BASIC SWEET DOUGH
1 cup water
2 eggs (or egg replacer - I use 1/2 tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp water for each egg called for)
1/4 cup butter or margarine (we use Earth Balance Soy Free most of the time, but I used canola oil this time and they turned out fine!)
2 tsp salt
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp skim milk powder (we omit this entirely and it turns out fine)
2 tsp quick rise yeast (we use bread machine yeast)
Add ingredients as per your machine's manufacturer instructions, and choose the DOUGH setting. Let it do it's thing.
Once the dough is finished, on a floured surface, roll out dough into a rectangle shape, or as close to a rectangle as you can get. The bigger the rolled out dough, the more layers your buns will have!
Take about a tablespoon of melted butter or margarine, (we use Earth Balance Soy Free) and with a pastry brush, spatula or spoon, spread it evenly on the dough. I tend to eyeball the brown sugar/cinnamon ratio, but I'd say I use about 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Mix it well in a bowl, and cover your rolled out dough with it. Make sure to get the brown sugar and cinnamon right to the edges.
Tightly roll the dough until you have one big "log" looking piece, and because I'm very particular with size, score with a sharp knife, 12 equal sections to cut.
This last batch, I'll admit, I only got 11 pieces. Cut them, lie them on their side (so the cinnamon swirly part is up and down), and lay them in a greased baking dish.
Cover with a towel, and let rise in a warmish place for about an hour.
Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Now, my picture was taken prior to me drizzling icing over them, but I promise when I make more, I'll replace my picture with a nice frosted cinnamon bun one.
I was not completely satisfied with the icing recipe I had used this time, so I won't post it, in order to avoid anyone else's disappointment.
There are a ton of easy peasy cinnamon bun icing recipes though, from sticky gooey ones to cream cheese ones (which my family can't have, and although I'm pretty good at replacing foods to make them safe, cream cheese is one I simply cannot). If you find one that you love, please let me know so I can try it too!
Enjoy!
