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Cinnamon Buns

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup warm water (105 - 110 degrees)
  • 2 pkgs. active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 (3 1/2 oz) pkg. instant vanilla pudding (prepared with 2 cups of milk)
  • 1/2 cup (one stick) melted butter
  • 2 large eggs , beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 8 cups (approx.) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup melted butter for spreading on the rolled-out dough
  • 2 cups brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon for the filling

FROSTING

  • 4 ozs. cream cheese , softened
  • 1/4 cup butter , softened
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine water, yeast and sugar.  Stir until dissolved and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, make pudding mix according to package directions.  Add butter, eggs and salt.  Mix well.  Add the yeast mixture and blend.  Gradually add flour and knead until smooth.  Work in approx. 7 1/2 cups and sprinkle more flour as needed to control stickiness.  You may not need all 8 cups of flour; once the dough is soft and silky, and no longer sticky, it is ready.
  3. Place the dough in a very large greased bowl.  Cover and let rise until double in bulk (could take 1 - 2 hours).  Punch the dough down and let it rise again (about 1 hour).
  4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a rectangle approximately 40" long by 21" wide.  Brush 1/2 cup of melted butter over the entire surface.
  5. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over top of dough.  Beginning at the long edge, roll tightly toward the opposite long edge.  Notch the dough with a knife, keeping notches approx. 2" apart.  Place a length of string or thread under the roll (I use unflavored dental floss), bring ends of thread to the top and criss-cross them taughtly them over the roll.  Pull the criss-crossed thread tightly and quickly to cut the roll.   (here's a quick tutorial)
  6. Place 4 rolls into greased, 8" square, aluminum pans.
  7. Allow to rise in a warm place until double in size (approximately 1 hour).  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until lightly golden.  Remove from oven and frost while warm.

FROSTING

  1. In mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until well-blended.  Frost warm rolls.