Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients:

For The Dough:

• 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 cups bread or all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 and 1/4 teaspoons instant or active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature or browned
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Filling:

• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft or browned and room temperature
• 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Brown Butter Cream Cheese Icing:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature or browned
• 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

1. Brown the Butter (if using):
   • In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Stir occasionally until butter bubbles.
   • Continue stirring as it sputters and foams, watching for amber color and small brown flecks.
   • Remove from heat and divide as per the recipe notes.
2. Prepare the Dough:
   • In a mixer bowl, combine flour (starting with 3 1/2 cups), sugars, yeast, and salt.
   • Warm milk in the microwave and combine with the flour mixture, along with the eggs, vanilla, and butter.
   • Using a dough hook, mix until the dough forms and becomes tacky. Add more flour as needed.
   • Let the dough rise in an oiled bowl, covered, in a warm place for about an hour.
3. Prepare the Filling:
   • Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
   • Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle. Spread butter and sprinkle the sugar mixture.
4. Shape and Bake:
   • Roll the dough tightly and slice into sections.
   • Place in a prepared baking pan and let rise for another 30-45 minutes.
   • Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 23-28 minutes or until golden.
5. For the Icing:
   • In a mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese. Add brown sugar, vanilla, and powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
   • Spread over cooled cinnamon rolls.

Notes:

• For active dry yeast, activate with warm milk and some sugar before proceeding.
• Adjustments are needed if not browning the butter, refer to the given recipe notes.
• For a classic cream cheese icing, ingredients are provided in the notes.

This cinnamon roll recipe is a delightful treat, made even more special with the flavor of brown butter. Perfect for breakfast or dessert!