Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch (in 2 hours or less!)

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a dozen times: "Makeand beat until smooth.Stir in 3 more cups of flour. Begin
homemade cinnamon rolls? From scratch? Are youkneading the dough, adding the final cup of flour. If the
crazy? That takes all day!"Actually, it depends upondough seems too sticky, knead in more flour, a quarter
the recipe.I have several recipes for homemadeto a half cup at a time.Let the dough "rest" for 15 to 20
cinnamon rolls that do, indeed, take at least allminutes. (I leave it sitting on the counter and use the
afternoon, if not all day -- scald the milk and let it cooltime to wash up the bowl and other utensils and to
to room temperature (30 minutes); mix the dough andclean off the counter top.)Roll the dough into a
let it raise for an hour (1.5 hours); punch down therectangle that's 24 to 30 inches long by about 16
dough and let it raise for another hour (1 hour); shapeinches wide. Spread with soft butter and sprinkle with
into cinnamon rolls and let raise for another hour (1.5cinnamon and sugar. Starting at the wide end, roll into a
hours); and then, finally, bake the cinnamon rolls (30log.Cut the cinnamon rolls into equal sized slices
minutes) -- for a grand total of 5 hours from start to(approximately one inch wide each or slightly more)
finish.But it doesn't have to be that way. You really canand place into two greased 9x13 pans. Put in a warm
make homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch in twoplace to rise for 45 minutes.Bake at 350 degrees for
hours or less.Here's my recipe:2 cups of warm water125 minutes (or until the cinnamon rolls are golden
2 cup sugar4 teaspoons dry yeast (or two packagesbrown).Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then turn out of
of dry yeast)2 eggs1 teaspoon salt1/3 cup Canola oil (Ithe pans.This recipes makes two dozen cinnamon rolls.
use Canola, but you can use any kind of cooking oil)If you want REALLY BIG cinnamon rolls, cut into 12
(you can also use shortening, if you prefer)6 to 7 cupsequal pieces 2 inches wide.Total amount of time
of flourDissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let sitneeded from start to finish (including time to bake) is
for a minute or two. Add the sugar and salt. Mix. Addabout 2 hours.
the cooking oil (or shortening), 2 eggs, 2 cups of flour