or dessert.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake when making cinnamon rolls is not rolling the dough out thinly enough. The dough should be rolled out into a rectangle that is about 16 inches long and 12 inches wide. If the dough is rolled out too thick, the rolls will be dense and not as fluffy. Another mistake is not cutting the rolls evenly. When cutting the log of dough into rolls, be sure to use a sharp knife and cut them into even pieces so that they bake evenly.
Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1 roll
Calories: 290
Fat: 14 g
Saturated fat: 8 g
Cholesterol: 36 mg
Sodium: 360 mg
Carbohydrates: 37 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 18 g
Protein: 4 g
Allergens
Wheat, milk, eggs, nuts