Cinnamon rolls, or cinnamon buns, are sweet buns made from yeast dough. Once the dough has risen, it is filled with a cinnamon and sugar mixture and then rolled up, sliced and baked. The result is spiral-shaped cinnamon rolls that smell absolutely delicious as they bake. Cinnamon rolls taste even more delicious when they're ready to eat — especially when they're still a little warm and dripping with glaze or caramel topping!
The two main toppings for cinnamon rolls are caramel and cream cheese frosting. The caramel version is made like an upside down cake and has a brown sugar mixture in the bottom of the pan before the rolled and sliced dough buns are added to bake.
After baking the buns, the pan is turned upside down onto a bigger platter. The cinnamon rolls drop down onto the platter with the gooey, rich topping running down the top and sides of the buns. The cream cheese type of glaze, on the other hand, is usually made with powdered sugar added to the cream cheese and is spread on the cinnamon rolls after they have cooled down.
Cinnamon and sugar fill the layers of all cinnamon rolls, but added ingredients depend on personal taste and region. Cinnamon buns are popular all over the world. Some bakers like to put raisins in the filling, while others add nuts and still others use both. A baking dish can be used for caramel cinnamon rolls and the other type works well baked on either a regular cookie sheet or a pizza pan.
Cinnamon rolls are very time consuming to make due to the yeast dough and the time it takes for it to rise and be kneaded and rolled out. However, many bakers think the fragrant and delicious end result is well worth the effort. Plus, cinnamon rolls can be prepared the night before, but instead of putting them in the oven they can be placed in the fridge overnight. In the morning the cinnamon rolls should be left for 30 minutes at room temperature while the oven is preheating and then put into the oven to bake. The overnight method works best with the caramel type of cinnamon buns as they don't need to cool as long before eating with their topping.
Everyone is sure to enjoy the fragrant smell of cinnamon in kitchen in the morning almost as much as the cinnamon rolls. Serve with fresh hot coffee and/or milk or orange juice to brighten up even the darkest, rainiest morning. Many people think of cinnamon rolls as the ultimate comfort food!
