Cinnamon Buns with Cream Cheese Frosting

Over the weekend we decided that after one year of living in our home, it was time to put grass in the front yard rather than the dirt mounds and overgrown weeds that occupied this space. Saturday morning the sod was delivered, it was a huge project looming over us. Then they came, our wonderful friends and neighbors that came on out to help us out in anyway possible. Dan, Dave (and Kids), Billy and assorted significant others (Jenn, Cherelyn). We are so blessed to have such great people in our lives. So we said thank you and paid them in the only way we knew how...with food.

While the boys hauled 40 pound rolls of grass all over the yard, Charisse made sticky, gooey, delicious cinnamon buns. They were to die for! And just what the "hired help" needed. These sweet little buns disappeared in the blink of the eye. Don't expect any leftovers, especially when they are topped off with a generous dollop of cream cheese frosting!  The end result: A beautiful front yard and filled tummies!



Pictures and Recipe after the break

Dough
What you Will Need

1 cup milk
3 Tbs unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 sugar
1 egg
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt

Melt butter into the milk and pour into large mixing bowl (use your stand mixer if you have one).  Add 1 cup flour, sugar, egg, yeast and salt.  Using your paddle attachment, beat on low until the mixture gets sticky and all the flour is incorporated.  Add the rest of the flour and beat until mixed.  If the dough is still too sticky add 1 Tbs of flour at a time until a ball forms.  Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and hand knead for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer dough to the bowl, turning to coat.  Cover with elastic wrap, then a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in volume (around 2 hrs.)

Cinnamon Filling
What you Will Need

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbs cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
pinch of salt


Preheat oven to 375*

In a bowl combine all ingredients

Press down dough and transfer to a floured work surface.  Grab your rolling pin and roll out dough to a 15x11 inch rectangle.  Spread the butter evenly on surface and then sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over butter.

Starting with the long side, roll dough into log, pinching the end to seal, turn seam down.

Trim the ends straight and using a serrated knife, cut dough into 3/4 inch slices.

Spray a large baking dish (or 2 smaller ones) with non-stick spray, and arrange the buns, leaving a little space in between each bun.  Cover with towel and let rise until doubled in volume.  Make sure not to hurry this part (if they are not rising after 1 hour, warm your oven to 100*, turn off and place the covered buns inside until doubled.

Bake about 20 minutes until golden brown but do not over cook or they will get a little tough.  Let cool about 10 minutes before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
What You Will Need

8 ounces cream cheese
2 cups powered sugar
1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth.  Frost the buns generously and serve warm.

adapted from SmittenKitchen.com