For best results, these Cinnamon Rolls are best in my opinion when made and baked on the same day. You can, however, store them in the fridge overnight and bake them the next morning but don't leave them in the fridge for more than 9-10 hours. After you have sprinkled the cinnamon sugar mixture and rolled the dough and cut into pieces, place the rolls into your prepared baking dish. Cover well with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight. When you are ready to bake, take the cinnamon rolls out and bring to room temperature and let them rise for about 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking. You want them to double in size before baking. *If you want more molasses flavor, use dark brown sugar **If you can't find the Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread, just use Land O Lakes unsalted butter (room temp) to spread on the dough. You just need enough to cover the dough.
8tablespoons (1 stick)Land O Lakes® Unsalted Buttermelted
1cupwarm milkwhole milk or 2%
1large egg
3cupsall-purpose flour + more if needed
¼teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
For the filling:
¾cuplight or dark brown sugar*
2 to 3tablespoonsground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground cloves
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
1/2 to 1cup Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread**at room temperature
For the glaze frosting:
4ouncescream cheeseroom temp
2tablespoonsLand O Lakes® Unsalted Buttersoftened
1 ½cupspowdered sugarsifted
1teaspoonvanilla extract
¼teaspoonsalt
Instructions
For the dough:
Using your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, place the yeast and sugar into the bowl. Slowly pour in the warm water and stir together gently just a few times. Let sit until the yeast has doubled and is puffed and foamy on top, for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Add in the melted butter, warm milk and egg, and stir to combine. Add in the flour, salt and vanilla. Using your stand mixer again, knead the dough with the dough hook until the dough is smooth and forms a ball, for about 6 to 8 minutes. I start out using a low setting on my stand mixer and then go to just a slightly faster setting for just a little as the dough beings to form a ball. The dough will be very sticky but that's ok.
Remove the dough from the bowl and place onto a lightly floured work surface. Use a little flour if the dough is really sticky to help you shape into a ball and place into a large greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap, and then with a kitchen towel (or two). Let the dough rise in a warm area for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size. I like to leave my bowl next to my oven.
For the filling:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Using a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg. Generously grease a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside. Remove your dough from the bowl and place onto a lightly floured work surface. Make sure this is a surface you can cut on, as you will be slicing the rolls later.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle shape. Spread the Land O Lakes® Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread evenly over the dough and then sprinkle on the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the entire top.
To assemble the rolls:
Starting with the bottom end, pull the edge up and over the filling and carefully roll the dough into a log, like rolling a sleeping bag; trying to keep it as tight as you can, while gently working with the dough.
Using a very sharp knife, cut the log into evenly sized pieces and place the rolls into your prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, for about 30 minutes.
To Bake:
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If you want a more gooey center, bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before spreading on the glaze frosting.
For the glaze frosting:
Combine the cream cheese, Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt and whisk together until smooth and well combined. You can do this by hand, in your stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer.