Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice.

It's not just what little girls are made of.

Especially my little girls. Those kids..ugh. I think they got a bit too much of me in them for now. I'm hoping it's getting out of their systems before they hit the teens. Because if not, I'm screwed.

Anywho.

Cinnamon rolls are a favorite in this house. Mainly for Kyle, but I dig them, too. Kyle misses having a Cinnabon around pretty much everyday. If there's something on TV about them, he HAS to watch it. 

He's not obsessed or anything.

So, when I get the chance to, I like to make him some cinnamon rolls. They aren't Cinnabon worthy, but good enough for us.

Also, you'll never get your cinnamon rolls to taste like Cinnabon. They use a different kind of cinnamon. Now, you MIGHT be able to buy the cinnamon directly from them, but no company in the US will sell it.

Truth be told, I'd rather be eating these than paying an arm and a leg for a cinnamon roll.

Sinfully Sweet Cinnamon Rolls

1 pkg. dry yeast

1/4 c. warm milk

1/2 c. white sugar

2/3 c. margarine, divided (you can substitute this for unsalted butter)

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

4+ c. flour

1 c. packed brown sugar

2 1/2 tbsp. cinnamon (more or less to taste)

Pour your warm milk in a bowl and add your yeast to it. Give it a quick, gentle stir and let it sit for 10-ish minutes.

Add white sugar, 1/3 c. margarine, salt, and eggs. Mixmixmix.

Now start gradually adding your flour. If you're using a KitchenAid/stand mixer, I like to keep the paddle on it for atleast the first 2 cups of flour, then switch to the dough hook. You want the dough to be smooth and pliable.

This is too sticky. More flour.

Got it! Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes, either by hand or with a dough hook.

If you're kneading it by hand, do this next step BEFORE. If you're using a dough hook, do this DURING.

Grease a bowl in a way you prefer. I used some oil and kinda swirled it around in my glass bowl.

Then, take your kneaded dough, put it in the bowl, and roll it around so it gets coated.

Now let it rise until it's doubled in size.

On a floured surface with floured hands, punch the dough like it owes you money.

Roll it into a rectangle of sorts.

Using the remaining 1/3 c. of margarine, smoosh it on the rolled dough.

Smooshing is a very technical term, just so you know.

Combine your brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl...

...then sprinkle it over the margarine on the dough.

Roll that sucker up. Kinda like the yoga mat you cursed and put away when you saw these.

Taking a knife, cut them into pieces. They can be as (un)even as you want. Make sure they're atleast 1 1/2 in. though.

Put these in a greased baking dish.

This is optional, but I let mine proof for another round.

Bake these at 400 for 10-12 minutes.

You may end up getting some "roll wood", which means the inmost spiral starts protruding out and looks..well..yeah, you know. You can maneuver those back down with a spoon.

That's what she said.

And you NEED icing.

Fantabulous Cream Cheese Icing

8 tbsp. margarine (again, can be substituted for unsalted butter)

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar, more or less for desired taste/consistency

1/4 c. cream cheese, softened, more or less for desired taste/consistency

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

Throw these all in a bowl and beat it.

You may want to listen to some Michael Jackson. This insured proper beating.

Not really, but sometimes I need to get my groove on in the kitchen.

Top your cinnamon rolls in the icing and BAM. Deliciousness.

You're probably going to have to work out 10x more after the whole batch of these, but it's so worth it.

Ugh. I feel Jillian Michaels ready to kick my ass. >.<