Cinnamon Rolls in Under an Hour + Weekend Update

Quick(er) Cinnamon Rolls
Or "Yummy Snakes," as Riley calls them.

Dough:
1 1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 Tbs oil
2 Tbs rapid-rise yeast
1 tsp salt
1 egg at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups flour

Filling:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup of butter, melted
2 tsp. cinnamon

Glaze:
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs half and half
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs melted butter
1-3 Tbs milk, as needed to achieve desired glazey consistency

Directions: Mix water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl, set aside till frothy on top, about five minutes. Add oil, egg, and salt. In large bowl, add 2 1/2 cups flour. Pour yeast mix into flour and stir with a wooden spoon, adding flour till kneadable (dough will be very soft and light). Turn out on lightly-floured surface and knead for about eight minutes, or till smooth and springs back when poked. If using a kitchen aid mixer, use kneading attachment to knead for 3-4 minutes. Roll dough out into a wide rectangle, fairly thin (about a quarter inch).

Pour melted butter on rectangle, spread evenly with spoon or pastry brush. Combine sugars and cinnamon in a small bowl and pour mixture over butter, using a spoon to even out the layer. Roll up the dough tightly, slice into 1 inch pieces and place in a greased cookie sheet. Cover with lightly greased wax paper and place in a warm, draft-free spot for 20-30 minutes to rise.

Bake at 400 degrees about ten minutes or lightly golden on top.

While baking, whisk together glaze ingredients, spoon over rolls hot out of the oven. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from here.

I made these on Saturday and they were a great way to start a chilly fall weekend! After breakfast we packed a lunch and hopped on a bus to the zoo (Riley could die of happiness, riding a bus. She kept saying, "This is amazing! I like this. Wheels go round and round!" accompanied by the arm movements.) It was cold and windy so we mostly dashed from building to building to see the animals, eat our lunch, and then charged through piles of leaves to get back to the bus stop. Naps. Pizza. Harry Potter. Dave and I are on number six and will probably finish the set by Halloween if not before. October is a good month for a Potter marathon, no? 

Oh look! I finally gave Riley a good haircut! It turned out way better than my previous attempts.
Apparently the trick is to breastfeed the one-year old during part of it. MOM POWER!!!

Have a great week!