When I was writing my first Recipe Book, I asked family members to share with me some of their favorite recipes. My brother Jeff sent me his recipe for his homemade Cinnamon Buns.
I realize this recipe may look a little daunting at first but it’s really not that bad. Especially if you have experience working with dough.
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These cinnamon buns do take a few hours to make so you might want to make them the night before so you can enjoy them for breakfast! My wife keeps calling them sweet rolls but I am going to stick with calling them Cinnamon Buns.
Instant Yeast vs Active Dry Yeast
Instant Yeast Does not need to be dissolved in water before use and can be mixed directly into the dry ingredients. On the other hand, Active Dry Yeast has to be dissolved in warm water with a bit of sugar before use to ensure it’s alive.
Does Yeast Go Bad?
Active Dry Yeast can go bad since it’s a living organism. It typically has a shelf life of 1–2 years when stored properly. To check if your yeast is still active, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Add 1 packet of active dry yeast, stir, and wait for 5–10 minutes. If the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly, the yeast is still good. If not, it’s time to replace it.
Instant Yeast has a longer shelf life than active dry yeast but can still go bad. To test it, Dissolve ½ teaspoon of sugar in ¼ cup of warm water. Stir in 1 teaspoon of instant yeast. Wait 5-10 minutes. If the mixture foams and bubbles, the yeast is still active. If nothing happens, it’s time to replace it.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Cinnamon Buns recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Milk, Water, Vanilla Extract, Unsalted Butter, Eggs, Salt, White Sugar, Bread Flour, Active Yeast, Ground Cinnamon, Powdered Sugar and Orange Extract.
How to Make Cinnamon Buns
- Put all the dough ingredients in a stand mixer in the order listed under the dough ingredients‚
- Add small amounts of flour as needed until a soft dough ball forms.
- Cover and let rise until doubled in size (approximately 90 min).
- When ready, roll out with a rolling pin to approximately 15 x 24 inches rectangle.
- Brush dough with melted butter. Spread the filling all over but leave one edge clean so you can close the roll-up after rolling.
- Roll it up into a log, cut 1 1/2 inch sections, place on a baking sheet (not too close together as they will rise again).
- Cover and let rise for 40 to 60 minutes or until double in size.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Mix all frosting ingredients together and pour it over the warm cinnamon buns.
Jeff’s Cinnamon Buns
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Ingredients
DOUGH INGREDIENTS
- 1 Cup Milk, Warm
- ¼ Cup Water, Warm
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 2 Eggs, Beaten
- ½ Tsp Salt
- ½ Cup White Sugar
- 5 Cups Bread Flour
- 3 Tsp Active Dry Yeast
FILLING INGREDIENTS
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 5 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
FROSTING INGREDIENTS
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, Melted
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Tbsp Milk
- ¼ Tsp Orange Extract
Instructions
- Put all the dough ingredients in a stand mixer in the order listed under the dough ingredients.
- Add small amounts of flour as needed until a soft dough ball forms.
- Cover and let rise until doubled in size (approximately 90 min).
- When ready, roll out with rolling pin to approximately 15 x 24 inches rectangle.
- Brush dough with melted butter. Spread the filling all over but leave one edge clean so you can close the roll up after rolling.
- Roll it up into a log, cut 1 1/2 inch sections, place on baking sheet (not too close together as they will rise again).
- Cover and let rise for 40 to 60 minutes or until double in size.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
- Mix all frosting ingredients together and pour it over the warm cinnamon buns.
These cinnamon buns are to die for. They are very moist and a favourite of my family. This recipe was very easy to make but very hard on someone who is watching their sugar intake. A keeper for sure.
Instead of buying cinnamon buns when my family asked for some I decided to try this recipe. Now I will never buy them again. This has got to be the best recipe I have ever made for cinnamon buns.They are very moist and easy to make.