Our favorite Cinnamon Rolls
This weekend we're celebrating our oldest daughters' 10th birthday. For her birthday breakfast request she asked for the famous Welk Cinnamon Rolls and tea. My father-in-law taught me how to make his special recipe, so really these should be called Bompa's Rolls!
Traditions are a big thing in our family and Birthday breakfast is one of the favs. You get to request whatever sounds good to you, Aaron and I decorate the table the night before and the first gift of their birthday is waiting on their plate. So, as a gift from Bella, here's the famous recipe! I'm pretty sure you'll be requesting it on your birthday too.
CINNAMON ROLLS
makes 12 rolls
DOUGH INGREDIENTS:
1 1/8 cup warm water
3 Tb sugar
1 1/2 Tb yeast
2 Tb butter, softened
1 1/2 Tb dry milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour
DOUGH TOPPING:
1 stick of butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 Tb cinnamon
FROSTING:
6 Tb butter, softened
2 Tb milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups Powdered Sugar
If you have a bread machine place all of the dough ingredients in and let it do the work.
If you do not have a bread machine, combine the warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl, or the electric mixer with the dough kneading attachment. Pour the yeast in to the sugar water mixture, give it a stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. Bubbles will start forming on the top of the water. Then add in the butter, dry milk and salt. Stir then start adding the flour one cup at a time. Mix until it as formed a ball of dough, then turn it out onto a floured counter and knead it for 5 minutes (or allow the electric mixer kneed it). Return the dough ball to the mixing bowl, cover it with a clean tea towel, set in a warm spot and let it rise for 45 minutes. It will double in size.
Once the dough has risen, get the counter ready to roll it out. Put a small amount of flour down to keep it from sticking, then roll it into a large rectangle. It should be about 2 feet long and 1 1/2 feet wide. Soften the stick of butter and spread it over the dough triangle. Sprinkle the dough evenly with the sugar and cinnamon.
Spray your 9 X 13 baking pan so it's ready to be filled.
From the long side of the dough start gently rolling it up into a long log. You want to keep as much air in the dough as possible so don't roll it too tightly. With a serrated knife gently cut the dough into 12 similar sized pieces. The easiest way that I've found to do this is to cut the entire log in half, then cut each of those halves in half, then each of those pieces into thirds.
Place the rolls in the prepared pan giving them space in between. Cover the pan with a clean towel and let rise for 20 minutes in a warm spot. My microwave tends to be a good place. Since it's above the stove I turn the light on (the one on the bottom of the microwave that shines on the stove) the light creates the perfect amount of heat in the microwave. Just don't accidentally turn the microwave on ;)
Preheat your oven to 350. Once the rolls have risen in the pan bake for 20-25 minutes. You want the tops to be slightly browned.
While the rolls are cooling mix up your frosting. You want the rolls to be fairly cool before putting the frosting on, otherwise it will all melt and run off the sides.
If you're having breakfast with Bella, make some tea and enjoy!
