Sunday, December 23, 2012

Zany’s Visions of Cinnamon Rolls


With Christmas Eve just hours away, what better way to mark the occasion than with a post on something warm, sweet and delicious?  As the big day approaches, guest blogger and birthday girl Zany shares her coveted recipe for Mini Cinnamon Rolls – perfect for a holiday breakfast – and offers some personal memories of Christmas Past:  

I love the holiday season. Maybe it's because I was born on Christmas Eve and it's second nature to me. Whatever the reason, no other time during the year makes me as happy as now, strolling down city streets lit with shimmering bulbs or turning on the TV any night of the week to find my favorite holiday flick, "The Christmas Story."

But, some of my favorite holiday memories come from the kitchen. While my older sister would snooze through the early morning hours on Christmas morning, my mom would entertain her anxious, early-riser in the kitchen, preparing a number of breakfast finger foods to sustain our gift-opening extravaganza. One recipe that particularly stuck with me is one that my mom collected from a Pampered Chef party in the 90's - mini cinnamon rolls. Easy to pull together (less than 30 minutes!), and there isn't a lot of time commitment in stealing one and popping it into your mouth, making for a smooth transition in the gift-opening process.

In fact, the cinnamon rolls became such a staple for me that I pull out the recipe any time of year now - breakfasts when we have guests, weekend brunch and even just a simple treat for my co-workers. The dish elicits at least one, "oh so cute!" from someone in the group who hasn't seen them before, and for those holiday calorie hawks, one of these bad boys doesn't make a person feel as guilty as that delicious-looking doughnut. 

I pride myself in searching for the perfect holiday gift for those on my list. So, for my Culinary Types friends, I think this recipe does the trick! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Zany
Zany’s Mini Cinnamon Rolls 

Rolls:
Two cans of crescent rolls
½ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Icing:
1 stick butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 ounces cream cheese
 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions:
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Break open crescent roll containers. Pinch together the dotted seems so that two triangles make one rectangle.
  • Spread butter on each of the rectangles.
  • Mix sugar and cinnamon and spread equally across all rectangles.
  • Rolls rectangles into a jelly roll. Pinch the seam together. Cut each roll into five equal pieces.
  • Grease two 9” round pie pans. Split the number of pieces between the two pans and stagger the pieces.
  •  Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove the pie pans and turn them upside down on plates. Wait 30 seconds until the cinnamon rolls “drop” from pans onto the plates, lift the pans.
  • While the rolls are cooling, mix all ingredients for the icing. (Note:  A hand mixer works well, and sifting the powdered sugar will make the icing nice and smooth.   Use a tablespoon of milk if you want a more spreadable consistency.)  Coat the rolls with icing once cooled.
  • Serve for a special holiday breakfast, bring into the office on birthdays, or “just because” days. Extra points if you also bring in coffee and Bailey’s.
©2012 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved   

10 comments:

Gloria Baker said...

O adore cinnamon rolls and these look awesome:)
Merry Christmas!

Mad Me-Shell said...

I myself can attest to the deliciousness factor of these little delights. This is one of the tasty perks of being friends with Zany....thanks for sharing!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

How fun to have some time with your mom in the kitchen, whipping up goodies. Your mini cinnamon rolls sound divine and just the thing for a special breakfast.

Happy holidays & Merry Christmas to you Zany and also to you T.W.
Sam

tasteofbeirut said...

oh these crescent rolls! I used them years ago to make zaatar crescents! wish we had them available here. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you and Zany and all the fun people that contribute to this blog's cast of characters.

Deana Sidney said...

Happy Birthday to you... and merry christmas! These rolls are a hoot... and one of my favorite things... cinnamon rolls, YES!

Zany said...

@Mad - I must say I think they went best with your scrapple!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Zany, you snared me. These look and sound delicious and definitely worthy of the Christmas table. I hope you and, by extension T.W., have a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas! Hugs and blessings...Mary

Lori Lynn said...

T.W., Zany, and Me-Shell:
Best wishes for a dazzling Christmas and a fabulous New Year. And happy birthday Zany, the cinnamon rolls look perfectly festive and delicious...
LL

Axelle the french cook said...

A very typical american cakes for us, french people. Never tasted it but I would like.

Fresh Local and Best said...

I love cinnamon rolls and the way house smells when they are baking. I should include these in the Christmas tradition next year. A belated Merry Christmas to you!