Cinnamon Rolls by Bing

Step 1

Begin by pouring 4 C of whole milk into a large cooking pot.

Step 2

Add 1 C of sugar.

Step 3

Add 1 C of vegetable oil.

Step 4

Heat it over a medium flame and stir till sugar has dissolved. Do NOT boil.

Step 5

Set the mixture aside to cool till lukewarm. About 38 deg C. Check with your finger right into the mixture. If its hot, then cool some more. I should be just very mildly comfortably warm to the touch.

Step 6

When the mixture is lukewarm, add 2 packets of instant dry yeast (about 16g, 4.5 teaspoons).

Step 7

Sprinkle the yeast on the surface of the mixture. Leave it for 3 to 5 minutes. If the yeast is fresh and alive, you will see it growing and poofing up.

Step 8

Add 8 C of plain flour.

Step 9

Mix it all up together. Dont overmix.

Step 10

Cover with a table cloth and set aside covered in a warm place for 1 hour.

Step 11

After an hour, the dough would have risen to twice its size. Punch the dough down.

Step 12

Add the last C of flour.

Step 13

Add 1 heaping teaspoon of baking powder.

Step 14

Add 1 scant teaspoon of baking soda.

Step 15

Add 2 teaspoons of salt.

Step 16

Mix it up. Cover the dough again. And this time, either leave it in a warm place again for 1 hour. Or leave it covered in the fridge for 3 hours to rise slowly.

Step 17

Note: I left it in the fridge for 3 hours. The dough may be easier to manage when left to rise this way instead as it will be colder and harder.

Step 18

After the mentioned time, the dough would have risen again. Punch it down.

Step 19

Knead the dough for a few moments and then transfer the dough to the working table that has been lightly floured.

Step 20

If the dough is too wet at this stage. Chill it in the fridge for a while. Itll help.

Step 21

Flour a rolling pin. And roll out the dough into a huge long rectangle.

Step 22

Cut the dough into 2 parts. So that there are two long pieces of dough.

Step 23

Pour 2 cups of melted butter onto the rolled out dough.

Step 24

Note: Check your dough. If its VERY wet, reduce the amount of melted butter added at this stage. When the rolls are laid out in the pan later, pour the rest of the melted butter on them instead. I really prefer to add all the melted butter at this stage because the flavour goes right into the dough.

Step 25

Using fingers, evenly distribute the butter.

Step 26

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cinnamon over the dough.

Step 27

Sprinkle 1 cup of castor sugar over the dough.

Step 28

Sprinkle 1 cup of brown sugar over the dough. As brown sugar gets clumpy. I scattered the sugar on the dough with my fingers.

Step 29

Chop some pecan nuts to get about 2 cups worth of chopped pecans.

Step 30

Sprinkle the chopped pecan nuts onto the rolled dough.

Step 31

Roll up the dough, lengthwise. It will be a really long roll. If the dough is very wet and you are struggling to roll it, add some flour to the surfaces to help you roll.

Step 32

Cut into 1 inch thick rolls.

Step 33

Rub pans or baking dishes generously with more melted butter.

Step 34

Place the cinnamon rolls comfortably in each pan/dish. Do not overcrowd as they will expand alot in the pan.

Step 35

Pour remaining butter over the rolls. Dont be afraid!

Step 36

Set them aside for 1 hour. If theres wind/draft in your kitchen, cover the rolls with table cloths. The rolls will rise some more.

Step 37

Pop the rolls into a oven, preheated at 180 deg Celsius.

Step 38

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes.

Step 39

While the rolls are baking, make the icing. Dont get stressed about the proportions. Just mix the ingredients till you get a gooey consistency to pour over like syrup.

Step 40

Make a 1/4 cup of strong coffee with 1/4 cup water and one 3-in-1 coffee mix.

Step 41

Add 1 tablespoon of the best honey you can get your hands on. Maple syrup works too.

Step 42

Stir the honey into the coffee.

Step 43

Add a pinch of salt.

Step 44

Add 6 tablespoons of melted butter.

Step 45

Add 2 cups of icing sugar.

Step 46

Whisk it all up.

Step 47

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh cream.

Step 48

Stir in the cream.

Step 49

Pour the icing over the rolls while they are still hot.