Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

DOUGH

• ½ cup  unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups  whole milk, warm to the touch
• ½ cup  granulated sugar
• 1 packet  2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 5 cups  flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon  baking powder
• 2 teaspoons  salt

FILLING

• ¾ cup  butter softened
• ¾ cup  light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons  ground cinnamon

FROSTING

• 4 oz  cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons  butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons  whole milk
• 1 teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1 cup  powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Generously butter two disposable foil pie/cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, melted butter, and granulated sugar. The mixture should be just warm, registering between 100-110˚F (37-43˚C). If it is hotter, allow cooling slightly.
3. Sprinkle the yeast evenly over the warm mixture and let sit for 1 minute.
4. Add 4 cups (500g) of all-purpose flour to the milk mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
5. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
6. After 1 hour, the dough should have nearly doubled in size.
7. Remove the towel and add an additional ¾ cup (95g) of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Stir well, then turn out onto a well-floured surface.
8. Knead the dough lightly, adding additional flour as necessary, until the dough just loses its stickiness and does not stick to the surface.
9. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about ½-inch (1 cm) thick. Fix corners to make sure they are sharp and even.
10. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough.
11. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
12. Press the mixture into the butter.
13. Roll up the dough, forming a log, and pinch the seam closed. Place seam-side down. Trim off any unevenness on either end.
14. Cut the log in half, then divide each half into 7 evenly sized pieces. About 1½ inches (8cm) thick each.
15. Place 7 cinnamon rolls in each cake pan, one in the center, six around the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes.
16. Preheat oven the JUNE to 350˚F
17. To prepare the frosting. In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese, butter, whole milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar, until smooth.
18. Remove plastic wrap. Bake the cinnamon rolls in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
19. While still warm, drizzle evenly with frosting.
20. Enjoy!