Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

These cinnamon rolls have a little extra surprise. They have vanilla pudding in the dough which makes them so moist! This is my favorite recipe to use.


Cinnamon Rolls

1/2 cup warm water
2 packages (about 2 Tbsp.) active dry yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 box (3 1/2 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
2 cups milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2 eggs, room temp
1 tsp. salt
6-7 cups flour

In a small bowl add yeast and sugar to warm water. Stir until dissolved. Set aside. In mixer, mix pudding and milk until well mixed. Add butter, eggs and salt. Mix well. Add yeast mixture. Gradually add flour. (Switch to bread dough hook after about 3-4 cups of flour are added.) Knead until smooth. Do not put too much flour in the dough! You want it to be very soft but not sticky. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and place in a warm spot and let rise until doubled. Roll out on floured board to a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread with filling.

Filling:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temp (I usually only use about 1 stick or maybe just a little more)
2 cups brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Spread soft butter over surface of dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar until evenly covered. Sprinkle cinnamon evenly over the top. Starting at one of the long sides, roll up very tightly. Cut rolls 1 1/2 inches wide with floss* or serrated knife. Place on lightly greased sheet cake pan (or other pan with sides) about 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise until double again. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove when they start to turn golden. Do not over bake. Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temp
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp. milk

Makes about 24-32 rolls.

*Cutting the cinnamon rolls with dental floss is the EASIEST way to cut them. To cut rolls with floss: cut a 10-12 inch piece of dental floss. Holding one end in each hand, slide the floss under the rolled up dough. Bring both ends straight up and cross one behind the other. Switch hands and continue to pull ends horizontally in either direction until the floss is straight and the roll has been cut. Repeat for each roll. It's that easy! Perfect rolls every time, never squished.