Cinnamon Melts - McDonald's

By BlueSchmoo

Everyone knows the center of a cinnamon roll is the best part. With that in mind, McDonald's designed a cinnamon pastry where every bite is coated with the same deliciously gooey cinnamon and brown sugar filling that you discover only after working your way through the dry, doughy part of traditional cinnamon rolls. It's sort of like monkey bread, whereby chunks of dough are tossed in cinnamon sugar and then baked in a deep cake pan. The difference with this clone of the McDonald's version is that the filling is mixed with margarine and spooned onto the dough chunks in layers. And you bake this in small, single-serving portions. As it turns out, a Texas-size muffin tin, which has cups that are about twice the size of a standard muffin tin, is the perfect pan for this. You can also use disposable aluminum pot pie pans that many markets carry. Since this recipe makes a dozen servings, dig this: After the cinnamon melts have cooled, cover and freeze them. When you need a quick breakfast pastry or late-night snack, simply remove a melt from the pan, microwave for 35 seconds, or until hot (this is how McDonald's heats it, too), and you're instantly teleported to cinnamon roll paradise.

Source: "Top Secret Recipes Unlocked" by Todd Wilbur.

Ingredients

• 1 package active dry yeast (1/4 ounce)
• 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F.)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup margarine, melted
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• __________________________________________
• SERVES 3
• 1 / tsp + 1/32 tsp dry yeast
• 2 Tbsp warm water (105 to 110 degrees F.)
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp whole milk
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp margarine, melted
• 1/2 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp margarine, melted
• 1 Tbsp margarine, softened
• 2 Tbsp cup (1 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 6 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 3/4 tsp whole milk
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Details

Servings 12
Cooking time 150mins
Adapted from topsecretrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Everyone knows the center of a cinnamon roll is the best part. With that in mind, McDonald's designed a cinnamon pastry where every bite is coated with the same deliciously gooey cinnamon and brown sugar filling that you discover only after working your way through the dry, doughy part of traditional cinnamon rolls. It's sort of like monkey bread, whereby chunks of dough are tossed in cinnamon sugar and then baked in a deep cake pan. The difference with this clone of the McDonald's version is that the filling is mixed with margarine and spooned onto the dough chunks in layers. And you bake this in small, single-serving portions. As it turns out, a Texas-size muffin tin, which has cups that are about twice the size of a standard muffin tin, is the perfect pan for this. You can also use disposable aluminum pot pie pans that many markets carry. Since this recipe makes a dozen servings, dig this: After the cinnamon melts have cooled, cover and freeze them. When you need a quick breakfast pastry or late-night snack, simply remove a melt from the pan, microwave for 35 seconds, or until hot (this is how McDonald's heats it, too), and you're instantly teleported to cinnamon roll paradise.

1. To make the dough, dissolve the yeast in the warm water in a small bowl or measuring cup and let it sit for 5 minutes.

2. Use an electric mixer to combine the sugar with the milk and melted margarine in a large bowl. Mix in the eggs and salt. Mix in 1 cup of the flour. When the flour is combined, mix in 1 more cup of flour. Mix in the yeast solution, and then stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour with a wooden spoon. Use your hands to form the dough into a ball, and then put the dough back into the bowl, cover it, and store it in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours.

3. Mix the filling ingredients together in a medium bowl, and then cover it until needed.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

8. As the cinnamon melts cool, make the icing by mixing the margarine and cream cheese together with an electric mixer on high speed. Add the powdered sugar and mix slowly until all of the powdered sugar is incorporated. Add the milk and vanilla, then mix again on high speed until smooth and fluffy.

Makes 1 dozen.