These cinnamon rolls accomplish three important things when you’re trying to throw a festive brunch: (1) Everyone loves them and is thrilled to eat them. If you have a guest who “just doesn’t like cinnamon rolls,” ask them to leave. I’m serious. (2) They can be prepped the night before and left to rise in the fridge overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is stick them in the oven and let them fragrance your house with the glorious scent of butter and cinnamon. (3) They are fucking impressive looking and nobody has to know you made them from store-bought dough.
SERVES 8 TO 10
1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup), at room temperature, divided (retain the wrapper)
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
Flour for rolling
1 pound store-bought pizza dough
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
⅔ cup powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
• Use the butter wrapper to grease an 11 × 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, stir together 6 tablespoons of the butter, the granulated sugar, and the cinnamon until a smooth paste forms. Set aside.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough out into a rectangle that is approximately 10 × 8 inches.
• Use a rubber scraper to spread the butter-sugar mixture all over the surface of the rectangle.
• Pinching as you go, roll the dough up tightly into a 10-inch cylinder.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the cylinder into ten 1-inch-thick slices and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
• Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot for 1 hour. Alternately, let rise in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (or overnight).
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Bake the cinnamon rolls for 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown.
• While the cinnamon rolls bake, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, the cream cheese, the powdered sugar, and a few drops of vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, add a few drops of warm water to thin it out slightly.
• Just before serving, spoon the cream cheese glaze over the warm cinnamon rolls.