Peace Like a River Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls will make you feel like a professional baker and/or your grandmother. Your book club is sure to love them! If you're looking for food ideas for Peace Like a River, look no further!
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 quart whole milk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 packages Active Dry Yeast
- 9 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder heaping
- 1 tsp baking soda scant
- 1 tbsp salt heaping
For the rolls:
- 3 cups melted butter halved
- 2 cups sugar halved
- Cinnamon
For the frosting:
- 1 bag powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons maple flavoring*
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup brewed coffee
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
For the dough:
- Mix the milk, oil, and sugar in a very large pot.
- Bring the mixture to a scalding point (just before boiling) and turn off the heat.
- Let it cool for about 1 hour.
- When the mixture is lukewarm, sprinkle in the 2 packages of yeast and let it incorporate for a minute or two.
- Add 8 cups of the flour, reserving 1 cup for later. Mix well.
- Cover the mixture and let it sit for 1 hour to allow the dough to rise.
- Add last cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
- If desired, this mixture can be refrigerated overnight.
For the rolls:
- Take the dough and halve it.
- Place one half on a floured surface and roll in a rectangular shape about ¼ -1/2 inch thick.
- Pour 1 ½ cup of butter on the dough and spread to cover.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of cinnamon over the sugar.
- Beginning with the longest side, roll the dough into a roll, pinching the seam once completely rolled.
- Cut the roll into 1 inch pieces (cinnamon rolls).
- Place into round, foil pans that have been sprayed with Pam or buttered.
- Repeat with the second portion of dough. In total, this will make about seven round pans of cinnamon rolls.
- Once the pans are completely full. Allow the roll to rise for an additional 20-30 minutes.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes until just golden.
For the frosting:
- Pour the bag of powdered sugar into a large bowl.
- Add maple flavoring, milk, butter, coffee and salt.
- Stir with a whisk until fully mixed.
To finish:
- Pour a generous amount of frosting over each pan of baked rolls.
- Eat your heart out!
Notes
*I used the maple flavoring called for in the recipe. However, as I mentioned Leif Enger shared a similar recipe (coffee and all) that used vanilla extract. The maple was delicious, but I’m sure vanilla extract will work well, too.
**Here is post where The Pioneer Woman shares tips on freezing these delicious rolls.
