Amazing Cinnamon Buns (rolls)

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast (2 .25 oz. pkts.)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup water (110 degree)
• 1 cup warm milk
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup melted butter or 2/3 cup margarine
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 8 cups all-purpose flour (at most)
• 1/2 cup melted butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (optional) or 1 1/2 cups pecans (optional)
• 1/2 cup melted butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup melted butter or 2/3 cup margarine
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons hot water (up to 6 t)

Recipe

• 1 mix together 1 1/2 cups sugar and the cinnamon; set aside.
• 2 in a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoons sugar in warm water; set aside.
• 3 in a large bowl, mix together milk, 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup melted butter, salt, and eggs; add yeast mixture and 4 cups of flour to mixture; beat until smooth; stir in enough flour to form a slightly stiff dough.
• 4 turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead for 8 minutes or mix in a machine.
• 5 place dough into a large greased bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
• 6 punch down dough and let rest for 5 minutes.
• 7 roll dough out onto a floured surface into an approximately 15" x 20" rectangle.
• 8 brush 1/2 cup melted butter over dough; sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over dough; sprinkle nuts evenly over dough, if desired.
• 9 tightly roll up dough and pinch edges together to seal; cut the roll into about 16 slices using dental floss or thread.
• 10 coat the bottom of a 13" x 9" x 2" baking pan with 1/2 cup melted butter; sprinkle 1/3 cup sugar evenly in the bottom of the pan.
• 11 place cinnamon roll slices close together in the prepared pan; cover pan and allow to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes.
• 12 bake rolls in a 350 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
• 13 stir together powdered sugar, 2/3 cup melted butter, and extracts; stir in hot water, 1 tbls. at a time, until the glaze reaches desired spreading consistency.
• 14 spread prepared icing over slightly cooled rolls.