Blue Ribbon Cinnamon Rolls

Happy Sunday friends! Ok why blue ribbon cinnamon rolls, I don't know just because they are really good and I think they deserve a blue ribbon if I held a cinnamon roll contest and mine was the only entry. So there, blue ribbon cinnamon rolls!  
This recipe you will find has a secret ingredient, orange zest in the cinnamon filling part. The orange zest adds a brightness to the cinnamon rolls and cuts down on the sweetness of the cinnamon filling.
On to the recipe!

First, gather together your ingredients.
1 package active yeast, 3/4 cup milk, warmed (110°F), 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 4 eggs, 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into chunks.

For the filling:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cubed, 2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, finely grated zest of 1 large orange, 1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tsp. water

For the cream cheese frosting:
1/2 lb. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1 cup powdered sugar.

To make the dough, in your mixing bowl put in the warmed milk and dissolve the package of yeast into the milk. Let the two ingredients sit for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to bubble up and become foamy.

After the yeast is foamy, add the sugar, the eggs, the flour and salt. 


Using the dough hook on your mixer, gently mix all the ingredients together so they all come to together slightly.

 Add in the cubed butter. Turn the mixer on for 7 minutes to allow the mixer to knead the dough. After the dough is kneaded, in a lightly oiled bowl, add the dough to the bowl and let the dough rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. 


After the dough has risen, punch it down. 

On a floured surface, knead the bowl a few times and then divide the dough into two sections. Roll out one section of the dough into a rectangle. 




Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle half of the cinnamon filling onto the melted butter. 

Then zest an orange over the cinnamon filling. 



Roll the dough up long wise and roll it up tightly and cut the dough into 8 pieces. 


In your greased 9X13 pan, add the 8 pieces of dough. Repeat the steps with the second section of dough and add those 8 pieces to the pan. 

Cover the cinnamon rolls with a piece of plastic wrap and place them in the oven overnight. 
The next morning, preheat your oven to 400F degrees. Lightly beat one egg and add 1 teaspoon of water. Brush the egg and water mixture over the tops of the cinnamon rolls before you pop them in the oven. Once you complete this, put the cinnamon rolls into the oven and let them bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. 


While the cinnamon rolls are cooking, make the cream cheese spread. In your mixing bowl, cream the cream cheese first for a few minutes. Add in the butter and vanilla into the mixing bowl. Finally, add in the powdered sugar. When the cinnamon rolls are baked, pull them out of the oven and spread the ooey-gooey cream cheese spread over the cinnamon rolls. 

recipe from here
Then serve, eat and enjoy!



21 comments:

REBrown said...

These look so good! I'm terrible at making cinnamon rolls.

Faith said...

This looks so good!! I just want to jump through the screen and take a bite!!!

Allyson McGuire said...

These look so yum, and I love that they're done the night before - easy peasy!

Allyson
http://cupcakescandycanes.blogspot.com

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Oh wow these look heavenly!!!

Michelle said...

Yum that looks so good!

Cassandra said...

Looks delicious! Will have to them a try!

Julie said...

Yum yum yum!! I've never seen homemade cinnamon rolls...I have to try this!!

Megan said...

Oh my gosh, these look amazing!!! Maybe one day I will stop being lazy and make them from scratch. Haha!!

Kelsey Claire said...

They look amazing. I will call them blue ribbon winning and I haven't even tasted them, but they just look it!

Kara Renee said...

Oh man, that dough looks fantastic! I've never done homemade cinnamon rolls before. Might have to try this out, especially with the orange!

Ashley @ Life with Kids said...

These sound great!! My mom used to make cinnamon rolls on Christmas Day, she did two kinds a cinnamon and then an orange one. She put the zest in the dough and then just an orange/sugar/zest filling with the cream cheese frosting. SO good, I LOVE the idea of combining the two!

♥ Ashley

atparsons.blogspot.com

Hilliary Meisner said...

Oh my, these look amazing! I am a sucker for cinnamon rolls smothered in amazing frosting! I really need to make my own sometime! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

Jamie said...

Those look absolutely amazing!! I am drooling over then right now!

I will most definitely have to try these soon :)

Happy Monday!

<3 Jamie

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

These look so good!!

Kasey Lynne said...

Seriously?
You KILL me with all of your food posts. My mouth is watering.

Kristin said...

dang girl again?? can we be roomies please??

Bon @ A Golden Afternoon said...

mmm. I love the orange zest in there to liven it up :)

Charlotte said...

Holy moly! Yummy yummy yummy!!

Jessica said...

These look delicious! I love the idea of adding orange zest.

cheryl denise said...

i've been looking for a good cinnamon roll recipe - can't wait to try these!!

a peek of chic

Christina said...

I love cinnamon rolls!!! I never thought about adding orange zest. YUM!