These are a “I made them for no other reason than I was really craving a cinnamon roll” muffin. Do you ever just wake up and you are craving something that you usually don’t crave? I blame it on a night of consuming a couple of more beers than normal. This action always seems to do strange things to me the following morning. I’ve never had much success with cinnamon rolls. They always come out a big, gooey mess. They are especially difficult when you make them from scratch. I think many go-to cinnamon roll recipes involve a store bought crescent roll dough. I would have totally gone this route, if I had this dough lying around, but I didn’t and I certainly didn’t feel like going to the store. What kind of sense would that make on a Sunday morning? Well my cinnamon roll muffins still totally came out a big, gooey mess, but I was able to salvage a couple of “good-looking” ones. I have to admit, they were still absolutely scrumptious! My oven on the other hand was not as happy, since the bottom of my oven is now covered in a burnt cinnamon and sugar concoction. We will get to cleaning that a little later I think.
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Everyone. Meet Pippa. Isn’t she just adorable =). She is also a … terror, but who cares since she is cute. Her and Cilantro ALMOST love each other!
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Like I was saying, I usually make a big mess when I make cinnamon rolls. I think that if you decide to try out this recipe, then line the bottom rack of your oven with either foil, or a large baking sheet (just in case the filling oozes out over the sides of the muffin tin). I should have taken a picture of my muffin pan after the rolls came out of the oven. I was a little embarrassed by the look of it though, so I decided to save you from that horrible visual =). This is why I decided to use a muffin tin in the first place. I thought it would help, since every time I make them in a pie dish, they ooze all over the place. Quite the common occurrence, don’t you think? Don’t let this deter you. They are really worth it in the end, even if they don’t look so hot =).
Try a delicious beer for this beer pairing. Dogfish Head’s Brown Ale: Raison D’Etre is absolutely incredible and the perfect dessert beer. It’s also the perfect breakfast beer, if you decide to go that route…But anyway, this beer is brewed with raisins and beet sugar. You can’t really go wrong with that combination. Now that I think of it, I should have totally put raisins in this recipe, but oh well, can’t have it all! Next time!
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Apple really makes these rolls.
The cinnamon also helps.
Oh, and the nutmeg…
Oh right and that little thing we like to call sugar…a lot of sugar.
Oh and butter…but we can stop there for now. I think that’s enough persuasion for one day. It’s Sunday, so I’ll try to keep it cool.
…and by cool, I guess that means I’m calling it a day. I think a new cookbook, a latte and reruns of Parks and Recreation sounds like the best way to spend the rest of my Sunday!
Happy Sunday Funday everyone!
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Ingredients
- FOR THE ROLLS
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- FOR THE FILLING
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1/2 of an apple, skins removed and finely minced
- FOR THE GLAZE
- 1/2 cup apple cider (or pureed apple)
- 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and spray a 6-count muffin pan (or the middle six molds of a 12-count muffin pan) with a non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and slightly-cooled melted butter. Slowly fold the buttermilk/butter mixture into the flour mixture. Stir until the ingredients are combined and the dough takes on a stringy consistency. If you have a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and transfer the dough to the bowl of your stand mixer. Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes or until it is smooth and easy to handle. If you do not have a stand mixer on hand, then knead the dough in the bowl with your hand for about a minute (make sure to flour your hands as the dough is sticky).
- For the filling, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, butter and minced apple. Mix to combine with a fork and set aside.
- Dump the dough onto a generously-floured work surface and flour the top of the dough as well. With your hand press the dough into a 13x9in. square (give or take an inch). Spread the filling onto the dough, leaving a 1 inch border. Roll the dough, starting with the shorter end very carefully and tightly, into a log (this can get messy, so have a scraper on hand just in case the dough begins to stick to the work surface. Once rolled, cut the log into 6 equal pieces. Place each piece (cut side down) into the muffin tins. If you would like smaller muffins, then cut 8-10 pieces and spray 2-4 more muffins molds.
- Bake the muffins at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until they begin to brown slightly.
- While your muffins are baking, prepare your glaze. In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider, confectioner's sugar, honey, vanilla extract, nutmeg and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Let reduce for about 25-30 minutes or until the glaze reaches your desired consistency.
- Remove your muffins from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes on a wire rack. Lightly drizzle the glaze on top or serve on the side for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
Hardware: * Bowls (of all sizes) * Whisk * Wooden Spoons * Stand Mixer (with dough attachment fixed) * Rubber Spatulas * Saucepans * Measuring Cups * Measuring Spoons * Muffin Pan * Baking Spray * Baking Sheet (to place under the muffin pan, just in case they "ooze" over * Wire Rack *
