Recipe epiphanies: Mini cinnamon rolls

The Christmas season is nearly upon us and something my family does around this time is baking one of my personal favorites: cinnamon rolls. However, I haven’t been able to have the ones that my family usually makes because I’m gluten free, so it was time to try ones that I could have.

This recipe takes less time because there’s no yeast involved. The total time should only be about 55 minutes. Within an hour, you should have 12 mini cinnamon rolls. Let’s get started!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a muffin tin. Set aside.

Basic cinnamon roll dough

• 2 ½ cups gluten free flour blend
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature, cubed
• ¾ cup room temperature milk

In a medium bowl, whisk your flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together. Add your softened butter and stir to combine. Stir in the milk. It should become a basic cinnamon roll dough. The recipe calls for a stand mixer, but I don’t have one so I just did the next part by hand. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin. I usually cut off the extra pieces to make it a perfect rectangle, but that’s optional. You can use the extra pieces of dough to make more cinnamon rolls.

Filling

• Melted butter
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Pour the melted butter on to the dough and spread it out in an even layer. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon, and add however much you want.

Start to roll your dough tightly. If your dough is sticky, sprinkle a little flour on your hands to make it easier. Use a knife to cut 12 even pieces, and place each piece in its own muffin tin spot.

Now they are ready to go into the oven. Set your timer for 25 minutes.

Icing

• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Milk

While the cinnamon rolls are baking, it is time to make your cream cheese frosting. Notice that I didn’t add measurements for this section. Depending on how thick you want your icing, you will add more or less of these ingredients. Generally speaking, you should add more cream cheese than anything. You can start with three equal parts and adjust it as needed. Start mixing these three ingredients together until you get the desired consistency.

After taking the mini cinnamon rolls out of the oven, wait for them to cool before topping them with the cream cheese frosting.

Bon appétit!