Valentines Gifts :: Heart Cinnamon Rolls :: Recipes

Cont’ from Cinnamon rolls in various heart shapes: a Valentines Idea.

:: Recipe

Valentine Heart Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

The Ingredients

Dough:
1 cup lukewarm milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 packet dry yeast
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted

2 cups of (bread) flour

Filling:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 T. cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar

Optional: add a handful of raisins in exchange for a bit of the sugar

Icing:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1:

In a large bowl, pour your lukewarm milk, sugar and yeast. Let is sit for 10 min. to proof your yeast is working. It should smell yeasty and form bubbles. If it doesn’t after 20 min, use other yeast.

Step 2:

Stir in 2 cups of sifted flour with the mixture in the bowl, 1/3 a cup at a time. Then, alternate adding eggs and melted butter. Add the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour.

Tip: Depending on local humidity, you may need a bit more or less flour to create a cohesive, not-too-sticky dough. Dry weather means less flour needed.

Step 3:

knead the dough with your hands in the bowl just a bit for the gluten to develop. Create a ball. Pour some oil all over the ball of dough and place it into a deep bowl. Cover with towel and place in warm spot to let rise for 2 hours.

Step 4:

Roll dough out onto a clean, flour-dusted surface with a flour-covered rolling pin. Sprinkle with some flour and let dough sit for a few minutes. Roll again, to approx. 16 x 21’”.

Step 5:

Make filling by melting butter and brush it over the entire the rolled out dough. While leaving 1/2” of its long side without filling, sprinkle dough with cinnamon and sifted brown sugar. Tip: different types of cinnamon varies in strength. Adjust the amount you put on to its strength and your taste. Optional: add raisins now.

Step 6:

Roll dough. To make a cinnamon roll heart, roll the dough from either side towards the center, see pictures above. For a regular cinnamon pin shape, roll the dough into one direction.

Tip: the objective is to get a long, long log of dough, which means you should roll it along the entire length of the dough.

Step 7:

Cut the log into 12 even-sized hearts or pin wheels. Press each in shape as needed. Place onto buttered oven pan of approximately 9″ x 13″ x 2″ pan, with even spacing in between. Let the pinwheels rise in a warm location for another 1/2 hour till doubled in size. Bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes till golden brown.

ICING

Step 8:

Ensure cream cheese and butter are at room temperature. Briefly mix cream cheese with butter till smooth. Add vanilla, salt and gradually all confectioner’s sugar while stirring. Once all together, mix it fluffy with a mixer. For pink icing, add a drop of red food coloring.

Step 9:

Once your cinnamon rolls or hearts are done, take them out of the oven. Cool them for a few minutes before adding icing.

Yummy Valentines !

Footnote:

OK, these heart valentines cakes sure are flower & sugar-bombs,

and are therefore usually in my personal ‘no no, can’t eat that’- category,

but February 14, we’ll make an exception.

Furthermore, don’t make them for yourself, but for your loved ones

who can usually get away with eating a lot more calories

without gaining an ounce.