Cinnamon Rolls - Homemade (Copy Cat Cinnabon Recipe)

By Rose-3

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 Tbls. ground cinnamon
• (2) .25 oz. pks. active dry yeast (I use 2 TB instant yeast)
• 1 tsp. granulated sugar
• 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup melted butter OR margarine
• 1 cup 110 degree water (approximately)
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs – slightly beaten
• Up to 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans – (optional, but so good)
• 1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

Details

Servings 12
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 55mins
Adapted from beautyandbedlam.com

Preparation

Step 1

Instructions

Mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and the cinnamon; set aside (this will be used later to spread on dough)

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in warm water; set aside (if using instant yeast, you can skip this step)

In a large bowl, mix together milk, 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup melted butter, salt, and eggs; add yeast mixture and 4 cups of flour to mixture; beat until smooth; stir in enough flour to form a slightly stiff dough.

Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead for 8 minutes. I always know when my dough is finished kneading (either by hand or machine) when it can stretch quite well. It must be elastic enough.

Place dough into a large greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 – 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down dough and let rest for 5 minutes.

Roll dough out onto a floured surface into a 15″ X 20″ rectangle.

Brush 1/2 cup melted butter over dough; sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over dough; sprinkle nuts evenly over dough, if desired.

Tightly roll up dough and pinch edges together to seal; cut the roll into 12 – 15 slices using dental floss or thread.

Coat the bottom of a 13″ X 9″ X 2″ baking pan with 1/2 cup melted butter; sprinkle 1/3 cup sugar evenly in the bottom of the pan. (When attempting to make these a little bit of a lower fat version, I do not do this. If I do, then make sure after they are done baking, that you flip the pan over so that all the delicious drippings go onto the rolls.)

Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the prepared pan; cover pan and allow to rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or just eye ball them.

Bake rolls in a 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes, or until golden brown.