The World's Easiest Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- * 1 packet instant yeast* (2 1/4 tsp)
- * 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- * 1/2 cup Earth balance (vegan butter), divided
- * 1/4 tsp salt
- * 3 cups all-purpose flour*
- * 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- * 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp organic cane sugar, divided*
Preparation
In a large sauce pan (or in a bowl in the microwave at 30-second increments), heat the almond milk and 3 Tbsp Earth Balance until warm and melted, never reaching boiling. Remove from heat and let cool to 43 C or the temperature of bath water. It should be warm but not too hot or it will kill the yeast
Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle on yeast. Let activate for 10 minutes. Then add 1 Tbsp sugar and the salt and stir
Next add in flour 1/2 cup at a time, stirring as you go (you may not add it all). The dough will be sticky. When it is too thick to stir, transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for a minute or so until it forms a loose ball (be careful not to overmix). Rinse your mixing bowl out, coat it with canola or grapeseed oil, and add your dough ball back in. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size (see photo)
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a thin rectangle. Brush with 3 Tbsp melted Earth Balance and top with 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 - 1 Tbsp cinnamon (to taste)
Starting at one end, tightly roll up the dough and situate seam side down. Then with a serrated knife or a string of floss, cut the dough into 1.5 - 2 inch sections and position in a well-buttered 8x8-inch square or comparable sized round pan (you should have about 10 rolls). Brush with remaining 2 Tbsp Earth Balance (melted) and cover with plastic wrap. Set on top of the oven to let rise again while you preheat oven to 176 C
Once the oven is hot, bake rolls for 25-30 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes and then serve immediately
Optional: Frost with a simple mixture of 1 cup organic powdered sugar and 1-2 Tbsp almond milk