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There is no better way to show your family and friends you love them than with a warm batch of homemade cinnamon rolls. These do take planning and a bit of time, but they are so much better than anything store bought, and well worth it!

You will need these ingredients to make 1 dozen large rolls:

For the dough:

  • 1/2 cup plain mashed potatoes
  • 1/2 cup reserved potato water
  • 7 tablespoons cut up butter
  • 1/4 + 1/8 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 1/4 cups flour

For the filling:

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the icing:

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk
  1. Start by peeling and boiling the potatoes. Pour hot potato water into a mug to reserve it, and mash your potatoes. In a mixing bowl, combine mashed potatoes, reserved potato water, butter, sugar, salt, and hot water. Stir until the butter melts, and let it cool for about 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup warm water and the yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Add egg, 1 cup of flour, and the yeast mixture to the potato mixture and beat until mixed well. Add the flour to the mixture a cup at a time until the dough forms.
  2. Now it’s time to knead the dough. I usually use my bread hook in my mixer on low/medium speed for about 10 minutes. Or you can kneed it on a floured surface by hand for about 10 minutes as well. Place it in a bowl sprayed with cooking spray and cover it with a towel.
  3. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for 1 hour, until doubled in size. Punch the dough down and divide in half.
  4. Roll the dough on a floured surface into a 12×18 inch rectangle shape. Spread the filling butter all over the rectangle. Combine the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon and sprinkle it all over the butter. Roll the rectangle tightly and cut into 12 even rolls. Place in a lightly greased 9×13 inch pan. Cover with foil and let them rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
  5. Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes, or until center rolls are cooked through.
  6. Let them cool for about 15 minutes.
  7. Prepare the icing by mixing all the ingredients together. Pour the icing over the warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

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