Cinnamon Roll Bites

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk, warmed (about 110°F)
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup granulated sugar for topping
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for topping
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (optional)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (optional)
• 1 cup powdered sugar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, 1 packet of active dry yeast, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Mix well.
2. Add ½ cup of warmed milk, ¼ cup of melted butter, and 1 large egg to the dry ingredients. Mix until a dough forms.
3. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
5. In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup of softened butter, ½ cup of brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon until well combined.
6. Once the dough has risen, punch it down, then roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
7. Evenly spread the cinnamon filling over the rolled-out dough.
8. Starting from one edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Slice the log into 1-inch pieces to create bite-sized rolls.
9. Grease a baking dish or a muffin tin and arrange the mini cinnamon rolls inside, allowing a little space between each for expansion.
10. Cover the pan with a towel and let the cinnamon roll bites rise for another 30 minutes.
11. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cinnamon roll bites for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
12. While the rolls are baking, mix ¼ cup of granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
13. Once out of the oven, brush the warm cinnamon roll bites with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar topping immediately.
14. In a medium bowl, combine 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
15. Allow the cinnamon roll bites to cool slightly before drizzling with cream cheese frosting, if desired.

Nutrition