Is there anything better then fresh Cinnamon Rolls on a Sunday morning? I can’t think of anything. I couple weeks ago I got on a Cinnamon Roll kick and made a few batches, trying to perfect my recipe. Baked goods are the way to my husband’s heart, and probably cinnamon rolls are his most favorite baked good of all.

After 22 years of making cinnamon rolls for him, I think I finally landed on my BEST recipe yet. This rolls are light and fluffy and loaded with cream cheese icing of course.

We are definitely eating our way through this quarantine as best as we can. I don’t know what else to do. But, baking brings a little zen.

Light + Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls

• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 4 eggs
• 8 cups flour
• 4 packages of yeast (1 package = 2 1/4 tsp.)

Place the milk, butter, salt and sugar in a sauce pan and heat just until the butter melts. The milk should be very warm, but not hot (about 120 F).

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Set aside.

In a stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook, place 6 cups of flour with the yeast. Mix the yeast into the flour. With the mixer running, pour the milk mixture into the flour, and then immediately add the eggs. Mix until all the ingredients are will incorporated. Then add one cup of flour at a time. Knead until all the four is mixed in.

The dough will be very sticky. Turn the dough into a greased bowl and cover with a towel.

Allow the dough to double in size (about 30 mins.)

Punch down the dough, divide it into 2 equal parts and roll out the dough to a large rectangle (about 18 x 14 inches). Or if you are looking for giant more bready cinnamon rolls, don’t divide that dough and just roll out one thicker rectangle (again about 18 x 14 inches). Spread 1/4 cup softened butter on each of the rectangles of dough. sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll the dough and cut into 1 inch rolls with floss or string.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. cinnamon

Place the rolls on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Cover with a clean towel and allow to rise another 30 mins.

Bake at 375 F for 12-14 mins. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese icing (see recipe below) on each roll while they are still warm

Cream Cheese Icing

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste, or the one bean scraped.
• 2-3 tbsp. half and half
• 4 cups powdered sugar

In a stand mixer beat the butter and cream cheese on high for about 2 mins. or until it is light and fluffy. Add the Vanilla bean and half and half, beat again. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Beat until smooth and creamy. This will be a runny icing, it’s somewhere in between an icing and a glaze.

Well, if we are going to be stuck home, let’s have some yummy treats. It’s the simple pleasures in life right now. For me, I’m trying to balance home baked goods with long long walks in my neighborhood.