Cinnamon Buns from Heaven

From THE 150 BEST AMERICAN RECIPES. When I made these, I left out half the butter and sugar in the filling, and all of the butter in the topping and they were still absolutely amazing. I used skim milk because that's all I had, and light butter in the filling. They were well worth making!! Add 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts and 1 1/2 cups raisins in the filling stage if desired.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 18
• Yields: 18 buns

Ingredients

• dough

• 1  cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
• 2 (1/4ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 1  cup milk, heated to lukewarm
• 10 1⁄2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 7 -8  cups all-purpose flour (or more)

• filling

• 16  tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1 3⁄4 cups sugar
• 3  tablespoons ground cinnamon

• creamy glaze

• 10 1⁄2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 4  cups confectioners' sugar
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup hot water

Directions

1. To make the dough, combine water, yeast, and 1 tsp sugar in a cup and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, butter, eggs, and salt. Stir well and add the yeast mixture. Add 3 1/2 cups flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until the dough is slightly stiff -- it will be sticky.
2. Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, adding just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking. Place in a well-buttered bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place free from drafts until doubled in volume, 1- 1/4 hours. Punch down and let rest for 5 minute Roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 15x20-inch rectangle.
3. To make the filling, spread half of the melted butter on the dough. In a small bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the dough, then sprinkle with walnuts and raisins if using. Roll up like a jelly roll and pinch the edges together to seal. Cut the roll into 12 or 18 slices.
4. If making 12 buns, use the remaining butter to coat the bottoms of a 9x13-inch baking pan and an 8-inch baking pan. If making 18 buns, use 2 9x13-inch pans. Sprinkle the pans with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Place the cinnamon bun slices close together in the pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the buns are nicely browned. Let cool slightly before glazing.
6. To make the glaze, combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add the water 1 T at a time until you have a spreadable glaze. Spread over buns and serve.