Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes

I've been wanting to make these ever since I thought: Wouldn't it be DELICIOUS to have a cinnamon bun in a cupcake? Following my cupcake obsession, this dream soon became a reality! I made these GREAT cupcakes and am truly impressed with their turn out. Who doesn't like cinnamon buns? Really?

Ingredients for the cupcake dough

2 1/4 tsp. or 1 packet (1/4 oz./7 g) dry active yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 cup warm milk (approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. salt 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

Ingredients for the filling 

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup of pecans, chopped 

 

Dissolve the yeast and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar in the warm milk in a large bowl and let stand for about 10 minutes until foamy.Mix in the eggs, butter, salt, and other 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Add flour and mix until well blended and the dough forms a ball. Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about one hour).

After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners (I like to double them up because these cinnamon rolls are so moist), and lightly spray over the top of them with cooking spray.

Roll dough into a 12×22 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/2 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 24 rolls. If they are too big for the cupcake cups re-roll each one just a little bit tighter 

Fill two cupcake pans with paper liners and lightly spray with cooking spray ( oil)  Place each roll in a cupcake liner. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Let rolls cool completely before frosting (or else the frosting will melt and slide off).

Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract 

Cream together the butter and cream cheese ( in electric mixer or a medium bowl with a hand mixer). Add in the powdered sugar a half a cup at a time until you get the consistency you want. Add in the vanilla and mix well.

 

Cin-na-min-ni Goodness... FAB-U-LOUS