Easy Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls are a holiday breakfast staple in my home. Don’t let the number of steps in this recipe keep you from trying it – this is actually quite easy to make. Although I usually use traditional, animal-based ingredients when I make them for my family, I have also successfully made these cinnamon rolls using only vegan ingredients – and my family never knew the difference (shhhh!).

Ingredients:

• 4 – 4 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package active dry yeast (OR 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast)
• 1 cup milk (OR 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk)
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup butter (OR 1/3 cup vegan butter)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs (OR 2 flax eggs)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted (OR 3 tablespoons melted vegan butter)
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups of the flour and yeast; set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan heat and stir milk, the 1/3 cup sugar, the 1/3 cup butter, and salt just until warm (120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and butter almost melts.
3. Add milk mixture and eggs to dry mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, until all of the flour is incorporated.
4. Remove bowl from the mixer. Add as much of the remaining flour as possible, stirring by hand.
5. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3 to 5 minutes total), and then shape the dough into a ball. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl; turn once to grease dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour).
6. Punch dough down and dump on a lightly floured surface. Divide in half, and then cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
7. Lightly grease two 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pans.
8. Roll each portion of the dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle. Brush the 3 tablespoons melted butter over the dough. Combine the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough. Roll up into a spiral, starting from a long side, and then seal the seam.
9. Slice each roll into 12 equal pieces. Place in prepared pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double (about 30 minutes).
10. Bake in 375 degree Fahrenheit oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden.
11. Serve warm and enjoy!

Nutrition Information: Serving size: 1 roll | Servings per recipe: 24 | Calories: 161, total fat: 5 g, saturated fat: 1 g, cholesterol: 19 mg, sodium: 103 mg, carbohydrates: 31 g, fiber: 1 g, sugar: 13 g, protein: 3 g.

*Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Last updated December 13, 2021