Ooey Gooey Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Without the Fuss

There’s no better way to start off a cold January morning than with a warm, melt in your mouth pastry.

Every year as the cold days set in, my family makes homemade cinnamon rolls with hand-rolled dough, ooey gooey butter and lots of cinnamon and sugar that we sprinkle (but, really pour) on the dough.

Maybe this sounds time consuming, but take it from my family and I, they are worth the effort.

Try this no-fuss recipe that is sure to start your cold days off with the perfect amount of sweetness.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of instant yeast
• 1 cup of unsweetened Almond Milk
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon of sugar, divided

Recipe:

1. In a large sauce pan, heat the milk and 3 tablespoons of butter (or put it in a  bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds) until warm and melted, never reaching boiling. Then, Remove from heat and let cool. Note: It should be warm but not too hot or it will kill the yeast.
2. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle on the yeast. Let activate for 10 minutes, then add one tablespoon of sugar and the salt and stir.
3. Next add a 1/2 cup of flour at a time, stirring as you go. The dough will be sticky. When it is too thick to stir, transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for a minute or so until it forms a loose ball.
4. Put your dough ball back into the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for about one hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Lightly flour a surface, roll out the dough into a thin rectangle. Brush with three tablespoons of melted butter and top with 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 – one tablespoon of cinnamon (or as much as you want!)
6. Starting at one end, tightly roll up the dough. Then with a knife, cut the dough into sections and position in a well-buttered 8×8 square pan or round pan (you should have about 10 rolls). Brush the pans with the remaining butter and cover with plastic wrap. Set on top of the oven to let rise again while you pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Once the oven is hot, bake rolls for 25-30 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Let them cool for a few minutes and then serve immediately.

Optional: Frost with cream cheese frosting or a simple mixture of powdered sugar and milk.