Best Sarah Michaelsens Cinnamon Rolls Recipes

CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• For the dough: Heat the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.
• Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, and then cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (The dough is easier to work with if it's been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)
• To assemble the rolls, remove half of the dough from the pan. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 by 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.
• For the filling: Pour 3/4 to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the granulated sugar over the butter. Don't be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.
• Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don't worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you're finished, you'll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.
• Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and, with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices. One "log" will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)
• Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking.
• Remove the towel and bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Don't allow the rolls to become overly brown.
• While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee and salt. Splash in the maple flavoring. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add more maple, sugar, butter or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.
• Remove the pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle the icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing's moisture and flavor. They only get better with time... not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It'll seal the relationship for life. I promise.

CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to form a 15 by 7-inch rectangle. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. Spread 2/3 cup softened butter over dough and then evenly sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Starting at the long edge, roll up dough as for a jelly roll. Cut roll into 16 slices and then set aside in a warm place and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Divide rolls among 2 lightly buttered round baking pans. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden on top. While the rolls are baking, combine the icing ingredients with an electric mixer until fluffy. Frost the warm rolls with the icing. Serve warm.

SARAH MICHAELSEN'S CINNAMON ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. Combine butter, salt, sugar, hot water, hot potato water, and hot mashed potatoes into a bowl and stir until the butter melts.
• 2. In a separate bowl, combine the yeast with the warm water and allow time to activate. Add yeast mixture to the potato water mixture and stir. Stir in beaten eggs. Next, add flour to the water mixture, one cup at a time, stirring after each cup, until a soft dough forms.
• 3. Turn out onto a floured surface and start kneading until smooth, about seven minutes. Place dough into a greased bowl, turning o grease all sides. Cover, and let rise until double, about 1 hour.
• 4. Roll dough into a long rectangle and spread softened butter over top. Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over top of dough. Roll up jelly-roll style, long way, and cut into 24 equal pieces. Place rolls into two 9x13 pans. Cover and let rise until double, about 30 minutes. Bake in a 350-degree oven until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.
• 5. Let rolls cool for about 10 minutes. Combine frosting ingredients and spread over rolls.