Monday, August 24, 2009

BBA - Cinnamon Rolls





When there are just the two of you and you want to make a recipe for cinnamon rolls, do you:

a). Make the recipe as written, figuring it's never hard to give away cinnamon rolls;
b). Do many calculations and halve, third, quarter or cut the recipe so it yields two rolls; or
c). Double the recipe.

You're rational, so you probably do a. or b. I'm not rational, so I do c.

There is a method to my madness. Taking six leftover cinnamon rolls into work could cause a riot in an office of 60+ people. So I often double to reduce the number of injuries from people running to the break room.

The less hydrated batch

This time, I was glad I did because doubling presented an opportunity to see how two batches of dough behaved with different levels of hydration. My KitchenAid can't handle a double batch of bread dough so I made two separate batches, and in hindsight the first one wasn't adequately hydrated. I added too much milk to the second batch and it was stickier until I mixed in a little extra flour when switching to the dough hook. It was a beautiful dough and doubled more quickly, with a silkier feel and headier aroma. The less hydrated batch did double, and they both rolled out fine, but the silkier texture of the hydrated batch made that one a breeze.

After mangling the rolled up dough with various knives while trying to slice off the rolls, I stuck the whole thing in the fridge to firm up some and that made it a snap to slice the rolls.

Since I started on these rolls at 8 PM on a Sunday night, I retarded both batches, one in the freezer and one in the fridge. The next day, I had a furlough day, so I thought I would celebrate by making cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Now I love being furloughed!

The few that I made for us (M. actually took a vacation day so we could spend my furlough day together...isn't he sweet?) I didn't make with fondant, and I liked them the best (not that I tasted one that I iced the next day, but I think they might be too sweet with the fondant). I was pinching myself, I just couldn't believe that I, the yeast phobe, had made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Strangely, when I baked up the rest to take to work the next day, they were well received but not as well as Ina Garten's sticky buns. Those suckers cause a stampede. But these, these, with their notes of lemon and smokiness from the cinnamon, are perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, not too buttery, but heady with the yeasty dough and spicy cinnamon. Perfect.


******PLEASE NOTE: Lethally Delicious is on hiatus for the month of Ramadan. While I have a couple of posts that I completed in advance (like this one), I will be taking a break from active blogging. If you leave me a comment, I will try to stop by and visit you. I'll be back around Sept. 20th, reenergized and ready to make bigger and better messes in the kitchen. Peace.

12 comments:

natalia said...

Ciao ! I love your cinnamony post !! I hope your Ramadan is peaceful for you too !

Jennifer said...

These truly look LETHALLY DELICIOUS! BRAVO!

Jessica said...

I love that you made a double batch, how great. I hope that your hiatus gives you time to regroup. See you in a month!

Unknown said...

Really is there anything better than a cinnamon roll? Those look soooo good.

Happy Ramadan celebrating or easy fasting. Do you even wish someone that? Whatever you wish someone for Ramadan, I wish it to you :)

sara/imafoodblog.com

Pamela said...

These rolls look quite enticing. And what a nice friend you are, doubling the batch for work!! Hope it's a good month for you.

Anonymous said...

Your cinnamon rolls look delicious. I need to make these again.

Anonymous said...

Looks delicious!

margot said...

Yum, I want to reach into the screen and grab one!

Cathy said...

I agree that these are perfect, and yours look perfect! These are now my go-to cinnamon buns.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I'm sure if you hadn't doubled the recipe there would have been a stampede for certain! I loved this recipe and I think I overhydrated mine also (forgot that until I read your post). A bit of extra flour and bob's your uncle!

Kayte said...

Oh, your rolls looks so very tasty! What a great photo in that last shot...leaps off the page and makes me wish I could have a bite! Great job.

Unknown said...

I love that first photo! Your cinnamon rolls look perfect! How sweet of your hubs to take a day off to spend with you on your furlough day :)