Best Cinnamon Buns Ever

These cinnamon buns are easy to make and even easier to eat. Seriously addictive...you've been warned!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1  1/4 cups milk

4 1/2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

4 1/2 tsps (2 pkgs) rapid rise yeast

2 eggs, room temperature

Cinnamon sugar filling:

6 tbsps butter, for spreading

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tsps cinnamon

Frosting:

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup cream cheese

2 cups icing sugar

2 tsps maple syrup

1/2 tsp maple or vanilla extract

Place butter and milk in a saucepan and heat until milk reaches 105°F and the butter is mostly melted. You will still see some soft lumps but that's ok.

Combine the flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large mixer bowl. Pour the butter/milk mixture into the dry mix along with the eggs.

Stir about 2 minutes or just until a shaggy ball forms then cover with dish towel and let sit 5-10 minutes. 

Knead using dough hook for 5 minutes. Or you could of course knead by hand.  I added an extra 2 tbsps flour at this point but the dough should still be tacky/sticky. Form into a ball and place in a large buttered bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place 30 minutes.

Turn the now puffed-up ball onto a floured surface and flour the top. Gently roll out to about 24 X 15".

Spread the butter all over.

Then combine the rest of the cinnamon sugar filling ingredients together and sprinkle over the butter.

Roll up the dough from the long side gently but firmly and pinch to seal the edge. Mark out 12 equal pieces. Use a piece of dental floss to cut, it won't squish the slice like a knife might. Just slide a length of floss under the roll, bring the ends up, cross them over and pull. It makes a nice clean cut.

Place the slices in a greased 13 X 9" baking dish and again cover with plastic wrap for 30 minutes.  If your kitchen is warm the counter is fine, but if not put the dish in the oven with the oven light on to create a little heat. Once they've risen up remove from oven and take off the plastic wrap.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 30 minutes.

Cool 10-15 minutes. While waiting prepare the frosting. Cream the butter and cream cheese together along with the maple syrup and extract. Add the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Slather the frosting all over the top of the cinnamon buns.

 

Cut and serve while warm.

Enough pictures! Get in my mouth!