Yeast Cinnamon Rolls

dough:
1 pkg Rapid Rise yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 c water
1/2 c milk
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c butter
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2-4 c flour

filling:
1/4 cup butter softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
Mix sugar and cinnamon together

delicious sticky goodness: Make this after dough is cut into slices
1/2 cup butter melted
1 c packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp corn syrup
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) combine 2 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.

Heat milk, water and butter til butter is melted and it is steaming but not boiling. (prob can be done in microwave but I usually do it on the stove.) Pour into the dry ingredients and mix.  Add the egg and the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time til a nice dough forms.  Dump onto a floured surface and knead til smooth (or use dough hook on stand mixer for a few minutes).  Cover (either with plastic wrap, or a kitchen towel) and let rest for 10 minutes (this resting is important in order to get it to roll out.)

Dump onto a floured surface (I like to flour parchment paper because it makes it easier to roll the rolls) and roll out into a large rectangle (15x9ish).  Spread softened butter over dough and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the dough evenly.   Roll the dough up tightly into a log beginning with the long edge and pinch the edge to seal it up.  stretch the log out to make it even.   cut into approx 1 1/2 inch slices.

Melt the 1/2 cup butter, stir in the brown sugar and corn syrup, then add the pecans if wanted. Pour this mixture of delicious sticky goodness into a  greased 9x13 pan the place the roll slices on top of the syrup with a little space in between. Let the rolls rise in a warm area til doubled (this will totally depend on how warm your house is--but usually for 30 -60 minutes ).

Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.  If they brown too quickly you can cover with foil and continue baking.

Cinnamon Biscuits

It's a recipe day! 

I made cinnamon biscuits because it is faster than cinnamon rolls. 

This recipe makes an 8x8 pan.

I'll give you my biscuit recipe, but you can use any recipe you like, or even a box mix.

Mix the biscuit dough as usual, except add a tablespoon of sugar.  Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick and into a rectangle approx 10x15 (not exact, just a nice rectangle)   Mix 1/2 cup of sugar with a Tablespoon of cinnamon. melt 1/8 cup of butter. Spread the butter onto the rolled out biscuit dough. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar.( I saved about an 1/8 cup to sprinkle on the top). Roll the dough up on the wide side.  Use a serrated knife and slice into 1 inch slices. Lay the rolls in a greased 8x8 pan. Squish them together if needed to make them fit. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon and sugar on top of the rolls.  Bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes. 

You can make a simple icing if you like. I mixed powdered sugar with milk and a splash of vanilla. Mix well. (I used an immersion blender) Pour over the rolls before serving.


Easy Homemade Biscuits

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar (make it 1 Tbsp for the rolls above)
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup milk

In a bowl stir dry ingredients together. Cut in butter til resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk all at once. Stir  just till dough clings together. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently 10-12 times. (for the cinnamon biscuits follow the instructions above.) For regualr biscuits roll dough to 1/2 thick and cut with 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes.