Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Cider Glaze

I love cinnamon rolls, I’ve blogged before about my obsession with Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls. There aren’t many things better than a cinnamon roll with cup of coffee or for me tea. So, with all these great apples and cider around I decided to play with my cinnamon roll recipe a bit. That’s what baking is all about, right? Taking regular recipes and changing them up to make them even better.

Now, when I am baking with apples I like to use McIntosh, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious and of course Granny Smiths. They are great for baking, because they hold up well when baking and don’t turn to mush. You can use whatever you favorite is, these are mine. Also I combined the idea of sticky buns with the caramel in the bottom of the baking dish. And being that I had a jug of apple cider in the fridge, I used that to make the caramel sauce.

 Cinnamon rolls

1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

2 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup butter, melted

4 1/2 cups bread flour

1 teas salt

1/2 cup white sugar

1 pkg yeast (1/4 ounce or 2 ½ tsp if you buy in bulk like me)

For the Filling:

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 medium to large apples peeled, cored and diced

For the Glaze:

1 cup of powdered sugar

2 tbsp butter, softened

A splash or 2 of apple cider

Apple Cider Caramel Sauce:

2 cups apple cider

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp butter

1tsp vanilla

Directions

Dissolve, yeast in warm milk in a large bowl. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Knead dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour otherwise you will be pick dough off your hands for hours. Put in a bowl and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. Now here is the great thing about making any kind of dough. If you aren’t ready to use it, go and let out some aggression and punch down the dough. I call it dough therapy. Do this until you are ready to move to the next step.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. And peel and chop apples.

Spray work surface, whatever it may be (counter top or grandma’s antique table) with cooking spray or sprinkle flour on it otherwise get out your chisel to get the dried dough up. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread dough with 1/2 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture and pat it down. Then sprinkle on apples.

To make the Apple Cider Caramel Sauce; put apple cider in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until reduced by about half. Add sugar, butter and vanilla. Then cook until thicken. Let cool and pour in the bottom of baking dish.

Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls (or smaller rolls). Place rolls in 9x13 inch glass baking dish with caramel sauce. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled. This should take about 30 minutes. 

                            

Meanwhile, pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls in pre heated oven until golden brown, about 20–30 minutes.

While cinnamon rolls are in the oven make the glaze. Mix butter and powdered sugar together, and then add apple cider until you get a nice yummy glaze. When the cinnamon rolls come out of the oven, drizzle the glaze over the rolls. Be blessed and enjoy.

“Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Red Star Yeast.”

Finding Your Strength After Losing a Child

I have debated all month whether or not to write this post. I am a food blogger, but I am also a mom and don't really talk about my children that much. That changes today, it is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month and I am sharing my story for the Million Moms Challenge.

Today is a very bittersweet day for me; on one hand it is my brother's birthday and on the other it is the day I lost my son Dominic. While I no longer mourn his passing; I celebrate the life and time I had with him. He had such an impact on everyone he came in contact with. He suffered with really severe eczema; so bad to the point where he would scratch until he was bleeding. He was the sweetest little boy you would love to meet.

The day he passed was much any other day. He had been fighting a little stomach bug and was laying down to take a nap, and being I was up all night with him and 5 months pregnant I decided to take a nap as well. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him alive. I ran through all the "what-ifs" and "if I only just" thoughts, and I realized that what happened was beyond my control. Then I had to make a choice, do I let grief take over my life and not take care if myself and my family. Or honor him through my actions and by helping others.

Many people have said to me and my husband that they don't know if they could have survived losing a child; and I tell them if you have faith in God and believe in his word you can get through anything. I wasn't going to let the devil use this situation to rob me of my relationship with God. If anything it pulled me closer to him; all my strength comes from Him. I chose to live my life as a testimony to God's love and help other mom's who have lost a child. I recently saw the movie Courageous and the Pastor said that surviving after losing a loved one is like living with an amputation. You will never feel complete again, but learn to adapt and keep going. I think about my little boy everyday, but I will continue to honor him by serving others. If my story helps just one person cope with a lose then it will all be worth it. Be blessed and remember to cherish your children.