Steve's Cinnamon Rolls enter a bake swap.

I recently took part in a blog bake swap, mostly because it combined my love for blogging, with my love of sweets and baking.  Everyone wins!  (Especially me.)

I decided to make my dad's cinnamon rolls, which are pretty much legendary.  I actually heard one of the teacher's who my dad works with had a second child so that my dad would make him cinnamon rolls.  I don't know if that's the honest truth, but the cinnamon rolls are that good.

I would not tell a lie.

In return, Lindsey, my swap partner sent me peanut butter nutella brownies.  I'd show you pictures for evidence but I've been too busy eating them.  And I sent off the rolls before I thought of it.  Fail.

Just in case you are interested in making some really, really delicious cinnamon rolls, here's the recipe.  I'll add my notes, but you should probably know that some of the measurements aren't exact.  As Amy, one of the swap cohosts, would say, "that's just how I roll."

(The fabulous Jessica was the other half of the awesome hosting duo.)

Anyways, here's the recipe and happy baking!!!

(Ed.'s note: we always make dough for bread, cinnamon rolls, pizza, etc. in the bread machine.  Throw in all the ingredients, put it on the dough setting, and 90 minutes later you will have great dough.  If you don't have a bread machine (and want one), check out thrift stores.  My dad found a brand new one for me for less than $10.  Seriously.  I don't know the correct steps for making the dough by hand.  Sorry.)

Steve’s Cinnamon Rolls

Combine the following ingredients in the bed machine pan:
1 1/3 C. milk
2 ½ T. butter
2 eggs
2 2/3 T. sugar
2/3 t. salt
4+ C. flour (half whole wheat and half unbleached white)
2 ½ t. yeast

Put bread machine on dough setting (90 mins.)

When the timer goes off place dough on a floured surface and roll into a rectangular shape. Spread onto the dough’s surface one cube of butter. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon—spread onto buttered dough’s surface. Then, roll into a tight tube shape. Cut into 12 equal sized portions and place into a greased rectangular baking pan.

Heat oven to 200 degree F. and turn off. Place pan into the oven and set timer to 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, without taking out the pan, turn oven on to 350 degree F. and cook 15-16 minutes.

Take pan out to cool and mix together the following: half & half, powered sugar, 1-2 T. melted butter. Drizzle the topping onto the cinnamon rolls and serve with cold milk or a steaming mug of coffee or tea.

Side note: I often make more than 12 rolls with this recipe.  It just depends on how wide you cut them.  And the timing/temperature for raising/baking is for real.  Dad has it down to a science.

Post script: If you aren't eating the cinnamon rolls fresh, I highly recommend heating them up in the microwave for 20 or so seconds.  It makes for perfection.

Post post script: My dad's name is Steve.  In case you missed that.