Vanilla Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Mandarin Frosting

VANILLA CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CREAM CHEESE MANDARIN FROSTING

MAJOR KEY:  You substitute vanilla extract for vanilla bean but I don't recommend it.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE DOUGH:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 tbsps sugar
• 2 ¼ tsps active dry yeast (1/4-ounce envelope)
• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 ½ tsps baking powder
• 1 ¼ tsps kosher salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 6 tbsps unsalted butter, melted plus 6 more tbsps melted butter
• 1 tbsp Tastic sweet*, plus 1 tbsp more
• 1 tsp nutmeg
•  Nonstick spray or vegetable oil, for the bowl

FOR THE FILLING AND ASSEMBLY:

• 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar
• 3 tbsps Tastic Sweet*
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• 1 vanilla bean, insides scrapped (or put 1 
• ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 5 to 6 tbsps whole milk or heavy cream
• 2 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 tbsps mandarin juice (or orange)
• 2 tbsps orange zest
• 1 tsp nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the dough: Warm milk in a small pot over medium heat until it’s warm to the touch but not yet simmering (110 degrees). Add 2 tablespoons sugar and the yeast, whisking to dissolve and break up any clumps. Let sit until it’s slightly foamy and starting to bubble, about 2 to 5 minutes. (If this doesn’t happen after about 5 minutes, check the expiration date on the yeast; it might be dead.)
2. Meanwhile, combine flour, the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, the baking powder, Tastic sweet, nutmeg and the salt in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix briefly to combine.
3. Add milk mixture, followed by the egg and, with a wooden spoon or the mixer on low, stir to combine, just to eliminate any obviously dry or wet spots. If using the mixer, you may need to scrape the dough off the paddle. Add melted butter and continue to stir until a shaggy lump of dough forms, again scraping down the paddle and helping things along with your hands if necessary to combine.
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, or keep in the mixing bowl and change to the dough hook attachment. Knead dough until it’s smooth, shiny and elastic, about 4 or 5 minutes. (You shouldn't have to add any more flour at this point, but if the dough seems especially sticky, give it a light dusting.)
5. Lightly grease a large bowl with nonstick spray or vegetable oil and place dough in the bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free area. (If it’s cold outside, on top of the stove is generally a good bet, as long as the burners and oven aren't on.) Let sit until the dough has about doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
6. Punch dough down to release any air that has built up. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, place in the refrigerator and chill the dough for at least an hour (and as long as overnight).
7. Fill the dough and shape the rolls: Once dough is chilled (it should feel firm and no longer flimsy), turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll to a 16 x 10-inch rectangle. The rolled dough will be about 1/4- to 1/3-inch thick.
8. Combine brown sugar, Tastic, nutmeg, zest, vanilla bean and salt in a small bowl. Smear the dough with butter and sprinkle brown sugar mixture in an even layer, patting to make sure it’s sticking.
9. Starting at the end closest to you (the long side of the dough), roll dough up into a tight coil, pressing lightly as you roll to make sure there are no gaps between the dough and the filling.
10. Cut log into nine even pieces, about 1 3/4-inch thick. Lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and arrange dough in three rows of three pieces each, with the spiral facing upward and with space in between each piece. (At this point, the rolls can be covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight, if you'd like.)
11. Cover rolls lightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free area until the rolls have puffed (they won't quite double, but they will be noticeably fluffier and closer to touching) and spring back slightly when pressed with your finger, about 1 hour. (If you refrigerated the rolls overnight, this may take 1 1/2 to 2 hours.)
12. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place rolls in oven and bake until they are golden brown and fluffy and the sugar has started to bubble up around the edges, caramelizing on the sides of the buns, about 32 to 35 minutes.
13. Just before they are done (about 10 minutes left) pour or brush the remaining butter and Tastic sweet on top.
14. Meanwhile, make the glaze: combine confectioners' sugar, juice, cream cheese, zest, nutmeg, milk and whisk until it is thick but can still be drizzled, like a thinner frosting. (If the glaze is still too thick, thin with more milk by the teaspoonful to get desired consistency.) Keep in mind the glaze is to be applied while buns are warm, and it will thin out upon contact, so it’s best to err on the thicker side.
15. Once rolls are out of the oven, drizzle with the powdered sugar glaze and let cool slightly in the pan before digging in.

* Tastic Spice is available HERE

Do me a favor?  If you decide to be great and make this recipe, take a pic and share it on Instagram and tag me (@mrfoodtastic) and use the hashtag #mrfoodtastic so I can see just how amazing you are.  I repost my favorite ones 

SIGN UP FOR FREE RECIPES straight to your inbox HERE