Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls

by | Dec 17, 2023 | Breads, Yeast Bread | 0 comments

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Cardamom Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

For the Vanilla Bean Brioche Dough:

  • 245 g milk warm 115°F
  • 7 g instant dry yeast
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 85 g unsalted butter melted
  • 500 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

For the Cardamom Cinnamon Sugar Filling:

  • 115 g unsalted butter softened
  • 220 g dark brown sugar
  • 6 g ground cinnamon
  • 6 g ground cardamom optionally, use all cinnamon
  • 80 g heavy cream warm

For the Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 85 g cream cheese softened
  • 55 g unsalted butter
  • 240 g powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 60 g milk

Instructions

  • Make the vanilla bean brioche dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl, mix together the yeast with the milk. Add the eggs, butter, flour, salt, sugar, and vanilla bean paste and mix until the ingredients are just barely combined. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes so the flour has time to hydrate.
  • Using the hook attachment, beat on medium speed until a soft dough forms. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until the dough is soft and supple, about 6 minutes longer. *If you do not have a stand-mixer with a hook attachment, knead the dough by hand in this step.*
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it with your hands for 1 minute. Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly greased bowl. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap, a paper towel, or aluminum foil and let sit in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Make the cardamom cinnamon sugar filling: While the rolls are rising, make the filling. Add the softened butter, dark brown sugar, cardamom, and cinnamon to a medium bowl and combine using a fork until a thick paste forms. Set aside.
  • Grease the bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, punch it down and, using a rolling pin, roll into a 12×18 inch rectangle. Make sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick.
  • Spread the cardamom cinnamon sugar filling all over the dough. Tightly roll up the dough to form an 18-inch-long log and cut into 12 even rolls. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan. Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes or until nearly double.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C).
  • Once the rolls have risen, pour the heavy cream over the top of the rolls, allowing it to soak down in and around the rolls. (The cream shouldn't be hot to the touch, just slightly warm.)
  • Bake the rolls for 20-23 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through. Remove pan from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes as you make the icing.
  • Make the brown butter vanilla bean cream cheese icing: Cube the butter and place in a light-colored skillet. (Light colored helps you determine when the butter begins browning.) Melt the butter over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once melted, the butter will start to foam. Keep stirring. After 5-8 minutes, the butter will begin browning; you'll notice lightly browned specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan, and you'll start to smell a nutty aroma. Once browned, immediately remove from heat, pour into a medium heatproof mixing bowl.
  • Add the softened cream cheese to the butter mixture and whisk to combine. Add the remaining icing ingredients to the bowl and whisk until smooth and combined. If the icing is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar; if it's too thick, add more milk. Drizzle icing over warm rolls. Cover leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes

HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON ROLLS AHEAD OF TIME:

Option 1: REFRIGERATE DOUGH AFTER 1ST RISE BEFORE  MAKING ROLLS.
  1. Punch down the dough after the first rise.
  2. Place the vanilla bean brioche dough in a large bowl and tightly cover it with plastic wrap and a tea towel or with a lid and refrigerate overnight.
  3. Remove the dough the following day and proceed with the recipe. Keep in mind that assembled rolls will take longer on the second rise if the dough is cold.
 
Option 2: REFRIGERATE ASSEMBLED CINNAMON ROLLS TO BAKE THE NEXT DAY
  1. Tightly wrap the assembled (but not risen) cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap and cover with a damp tea towel or the lid to the baking dish.
  2. Refrigerate overnight.
  3. In the morning, remove the assembled rolls from the refrigerator. Loosen the plastic wrap and let the cinnamon rolls come to room temperature and complete their second rise covered with loose-fitting plastic wrap and a warm, damp tea towel.
  4. Bake the risen rolls according to the recipe!
 
Option 3: FREEZE CINNAMON ROLLS TO BAKE AT A LATER DATE. 
  1. Prepare the cinnamon rolls through their second rise.
  2. Instead of baking the cinnamon rolls for the entire time, just bake them partway (par-baking) for 10 to 15 minutes. The rolls should be raised and set, but not totally browned.
  3. Remove from the oven and let the rolls cool completely in the pan.
  4. Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap or place them into a large plastic bag and seal. Freeze for 8 hours or up to 6 weeks.
  5. The night before you want to serve the rolls, take them out of the freezer and place them, still wrapped, in the refrigerator. They will thaw overnight.
  6. Unwrap the cinnamon rolls the next morning and bake them at 350°F until they are completely done and a light golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes.