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Tuesday, November 03, 2009 10:58 AM

Your November Cooking Club Challenge: Michael Smith's Cinnamon Rolls

Get out your rolling pins; we’re baking cinnamon rolls for our November Cooking Club Challenge. Of the three sweet recipes from Chef Michael Smith, a whopping 273 of you voted for cinnamon rolls. Good choice! It was my pick as well.

It sounds a bit challenging with all that dough rising and kneading but I know you’re up for it. And don’t worry if you don’t have a food mixer. I don’t either. That's what your hands are for. Just imagine the delicious aroma of cinnamon buns wafting from your warm kitchen. Mmmmm… I can’t wait to make these.

Here's how the Cooking Club Challenge works:

  • Make the chosen monthly recipe: Michael Smith's Cinnamon Rolls
  • Feel free to follow it to a "T" or add your own creative flair.
  • Email me (blogATfoodtvDOTca) a picture (in .jpg format) and a short descriptive paragraph of no more than 50 words before November 30, 2009, for your chance to win prizes. If you have a flickr account, you can post your results to the Foodtv.ca flickr group.
  • Do check out past Cooking Club Challenge results.

Cinnamon Rolls
Yield:  12

Dough


  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 or 2 tbsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 pkg (1/4 oz) instant yeast
  • 4 eggs

Filling

  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon

Glaze

  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cream
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
 
Directions:
Dough
  1.  In a small pot gently warm the milk along with 1 stick of butter, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, the vanilla and the salt. Don't bring to a simmer, warm just enough to melt the butter. Meanwhile measure half the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer along with the yeast. Add the warm melted milk butter mixture to the flour, beat with a paddle attachment until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until smooth before proceeding. Switch to a dough hook and add the remaining flour. Knead until a soft dough forms that is no longer sticky to the touch, about five minutes. Rest the dough in a warm place, covered in a lightly oiled bowl until it doubles in size, about one to two hours.
  2. Knock the dough down and let rest for a few minutes. Meanwhile thoroughly mix together the room temperature butter with 1 cup of brown sugar and the cinnamon. Flour your work surface, the dough, your hands and a rolling pin. Roll out the dough into a long rectangle shape, about 18x12-inches. Evenly spread the cinnamon butter over the top of the dough leaving an inch or two uncovered along one long edge. This will help a seal form. Roll tightly into a long cigar shape from the covered long edge to the uncovered long edge. Brush the outside of the log with oil or melted butter.
  3. Slice the dough log into 12 or 16 sections. Turn each on its side and position evenly in an appropriately sized lightly oiled baking pan. Rest, uncovered, until the dough doubles in size again and the rolls swell into each other.
  4. Meanwhile preheat your oven to 350?. When the dough is ready, bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
  5. When the cinnamon rolls have cooled enough to handle stir together the glaze ingredients and drizzle all over them. Serve immediately!
Filling
  1. Mix all ingredients together.
Glaze
  1. Stir together the glaze ingredients and drizzle all over the cinnamon rolls after they have cooled.

Related:
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Comments

lynn from newfoundland try the roll were mouth watering

November 4, 2009 12:30 PM

Elaine said:

Hi everyone, Has anyone tried this recipe before? What type of yeast is requested for the recipe? Would quick rise work?

Thanks

November 4, 2009 4:17 PM

I made these with just regular Fleischmann's Yeast that comes in the packet. Do not overknead. I think I did that because the rolls turned out a bit hard.

November 4, 2009 4:44 PM

Katina said:

Can't wait to make these!

November 4, 2009 7:01 PM

Nora said:

I used regulare Fleischmann's Yeast and did not proof it first, they did not rise, I will try again with the instant yeast....

November 4, 2009 8:57 PM

Anna said:

Do you just put the yeast in dry??

November 5, 2009 2:49 AM

Dancin said:

ooh those look awesome

i've been bakin alot of cinnamon rolls lately.. willhave to try this recipe this weekend :)

November 5, 2009 12:11 PM

I will try this recipe but will add my own twist to it...I can't wait...Will post pics this weekend...

November 5, 2009 1:44 PM

Allie said:

I think I will try them this weekend, add some cranberries or raisins to the cinnamon filling..... Allie

November 6, 2009 9:11 AM

Nancy L. said:

What kind of pan do you suggest to use for this recipe? Would a flat cookies pan work or should I use one with higher borders? Would a 9X13 "Pyrex" pan do?

November 6, 2009 11:58 AM

Kristy W. said:

A buttered pyrex dish is what Michael Smith used to bake them on the show...leaving about an inch in-between them

November 6, 2009 9:43 PM

Teresa. said:

Imade some buns some time ago but used bread flour.

These sound much simpler. Will try definitely. Could add some raisins too.

Teresa . Malaysia

November 7, 2009 12:50 AM

MichelleG said:

I would recommend a higher bordered pan like a 9X13 cake pan. Mine in the past of risen quite a bit.

November 7, 2009 2:28 AM

Lisa S. said:

I made these today using a 9x13 ban and instant yeast and they turned out great. I needed to let them rise for almost two hours the second time (while in the pan). They were great, everyone loved them!!

November 7, 2009 6:07 PM

Maria G. said:

Hi Nancy, I ended up doing this twice! I used my casserole pan first, 9 x 13...too small! Was surprised. Bought a foil pan from the dollar store 14 x 10 ish AND a 9" round pan. You're gonna need something with height or they'll flop over the lip on ya :) Wish you luck!!

November 7, 2009 8:38 PM

Sabile said:

I tried it and they turned out great.  The dough turned out better than in other recipes because of the added butter and sugar.  I made 3 batches.  I found that 15 min in the oven was enough.  The first batch I left for 35 min and they were overdone.

November 7, 2009 10:15 PM

Antonella said:

i watched the episode where he made these !!  I like the idea of combining all the filling ingredients and then spreading it on like a paste !

Looking forward to trying them !!

November 8, 2009 6:20 PM

I agree with Sabile. I baked mine for 25 and they were hard. Also don't over-knead. I used a cookie sheet and they turned out OK.

November 9, 2009 9:31 AM

Andre B. said:

Made those wonderful Cinnamon buns last week. They turned out delicious.

I use bulk yeast that I buy at a Kardish store. I use large muffin pans. I grease the inside and cover the bottom with maple syrup. I also use a Kitchen Aid mixer for preparation and I let rise in a warm over (115F). In less than an hour they are ready to roll and 45 minutes later , ready to bake. This recipe is a keeper.

Thanks, Chef Michael.

November 9, 2009 12:21 PM

Debbie said:

Sounds like a huge time commitment, won't be making these for breakfast!  Has anyone tried leaving the last rising overnight?

November 9, 2009 12:45 PM

J said:

Debbie... Haven't tried it with this recipe, but I've used this technique with other sweet bun recipes... Prepare the buns the night before. As soon as they're in the buttered or oiled pan, cover with a damp cloth and put them straight into the fridge until the morning. Raise them in the morning in the oven (115F-130F), like Andre suggests above. Take them out of the oven while you pre-heat it (350F), then bake and follow the rest of the recipe directions. Still 90 minutes in the morning, but fresh sticky buns are worth it!

November 9, 2009 6:17 PM

michi said:

I did not try these yet - plan on doing so when more people around (diabetic, do not eat them) - they look yummy. Since i did not try them, "Debbie", i can not tell you about the overnight rising. However, i did overnight rising for regular bread and it worked very well.

November 9, 2009 8:03 PM

Annie said:

In response to Debbie, yes you can leave them in the fridge overnight, and bake them in the morning.  Just make sure to wrap them up tigh in plastic wrap or they will get dry!

November 10, 2009 9:13 AM

Sharon said:

Cinnamon buns made and turned out fine - but take issue with the amount of vanilla in the glaze - 1 tablespoon - must be a typo.  I used 1 tsp. and that was more than enough for the amount of sugar.

November 10, 2009 2:50 PM

Kimberly said:

Can anyone tell me how many grams are in a yeast packet and which type it is in this recipe? Is it 7 grams and dried yeast? I moved to Indonesia now and their dried yeast packets are sold at 11 grams.

November 10, 2009 9:54 PM

Kimberly, I just checked the recipe and it's 1/4 oz or 8 g of INSTANT yeast!

Annie, do I have to let them thaw to room temperature before I pop them in the oven? Or can I just go straight from the fridge to the stove? Thanks in advance.

November 11, 2009 9:43 AM

I made these and they are OUTSTANDING! I have made lots of yeasty recipes and I know I will make these again! Everyone who sampled them agreed they were delicious and fragrant and not doughy at all! Wish you could smell  them and taste them!!

November 11, 2009 10:20 AM

The rolls turned out great!! One little trick that I have learned is if you do not have a good place to let your dough rise is,heat your oven at 125 deg. for about 50 seconds and then turn it off.Put your dough covered with greased waxed paper and your dough will rise every time,it's just the right temp and there is no draft to come in contact with your dough.Good Luck.

November 11, 2009 12:29 PM

Kim S. said:

The cinnamon rolls were so easy.  I made these this morning before heading to the Cenotaph for the Remembrance Day ceremony.

I used Michael Smith’s suggestion from “The Best of Chef at Home” cookbook and added grated orange zest.  Delicious!!!!   This recipe is a keeper.

November 11, 2009 12:50 PM

Matt said:

They arn't my favourite but they are good!

November 11, 2009 4:26 PM

Just out of the oven! Taste absolutely fabulous. I used two pans for the buns: one round cake pan (5buns) & one 9x13(10 buns). They definitely didn't take 40-45 min on the recipe. The round pan took only 20 min or so, and the rectangular took about 10 min more. Even then they were almost over-done. I won't be doing this all that often tho' as my husband has high cholesterol. I'm mulling in my mind to cut the recipe in half and use Becel(R). That would decrease the fat & I'd be able to use my bread machine - that was quite a work out to mix that by hand!

November 12, 2009 1:57 PM

Jason said:

I am glad to see a few comments about 40 - 45 minutes being too long.  I am glad I always check at the halfway point of baking!  Is it just me or do the ones in the above picture look overdone?  Must have used the 45 minutes. heh heh.  I used the glaze from the Ricardo cookbook...very good...people at work were just eating the glaze after the buns were gone!

November 13, 2009 1:17 AM

Erika said:

Do any of you who tried it NOT have a stand mixer? I'm very interested in making these rolls, but I'd like to know whether I have to knead by hand or using another method. Or is a stand mixer absolutely essential in making the dough?

November 13, 2009 3:00 PM

Adriana said:

Definitely thought the stand mixer was overkneading my dough so I did it by hand. And the glaze was WAY too heavy on the vanilla... I regret not following my gut and putting in a tsp instead of the tbsp he writes... the glaze was way too watery and brown, nothing like the picture. I will not be making these again as I have made softer, tastier buns before.

November 13, 2009 7:06 PM

Liz said:

I made these last weekend and I am making them again this weekend.  I am definitely going to cook them for less time, 40 min. was too long.  I use bread flour for all my bread recipes and the difference is amazing.  The texture is so soft and light.  I never believed the flour could make such a difference. You have to try it.

November 14, 2009 2:03 PM

I am excited to try these, they look like cinnamon buns I used to get at our beach bakery with the glaze! They were my standard of cinnamon bun. Most cinnamon buns you see are the caramelized gooey kind. Looking forward to try!

November 15, 2009 6:08 PM

Al said:

I thought this to be a fun challenge.

The rolls turned out very nice. I added a bit more flair by garnishing them with maraschino cherries.

The recipe was easy to follow and mine pretty much turned out like Michael's.

My critics here said they were great!!!!!

November 15, 2009 10:48 PM

Shelly said:

I was surprised at how easy these were to make.  If I make them again I wouldn't use my stand mixer.  It does seem to overknead them.  My husband thought they were a little sweet, I rather enjoyed them.  This is not my favourite sticky bun recipe though.  There was definately too much vanilla in the icing.

November 16, 2009 12:44 PM

Melissa said:

So, not using a stand mixer will work? That is very exciting. How do you leave the dough to rise without it producing a crusty outside? Help would be wonderful! I want some cinnamon buns!

November 16, 2009 3:26 PM

Heather said:

I billet 2 WHL hockey players and these buns were a "huge" hit.  Followed Michael's instructions to the letter, Fleischmann's Traditional Active Dry Yeast (One 8g pkg) and baked in a 9 x 13 cake pan. Wonderful soft dough required very little kneeding and I too liked the concept of making a paste from the butter, cinnamon and sugar.  Also, thought there was a typo on the vanilla, 1 T made caramel coloured glaze;  next time I will use 1 t as suggested above.

November 16, 2009 5:07 PM

Linda said:

This all sounds sooo delish!... I made some cinnamon rolls this past weekend (before reading this and finding out about the challenge). They were overcooked too. I used my kitchenaid stand mixer for the kneading-it says to use the dough hook attachment only two minutes after the final flour is added. That may be the problem with stand mixers-they are too good and quick at what they do! I will definitely try this recipe (mine was from the cookbook that came with the mixer-not that good-too sweet).

November 16, 2009 6:50 PM

John said:

Made the dough in the bread maker since I don't have a stand mixer and it turned out great. Took them out early and they were still overdone, also made the vanilla mistake. Still tasted great considering I typically do the cooking at home and stay away from things you need to measure accurately. Take two this weekend should produce better results.

November 17, 2009 12:08 PM

Dianna said:

I just printed this off and I will try them this weekend.  I will add apple and raisins. I will take a picture and let you know how they turned, baking is my passion.  

November 17, 2009 4:02 PM

Beverley said:

this was the softest dough and the buns were just beautiful. They did not last 3 days.

I am always on the lookout for great C,B. and these are the best to date

November 17, 2009 5:18 PM

Great recipe!  Very easy to do but definitely only needs 20 minutes cooking time.  An alternative icing I've used, is replacing the cream and vanilla for maple syrup.  yummy!

November 18, 2009 3:39 AM

Francesca said:

I made this recipe and everyone loved them.  It was easy to do.  This time I did not make any icing, but next time I will add some on top.

November 18, 2009 12:12 PM

Mark said:

i just submitted my photos they turned out great but every cinnamon bun needs creamcheese iceing not a glaze!!! mmm

November 18, 2009 1:42 PM

Alley_bee said:

I substituted 1/2 cup of the brown sugar for 1/2 cup of honey and reduced the milk in the dough by 1/4 cup. By doing so my rolls were very moist.

November 18, 2009 4:02 PM

Richard said:

I've been making cinnamon buns for years and actually have a 90 minute recipe that I have modified. I seen the episode of chef at home cinnamon rolls and have been searching for vietnamese cinnamon since,and have just placed an order for some from the US. Now I've seen this challenge and will be entering when my cinnamon arrives, can't wait as Michael says it's the best in the world.

November 18, 2009 6:40 PM

Ada said:

I have made these 2 times now and can't get enough of them.  My only difficuly is getting the yeast to dissolve totally.  I could actually see little balls of yeast in the dough before i baked them.  I didn't see any once they were cooked, but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.  Doesn't matter, I love them and will keep making them until I master it.

Thanks Micheal for the recipe:).

November 19, 2009 10:50 PM

Judi said:

John - Would you let me know if you followed the recipe on technique when you used your bread maker or did you add the ingredients to the breadmaker without warming the milk etc. I am interested in trying these in my breadmaker. Thanks.

November 20, 2009 10:52 AM

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