Bourbon Cinnamon Rolls

Got some requests to publish this recipe.  I made these a few weekends ago, and oh my gracious, thank the good Lord for bourbon.  I love bourbon in every form, but I think it's especially amazing in chocolate and desserts.  Make sure you have a large glass of cold milk to go with these babies

for the rolls

1 package active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water (make sure it's actually warm, not hot or the yeast won't work)

1/3 cup + a pinch of sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup softened butter

1 cup hot milk

1 egg

3 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Stir together the warm water and a pinch of sugar.  Stir the yeast into the water and let sit for 5-8 minutes.  It should start to look foamy.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine your yeast mixture with the sugar, salt, butter, and hot milk.  (You want the milk to melt the butter).  Stir it all together and let it cool to room temperature.  Stir in the egg.

Stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, until a very soft dough forms.

Once the dough comes together (you can add more flour, if necessary), place it on a floured surface and knead for a few minutes.  It should be really soft.  Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl.  Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until double in size, about 1 1/2 hours.  My dough would not rise, so I filled a pan with boiling water and place it on the bottom rack of my oven.  I put the bowl of dough on the top rack.  The dough finally began to rise, so if you live in a cold place or are having trouble with the dough riding, this seemed to do the trick.

for the filling

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and roll out into a long rectangle.  Melt 3 tablespoons of butter and brush (or fingerprint!) all over the dough.  Stir together the cinnamon and sugar, and sprinkle on the dough.

Roll the dough up into jelly roll, and slice.  Place the rolls in a lightly buttered pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-27 minutes, or until the edges are browned.

for the glaze

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon bourbon (so I used like 4 big tablespoons because I wanted to taste the bourbon.  I highly recommend over pouring your liquor)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

Whisk together the glaze ingredients and pour over the warm cinnamon rolls.

The finished product. So delicious. 

Enjoy, folks.