These big, fluffy, soft easy homemade cinnamon rolls with a sweet vanilla icing are the cinnamon rolls you dream of when you're craving cinnamon rolls.
9cupsunbleached all-purpose flourplus more for dusting
1cupgranulated sugar
2packages4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
1tablespoonsalt
3cupswater
6tablespoonsshortening Crisco or butter
2eggs beaten
Filling
½cupsoftened butter
1 ½cupsbrown sugar
2tablespoonscinnamon
1cupraisins
Icing
4tablespoonsunsalted butter softened
2cupspowdered sugar
4tablespoonsmilk
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine 5 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
In saucepan or microwave-safe dish, heat water and shortening until warm (120° – 130°).
Add liquids to flour mixture. Add eggs. Blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 4 minutes at medium speed.
Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining flour a little at a time, to make a soft dough, add more or less flour as needed. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double about 30 minutes.
Grease tw 9x13-inch pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Divide dough in half. With a rolling pin, roll one half of the dough into a rectangular shape, about 22 X 13 inches. Spread dough evenly with half of the softened butter. Sprinkle dough with half of the brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins.
Starting from one of the long sides of the rectangle, roll the dough into a log. Using a piece of unflavored dental floss, cut the log into 12 rolls about 1 ½ inches thick. Place rolls in greased 9X13 baking pans. Repeat with the other half of the dough and filling. Allow the rolls to rise, covered, until they've doubled in size 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 28-32 minutes or until cinnamon rolls are golden brown on top and cooked in the middle. The internal temperature of the rolls should be 190–200°F. Remove from the oven and let the rolls cool to room temperature.
While the rolls are cooling, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Frost the cooled cinnamon rolls generously!
Notes
Overnight: You can refrigerate the rolls overnight and bake in the morning. Put the rolls in the pans and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, pull the rolls out and let them come to room temperature and rise a little before baking