Jennifer B.’s Cinnamon Buns

“It wouldn’t seem like Christmas morning without hot-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns. We bake them while opening gifts and then dive in while they’re still warm!”

Yield: 16 | Total Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Total Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Dough and Filling:

2/3 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing

All-purpose flour, for dusting surface

1 loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed overnight in refrigerator

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Icing:

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Lightly butter two 8-inch round baking pans.

2. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a 15- by 7-inch rectangle.

3. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

4. Spoon and spread the softened butter over the dough.

5. Sprinkle the dough evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

6. Starting at the long edge, roll up the dough. Pinch the seam to seal.

7. Cut the rolled dough into 16 slices and divide the slices between the prepared baking pans.

8. Set aside in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

9. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake until golden on top, about 15 minutes.

10. Immediately flip the baking pan over a wire rack and lift the pan from the buns. Scoop any filling that has remained in the pans over the buns.

11. While cooling, in a medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, cream cheese and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy.

12. Spread the icing over the rolls. Serve warm.