Cinnamon Buns

II've been baking for years but only began blogging today. Who doesn't love the smell and taste of freshly baked breads! My Mother in Law gave me this recipe years ago. When we would make trips to the Island I would enjoy the cooking and baking lessons from her. She loved to teach and we would enjoy the mornings together in the kitchen, and the lunches that followed. She always delighted in giving my 2 girls each a piece of dough to knead and then they would make up a little cinnamon goody of their own. That fun is now taking place in my kitchen with my Granddaughter, who also loves to create her own little goodies along side her Mommy and I. I actually gave her Daddy a tutorial not so long ago. He did fabulous! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.

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Cinnamon Buns

10-12 cups all purpose flour

4 tbsp quick rise yeast

Stir together 10 cups of the flour and the yeast in a large bowl

In a large glass measuring bowl mix together

3 cups milk

1 cup water

4 eggs

1 cup white sugar

1 cup oil

3 tsp salt

Beat together well and heat in Microwave about 3 minutes.

Pour this hot mixture over the flour and yeast. Start by stirring it and then begin to knead. Work in all the flour and then begin to add the remainder of the flour as needed. I also have about 1/3 of a cup of extra oil that I work in with the flour. Continue to knead and add floor and oil to make a very soft (but not sticky) dough. You should see lots of bubbles in the dough as you continue to knead. I usually knead by hand for at least 10 minutes. The dough will be smooth and should spring back when you push into it. Form into a large ball in the bowl and lightly rub a bit of oil all over. Cover with a clean cotton towel and place in a non drafty place to rise until double in bulk. Punch dough down.

To make the rolls

Divide dough into 4 equal pieces

using a rolling pin roll each piece into a rectangle.

Spread generously with butter

Sprinkle generously with white sugar

Then sprinkle generously with cinnamon.

Roll up tightly and cut into 1 1/2" slices

Place on pans sprayed with Pam. Place close but not touching so they have lots of rising room.

Let rise once again till double.

Bake in preheated oven @350 for approximately 25 minutes or until nicely browned. ( Each oven is different and I learned as I went along to judge when they are done)

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Cream and Brown Sugar Topping

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 tbsp cream( more or less)

1 tsp vanilla

Stir together until you have a thick yet pourable sauce. When buns are in the last few minutes of baking drizzle sauce over buns and let bake about 3 more minutes. I turn on the light in my oven at this point and watch till the topping begins to really bubble. At this point they are done and ready to be inverted onto a cooling rack.

VARIATION #1

I often use part of the dough to make cinnamon bread. it makes wonderful toast, or cinnamon french toast.

Roll a piece of the dough as wide as your loaf pan and about 14" long. Spread lightly with butter and sprinkle with white sugar and cinnamon. Roll up fairly tight and place in grease loaf pans. Let rise until double and bake 25 -30 minutes.

VARIATION #2

Orange Sour Cream Crescents

Roll a piece of the dough into the size of a small dinner plate and approx. 1/2 " thick

Spread lightly with butter

Stir together (this is enough for about 3 rounds)

3/4 cup unsweetened or semi sweet coconut

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp finely grated orange rind

sprinkle on top of buttered dough round

Cut into wedges (about 12)

Roll up to make crescents and put into greased pan just barely touching

Bake @350 approx. 15-20 minutes

Stir together the following ingredients and pour over crescent rolls right after baking.

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate

Let these cool in the pans. All the above freeze very well.

Enjoy!

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PS When making yeast breads don't be discouraged if you don't get great results at first. It is a bit of an art to know the feel of the dough. I've had a few flops, but now I just whip them up in no time at all. You can too!