Tiktok told me to bake cinnamon rolls, so I did.

During quarantine, my For You page on TikTok has overflowed with baking recipes, and cinnamon roll recipes were popping up way too much. So, being the baker that I am, I decided to hop on this bandwagon and make some cinnamon rolls. But first I had to do some research. So I went back to TikTok (and Google) and studied all the recipes that I found and compiled all the information together to create the ultimate cinnamon rolls recipe. Here’s how to make it.

#MaterialsYouNeed

Measuring cups
Bowls (as many as you need)
Stand mixer or Big Bowl
Sifter
Whisk
Wooden spoon
Paddle and dough hook (for stand mixer usage )
Dental Floss (helps to get a clean cut)

#TheDough

3¾ – 4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of milk (you can use non-dairy)
½ a cup and 1tbsp of sugar
⅓ cup or 6 tbsp of butter
Two large eggs
Three teaspoons of yeast
A teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of vanilla (optional)
1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter (you can use cooking spray, too)

#TheFilling

⅓ cup of softened unsalted butter
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
½ cup of packed brown sugar

#TheFrosting

1 ½ cups of powdered sugar
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
⅓ cup of cream cheese
¼ cup whipping cream (add this if you are looking for a thin glaze)

**A Couple Notes Before You Start**

Make sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Make sure the milk is warm. To see if the milk is warm, tap your finger in the milk. If you feel nothing, then it should be fine. If you prefer it to be warmer, pop it in the microwave for ten extra seconds. The milk being warm is crucial if you are using active dry yeast.
Coffee cream or half and half are great substitutes for whipping cream.
I recommend using almond or coconut milk if you opt for non-dairy milk.

#Directions

In a mixing bowl, pour in the warm milk. Pour the yeast into the bowl with the milk and let it bloom for ten minutes. ~Blooming is when the active dry yeast activates.~
Once the yeast has bloomed, add the butter, eggs, sugar, and salt into the mixture. Mix until combined.
Next, sift the all-purpose flour into an empty bowl to get all the lumps out. After the flour is sifted, pour 3¾ cups of the flour into the mixing bowl. If you are using a stand mixer, pour the flour in intervals. Mix the dough for 4 minutes with the paddle hook. Add in flour if it is to loose. The dough should be sticky, but if it’s too sticky for your liking, add flour.
After 4 minutes of mixing the dough, remove the paddle hook (the one that looks like a peace sign) from the mix and swap it out with the dough hook (the one that has spirals). Now knead the dough for 6-7 minutes. You can also knead the dough with your hands. Add flour as needed.
Once the kneading is done, grease a new, clean bowl with butter, oil, or cooking spray. Then place the dough into the bowl and cover it with a warm towel. Let it rise for at least 30 minutes.
While the dough is rising, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon into a separate bowl.
Take out the dough from the bowl and place it onto a well-floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle. The dimensions should be roughly close to 22 by 13. It doesn’t have to be exact.
Now take the softened butter and spread it on the rolled out dough. Leave 1-2 centimeters around the border of the dough. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture onto the butter. Pour a lot! The more sugar and cinnamon, the more flavor.
Take the long end of the dough and tightly roll the dough in a jelly roll style. Take your time as you roll. After you finish rolling the dough, cut the dough into even pieces with dental floss revealing the beautiful spirals.
Place the even rolls into a buttered pan and place a warm towel over it. Leave the rolls to rise for another 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes are up, the dough should have doubled in size. If it didn’t, don’t be discouraged. Just move on to the next step.
Preheat your oven to 375°. When the oven hits 375°, place the pan with the rolls into the oven for 24-27 minutes. If the rolls are becoming brown at a fast rate, cover the pan with aluminum foil very loosely.
While your rolls are in the oven, mix the powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and whipping cream in a bowl. If it is too thick, add more whipping cream. If it is too thin add, more powdered sugar.
Once the rolls are done baking, take them out of the oven and leave them to cool. Now you can pour the frosting onto the rolls.
Voilà! You have made the best cinnamon rolls out there. Now go and enjoy this mouthwatering and delicious treat.