25 Days of Christmas Recipes - Cinnamon Rolls

This is a must at my house for Christmas - cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. My family tradition was always to get an orange in our stocking, then we'd sit down and have breakfast together of oranges and homemade cinnamon rolls. Now, I make them the night before, and save the last rise for Christmas morning so I am not slaving in the kitchen.

Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:
2 tsp. yeast
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup warm milk
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix the yeast, 2 tsp. sugar, and warm water. Set aside to allow the yeast to activate. In a separate bowl, mix the salt, oil, and 1/3 cup sugar. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add the eggs and warm milk. Slowly stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is firm enough to form a ball (should not be sticky).
2. Cover the dough and allow to rise until double in size (about 2 hours).
3. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Pour melted butter over surface and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up dough, jellyroll style. Using plain dental floss to cut (slide floss underneath dough and wrap around to cut off pieces), cut rolls approximately 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches thick.
4. Place on lightly greased pan and bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. While rolls are baking, combine ingredients for icing and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. When the rolls are done, spread icing on while warm.
4.

Brush the tops of the rolls lightly with butter and bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.