Cinnamon Rolls

Dough

1. Activating the yeast - Pour the warm milk into your mixer bowl and dissolve the sugar in it. Sprinkle the yeast into the warm milk and mix to disperse. Then set it aside in a warm place for about 10 - 15 minutes. The yeast should create a foam in the milk if active.
2. Once the yeast is activated, add sugar, eggs, vanilla, then the flour, and salt. (If using weight measurements, you can place the bowl on the scale and add each ingredient until you have the right amount. Remember to tare the scale between ingredients).
3. Using a spatula, mix these ingredients until you get a scraggly dough.
4. In your stand mixer, knead the dough with your hook attachment for about 2 minutes. If the dough is too dry, add upto another 1 tbsp of water. The dough should be a little sticky to the touch.
5. Next add the butter and knead the dough on low speed until it's completely incorporated into the dough. Once the butter has mixed in, knead the dough for a further 15 - 20 minutes until the dough is smooth and satiny. (The dough needs a long kneading time to develop the gluten well because it's an enriched dough. The dough should be slightly tacky, look smooth and have a little sheen, or look satiny.)
6. Form a smooth dough ball and let the dough proof in the mixer bowl, covered with plastic wrap, for 1 ½ - 2 hours, until it has doubled in size. It will take less time during summer months, and more in the winter.
7. While the dough is proofing, prepare the frosting and filling (instructions below). Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Frosting

1. Place the softened cream cheese, salt and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk the cream cheese until nice and smooth with no lumps.
2. Sift in the confectioner's sugar and whisk it in until you have a smooth frosting. Scrape the frosting into a small bowl with a lid, or into a ziploc bag and set aside. You can keep it at room temperature for up to 24 hours, or in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for longer.

Filling

1. In the same bowl that you made the frosting in, place the softened butter and salt. Whisk until the butter is smooth. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk until you have a smooth cinnamon butter.
2. Place the filling in a microwavable dish and set aside until needed. If the filling hardens, microwave it for a few seconds to soften it. DO NOT let the filling melt in the microwave.

Shaping the cinnamon rolls

1. Butter and line a 9 x 13 baking pan. Set it aside.
2. Turn the proofed dough out onto a well floured surface, with the smooth side facing down. Roll out the dough into a square that's 13 - 14 inches. Try to make the dough as evenly thick as possible.
3. Spread the cinnamon butter filling evenly on the dough square, leaving a ¾ inch margin along one edge. Lightly brush the margin with a little water.
4. Roll up the dough towards the end with the ¾ inch margin. Make sure to roll it up snugly (not too loose, not too tight). Pinch the seam to seal the dough.
5. Optionally, you can trim off the two ends once rolled up (since there's less filling at the ends, but this is not necessary).
6. Then, cut the cinnamon roll log into 12 equal pieces. First cut the log in half. Then cut each half in half. Cut each of these portions into 3 equal pieces to get a total of 12 pieces. Use a sharp knife with a back and forth motion to cut the 12 pieces, OR use a cotton string to cut the portions. If using a cotton string, slide it along the bottom of the cinnamon roll log, then cross the two ends over at the top where you want to make the cut, and then pull the two ends of the string to section off portions of the dough.
7. Place the cut pieces of cinnamon rolls in the parchment paper-lined baking pan, with space between the rolls to allow for proofing.
8. Tightly cover the baking pan with plastic wrap, and leave it in the fridge overnight or for up to 48 hours.

Baking the cinnamon rolls

1. Preheat oven to 350°F / 180°C. Let the cinnamon rolls come to room temperature while the oven preheats.
2. When the oven is preheated, cover the pan with foil and bake the cinnamon rolls in the covered pan for about 30 - 35 minutes. The cinnamon rolls should be nice and puffed up.
3. Then remove the foil, and bake the rolls for a further 15 - 20 minutes until they turn light golden brown in color.
4. Remove the buns from the oven and immediately spread frosting on top. Serve right away, or while still warm.