Cinnamon Rolls/Buns/Danish/Snails

What I am posting here is one of my top favourite recipes!You might call this a breakfast option or a snack for tea or something special to make on an important event!Anyways they are delicious!If you love Cinnamon based items and you love baking,then this should be on your priority list!If you ever had Brioche or “egg bread”,this has the same consistency except that it is deliciously flavoured with Cinnamon!

NOTE : This recipe contains eggs but if you want you can omit them.The rolls will still turn out wonderful!

The recipe includes tips from Stephanie Jaworsky’s famous site Joy of Baking!

Preparation Time : 3 hours

Makes : 8 Rolls

INGREDIENTS

For the base dough:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour/plain flour(maida)

2 tsp active dry yeast

(For a note on yeast check this link)

1 cup whole/full cream milk

2 tsp vanilla essence

80 gms butter cut into small cubes

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

4 eggs(optional)

For the main dough:

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour/plain flour(maida)

3 tbsp cream/milk

1 tbsp cooking Oil

For the Cinnamon filling:

1 cup brown sugar/golden sugar/demerara sugar

1 cup cold butter cut into small cubes

1/3 cup all purpose flour/plain flour(maida)

2 tbsp golden raisins(optional)

2 tbsp Cinnamon powder

For drizzling on top :

3 tbsp powdered/Icing sugar

1 tbsp cream

METHOD

For the base dough :

In a saucepan,add the milk,butter,salt,vanilla essence and sugar and heat on the lowest point till butter melts and everything is nicely amalgamated.Test the heat of the solution.It should be lukewarm(NOT HOT).This will ensure that the yeast rises.This is the main step so be very careful.

Mix the flour and yeast thoroughly in a bowl and make a well in the centre.Add the lukewarm solution and mix with a wooden spoon.Alternatively you can use a stand mixer if you have one.It will become a sticky dough.Now add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.Beat for 3-4 minutes vigorously till incorporated.The mixture would look a little wet like a thick liquid.

This is the base dough.

For the final dough :

Add the rest of the flour to the base dough and mix well.Now the mixture has to be kneaded on a countertop.Take the dough out on a floured countertop and start kneading till there is no dry flour and the everything comes together to form a nice and smooth dough.

Oil a large bowl and place the dough inside.Then flip it so that the Oil covers the entire surface of the dough.Cover with clingfilm and leave to proof for around an hour.

(This depends on the place you stay.Tropical countries need 45 minutes to 1 hour while the colder or temperate countries need 2 hours or maybe more depending on the season)!

Make the filling :

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and blend the cold butter with fingertips until it is mixed and the mixture resembles coarse sand.If the butter starts melting then this can be refrigerated till baking time.

Make the rolls :

The dough would have risen nicely upto nearly double the size.Punch down the dough to remove any air pockets and flatten into a roughly square shape.

Use a ruler and roll into a 12″ or 14″ square on a floured countertop patting the dough now and then to remove any air bubbles.Keep a 1 – 1 1/2 inch border and fill the inside of the square with the prepared filling.Distribute the filling evenly to avoid any gaps or empty spaces in between.Brush the border with milk or cream and start rolling from one end but not too tightly.As per Stephanie Jaworsky of Joy of Baking,“rolling too tightly may cause the filling to come out later” but even that is delicious.

Seal the edges by rolling the prepared roll back and forth very gently.Grease a rectangular cake pan(I used a 13″ by 7″ pan) with butter or baking spray.

Now cut into rolls with a sharp knife.This should make 8 – 9 rolls.Put them on the prepared tray and cover with wrap.Let them proof for another 1 – 1 1/2 hours (again depending on your area) till nearly double in size.

Preheat the oven to 190°C or 350°F.Brush the top of the rolls with milk or cream.Bake for 25 – 30 minutes till the top gets a beautiful golden hue,your home has a divine aroma and the sides of the rolls start pulling away from the pan.

Take out the rolls from the oven and let them cool.They should sound hollow when tapped.Cool them inside the tray and brush them again on top with some milk or cream.Cool to room temperature.

Make the topping :

Blend the sugar and cream till it is a thick glaze.With the tip of a spoon drizzle over the cooled buns.Serve with tea or coffee!