Cinnamon buns!

Well it's almost Christmas (I can't believe there's only 5 days left until then!) and I thought I would share with you all one of our favorite family traditions, cinnamon buns. Every Christmas morning I make these as I can prepare them the night before and then just pop them in the oven Christmas morning while we are opening presents way too early - Santa is always up way too late. The kids love these so much they start asking in November to make sure I'm still making cinnamon buns for breakfast Christmas morning. What I love about these too, is how simple they are to make. Make these the next time your in the mood for a warm and comforting breakfast and the family will be asking for it for years to come!

What's cooking in my kitchen this week:
Cinnamon buns

What you'll need:
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup scalded milk
2 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp + 1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 well-beaten egg
3 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

How to make it:
First, you need to soften the yeast. Put yeast in small bowl with warm water and stir around to dissolve. Let sit.

Next combine milk, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt and cool to lukewarm.

Add softened yeast and egg to milk mixture.

Gradually stir in flour to form soft dough, then cover bowl and let rise until double in size, about 2 hours.

Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and kneed 2-3 minutes.

Roll dough out into rectangle.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and brush over rolled out dough.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and then sprinkle over melted butter on rolled out dough.

Roll dough up fairly tight and then seal edge.

Cut into 8 pieces and place cut pieces in greased baking pan.

Cover and let rise until double again.

Bake at 375° 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

Remove from pan and let cool. While cooling, make icing for the cinnamon buns by combining powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and vanilla in small bowl until smooth.

Once buns have cooled, drizzle over buns.

Serve and enjoy!

Did you know?
On this day in 1949, Thomas Carvel of Hartsdale, New York, received a patent for an Apparatus for Agitating and Dispensing Frozen Foods [frozen custards, ice creams etc.] in semi-solid condition.