One thing I remember as a kid was in the fall and winter my mom would make her cinnamon rolls….the same ones she grew up making in Sweden.
My Grandfather and I just couldn’t wait for them to get out of the oven and into our mouths! He had diabetes so my mom did not use much sugar, nor iced them…but I loved them just the same!
She would fill hers with raisins and sometimes walnuts….one thing though they would become dry the next day, so with some experimenting on how to keep them from drying out and staying soft….I figured it out! The secret is yogurt!
You heard me correct…yogurt! Make sure its the real yogurt with no added ingredients like cornstarch or preservatives etc.
I finally I wrote down the recipe and measured just for you! I hope that you enjoy these as much as I do, and make memories with your loved ones.
I am sharing two different ways to prepare this, you can make mini monkey breads using a muffin tin, or rolls. I make both at times using the same dough, for 6 mini breads, you will need about just a bit over a quarter amount of the dough. The rest of the dough will be used for cinnamon rolls. You can make a large monkey bread as well using a Bundt pan.
Dough:
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 and 1/4 tsp yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
In a bowl add the warm milk, sugar and yeast till becomes foamy, add warm water.
To that add the melted butter, sugar and egg, and yogurt then add the flour slowly start to knead in a mixerwith dough attachment or by hand, the longer and better you knead the softer the dough,knead and roll till dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Grease bowl and let rest covered till double in size. Punch air out.
Divide dough in half and roll out on floured surface.
When ready flour the surface roll out, and spread softened butter and evenly spread the cinnamon sugar mixture, roll tightly and cut with pastry cutter or knife, place in greased pan and let rise again, bake at 350 for 25- 30 minutes till golden. Ice rolls while still warm.
For filling:
- 1/2 stick of butter softened
- 1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon or more to liking
For apples:
- 2-3 apples, peeled and cut up in bite size pieces
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2-3 tsp brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water or apple juice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon or more to liking
Add apples, brown sugar, water and cinnamon in a pot, cook till liquid thickens, takes about 5-10 mins.
Cream cheese frosting:
- 1/2 pkg cream cheese
- 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups icing sugar
- 1 tsp or more milk till you get the consistency you like
Beat all together to make icing. Spread on warm rolls.
I love using Greek yogurt in everything, so amazing to bake with! Your cinnamon rolls look amazing! I love love the big chunks of apples, beautiful! Hugs, Terra