Coming up...

for week #3: Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze! Can't wait to try them!

Last weekend I finally got up the nerve to make Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. It had always seemed like a very big task and I was nervous about making them. Actually, for some reason, the scariest step seemed the first-- scalding the milk. How do you do that? How do you know if it's scalded? Is it warm enough? Did I get it too warm? But I decided to face my fears and I was rewarded greatly!

In her cookbook, the Pioneer Woman gives step-by-step instructions along with pictures. I am very much a visual person, so I am thankful for these pictures. I'm not sure whether I did the milk-scalding business right or not, but they seemed to have turned out all right.

Waiting for the dough to rise


After the dough rose for an hour, I mixed in more ingredients and then started rolling them out on the table. I decided to make a half batch for my first endeavor because she said the full amount would make 40-50 rolls!!! We definitely didn't need that many sitting around. I rolled out the dough, poured on melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Then I rolled it back up, with the butter and filling oozing out -- a good sign according to PW!-- and then sliced them up. I was a little nervous because they were quite a variety of sizes and I was afraid I hadn't done something right and they wouldn't set up. But when we came back home, they'd had PLENTY of time to rise I'd say...



Sorry for the shadow-- I'm still working on the whole photography thing.



I ended up getting four pans worth of rolls. They baked for about 13 min. in the oven and they came out beautifully...



While they were baking, I mixed up the icing that I would be drizzling... no... pouring onto them once they were out of the oven!


Powdered Sugar

Butter

Maple Extract

Coffee

Milk

I just salivated...

So they came out of the oven, I poured on the icing and gave them about 44 seconds to cool before I scooped one out of the pan to try. I had heard so many things about these rolls, would they live up to their high expectations? ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY YES! I seriously wanted to eat the entire pan. If there was any way I could have justified doing so, I would have. Nevertheless, I ate two of those gems and decided I would never make cinnamon rolls out of a can again. Why had I ever thought that was ok? Why did I ever choose that shortcut? What have I been missing all this time?

These! These are what I've been missing! Ooey, gooey, delicious, and lovely!



You will see these again. Mark my words.



I plan to try to her variations-- orange marmalade, caramel apple, and perhaps even the chocolate chip version. When the holidays arrive, I intend to make more, many more! Pioneer Woman promised hugs and kisses and squeals of delight from any and all who try these, so I intend to make that happen. Wouldn't you want one?



Maybe it's time to go ahead and get that last pan out of the freezer...

To life... full of cinnamon rolls, THESE cinnamon rolls!