Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

We had an amazing weekend in church life with Christine Caine from Hillsong Church Australia. I was asked to make something for our green room and decided that these cinnamon rolls would be a nice treat. You can make them a little healthier by adding 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 white flour and by using lowfat butter for the filling. Man are these good!

*I make the dough in my KitchenAid mixer so I don't have to knead it by hand.

Dough:

• 3/4 c. low-fat milk
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 c. butter
• 2 packages yeast (I use quick rise)
• 1/3 c. warm water
• 3 eggs
• 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
• 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Combine milk, butter, salt and sugar in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave until the butter is melted. Beat the eggs and pour in a little of the milk mixture to temper the eggs. Pour the egg mixture into the milk mixture. Dissolve the yeast in the water in the mixer bowl. Add the milk/egg mixture. Add 5 cups of flour and the pudding mix. Begin mixing the dough on speed 2 with the dough hook (or mix by hand). Gradually add more flour until the dough cleans the bowl. Beat for 4 minutes longer, or knead by hand until the dough is nice and smooth (baby's bottom :) ). Using a non-stick spray, grease the mixer bowl to make sure the dough won't stick while rising. Allow to rise in a warm, dry place until doubled in size (about 30 minutes for quick rise).

Filling:

• 1 c. white sugar
• 1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 1/2 c. raisins (optional)

Roll dough out to make a 10 x 24" rectangle. Combine all of the filling ingredients and spread evenly over the rectangle of dough (make sure you go to the edges so it's completely covered). Roll up the dough from the wide (24" side). Cut into 24 one inch rolls and place in two greased 13 x 9 inch baking dishes. Cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled in size. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until light brown around the edges.

Cream Cheese Icing:

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 c butter, softened
• 3 c. powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 tsp. milk

Combine all ingredients and beat in the mixer with the wisk attachment until light and fluffy. You can use a hand-held mixer as well. Spread over the warm rolls. Wow, they are SO good!!