The Best Cinnamon Rolls Ever

Step 1

To start, bloom your yeast. Mix your active dry yeast, sugar, and warm milk together and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy on top.

Step 2

Next, in a large bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, mix flour, salt and sugar together.

Step 3

To the dry ingredients add the whisked eggs, vanilla and softened butter and mix.

Step 4

Add in the yeast mixture and mix until everything is blended. Switch to a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 7-10 minutes until the dough pulls away from the edges of the bowl, forms a ball and springs back when pressed.

Step 5

Form the dough into a ball. Place the dough in a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and place in a warm place to rise, (outside or a cold oven with the light on works well for this), for 1- 1 ½ hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

Step 6

While the dough rises, make the sticky caramel sauce for the bottoms of the rolls, by mixing the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, heavy cream and salt together in a medium bowl.

Step 7

Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan.

Step 8

While the dough rises, also make the filling by mixing the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a small bowl. (If the filling is too firm and not spreadable, add heavy cream a tsp at a time until it's easily spreadable.)

Step 9

Once the dough has had a chance to rise, remove from bowl, punch dough to release the air, and roll out on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into about an 18 x 12 inch rectangle. It should be about 1/4 inch thick.

Step 10

Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar filling over the dough and spread it evenly with an offset spatula.

Step 11

Roll up the dough tightly into a long log shape starting from the end closest to you. Cut of a bit off the ends to make the log even. Cut 12 rolls about 1 1/2 inches wide using unflavored floss or a very sharp knife.

Step 12

Place the rolls in the prepared casserole dish with the cinnamon caramel sauce mixture and pour room temperature heavy cream in between each roll. Cover them with plastic wrap and let them proof in a warm spot for about an hour, or until they have doubled in size.

Step 13

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees about 15 minutes before the rolls are done proofing.

Step 14

Once the rolls have completed their second rise, bake them for 29-32 minutes until golden brown. (30 minutes is usually perfect!)(Cover with aluminum foil for the last 5 minutes if they're getting too brown.)

Step 15

While they bake, make the cream cheese frosting by adding the softened butter to a medium bowl and mixing it on high speed with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.

Step 16

Add in the cream cheese and mix until combined on medium speed.

Step 17

Sift the powdered sugar into the mixture a little at a time and mix on low speed until all is combined.(You can add more powdered sugar if you want the frosting to be sweeter.)

Step 18

Then add in the vanilla and combine on medium speed until the frosting is smooth.

Step 19

Let the rolls cool for 10 minutes, then cover the warm rolls with the cream cheese icing. Then serve!