Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

If you’re wondering what to do for breakfast on Christmas morning when you’re in your cozy pj’s here’s the answer! It’s an all time favorite that every member in the family will love. Warm and fluffy Cinnamon Rolls!

The Cinnamon Rolls can be as healthy as you want them to be with the options I’ve included below (with vegan substitutes as well!).You can even bake them for a holiday party, and have them out instead of the usual Christmas cookies. Your guests will be ecstatic when they see these babies. Not to mention they’re a great baking project for the kids and family!

Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 egg
• ½ cups warm unsweetened almond milk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (*healthier choice – 2 c. whole wheat flour)
• ¼ c. light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter (*healthier choice – olive oil butter or unsweetened apple sauce )

Filling

• 1/4 c. sugar (white or light brown)
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter (*healthier choice – olive oil butter or unsweetened apple sauce)

*Optional Glaze

• 2 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk
• ½ c. powdered sugar

 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In your Kitchen Aid Mixer (or bowl) add warm milk and the package of active dry yeast, allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Stir mixture on the lowest setting. Note: I use the dough attachment for the kitchen aid mixer.
3. Then add egg, sugar, salt, and butter (or butter replacement). Mix on medium for 1 minute, then begin adding flour, ½ c. at a time giving time for the flour to combine with the liquid mixture.
4. After the dough is fully formed it should be transferred to a lightly floured surface and kneaded for a minute. Coat a clean mixing bowl with canola oil and add the dough ball back in. Cover the top of the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for 35 minutes to an hour. Place near the oven so it stays in a warm area of the kitchen (this helps the dough to rise).
5.  Lightly flour surface again and roll out the dough into a rectangle. Brush with melted butter (or butter substitute) and top with the filling ingredients: 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tbsp. cinnamon.
6. (If you want to learn how to make the twisted pastry look find the instructions below.) For normal looking cinnamon rolls follow these instructions: Tightly roll up the dough into a roll. Cut into 8-10 equal slices using a string (1.5-2 inch sections). Place in prepared pan coated with canola oil.
7. Let rest for 10 more minutes near the oven.
8. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, until the tops begin to look lightly golden.
9. This would be a good time to make glaze by mixing the two ingredients (milk and powdered sugar).
10. After taking out the cinnamon rolls from the oven, let cool for a 5 minutes and then top with glaze and serve.

For Twisted Cinnamon Rolls: 

After you’ve rolled out the dough in a rectangle, buttered and, fold the dough in half and cut into thin 1 inch strips. Refer to the photos below.

 

 

Enjoy!