Epic Cinnamon Buns

Name: Epic Cinnamon Buns
Prep time: 3 h
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 3 h 30 min
Yield: 12 big sticky buns, 12 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 cup 1% low-fat milk, warm (if you can't put your finger in it it's too hot); 1/4 cup honey or 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 1/4 tablespoons fast rising yeast (two of the little pkgs will do); 4 cups flour (including extra during kneading); 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine; 2 eggs; 3/4 cup butter (approximate, I just eyeball the filling) or 3/4 cup margarine (approximate, I just eyeball the filling); 1 cup brown sugar; 1 tablespoon cinnamon; 1 cup golden raisin (soak in booze of choice overnight if desired); 1 cup light cream cheese; 1 cup icing sugar; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

(1)

Recipe by spiritussancto

This is time consuming and NOT healthy but it's SO worth it! I only make these once or twice a year. They can be frozen, fully cooked and frosted. Just be sure to flash-freeze before individually wrapping and unwrap before thawing in microwave so as not to lose all the icing or have them go soggy. I make these for Christmas morning to have with mimosas--oh holiday indulgence.

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READY IN: 3hrs 30mins

SERVES: 12

YIELD: 12 big sticky buns

UNITS: US

INGREDIENTS

Nutrition

for the dough
1

cup 1% low-fat milk, warm (if you can't put your finger in it it's too hot)
¹⁄₄

cup honey or 1/4 cup brown sugar
2 ¹⁄₄

tablespoons fast rising yeast (two of the little pkgs will do)
4

cups flour (including extra during kneading)
1 ¹⁄₂

teaspoons salt
¹⁄₂

cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
2

eggs
for the filling
³⁄₄

cup butter (approximate, I just eyeball the filling) or 3/4 cup margarine (approximate, I just eyeball the filling)
1

cup brown sugar
1

tablespoon cinnamon
1

cup golden raisin (soak in booze of choice overnight if desired)
for the icing
1

cup light cream cheese
1

cup icing sugar
¹⁄₂

teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Start the dough at least 4 hours before you want to be eating these or plan to start it the night before and do the first rise overnight in the fridge. Mix warm milk with honey and yeast, set aside for 5-10 minutes until it starts bubbling suspiciously.
Mix 3 cups flour and salt, add margarine, eggs, and yeast mix all at once. Stir until a very soft dough forms. Knead in last cup of flour a bit at a time until you have a soft dough that's not terribly sticky. Cover with a dish towel (or plastic wrap if going in fridge overnight) and leave in a warm place until double its size.
In the meantime make the filling by stirring all filling ingredients together. If it's too stiff you can warm a bit, but it should not be a liquid.
Roll out risen dough into a rectangle about the size and shape of a cookie sheet, around 1/4-12 inch thick. Spread with filling.
Roll length-wise into a big jelly roll and cut into disks about an inch or 1 1/2 inches thick.
Place in a lasagna pan so that when they double in size again they will be touching. This keeps them soft and gooey. Let rise.
Either while they rise or while they bake, make the icing. Again you can warm a bit if it's too stiff, but it shouldn't be a liquid.
Bake buns at 350°F for 20-30 minutes or until just starting to colour. They should not be too crispy or dried out.
Cool, then ice in the pan. Cut apart carefully.
They are best warm, so attack them now or reheat in the microwave later. "Flash freezing" means freezing in a single layer, usually uncovered, until just solid, then packaging for longer term storage.

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