Date Sweetened Cinnamon Rolls
 
 
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Ingredients
Dough
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp instant rise yeast
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 TBS melted butter
  • ½ cup milk of choice
  • 2 TBS honey
  • 1 large egg
Filling
  • 8-10 small pitted dates, about ⅓ cup firmly packed
  • Boiling water to cover
  • 1 ½ tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
Frosting
  • 6-8 pitted dates, or ¼ cup firmly packed
  • Boiling water to cover
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 TBS butter, softened
Instructions
  1. In a stand mixer bowl, stir together the flour, yeast and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a small bowl or cup, melt the butter. Mix in the milk and honey and heat to the temperature recommended on your yeast for mixing into dry ingredients. Mine says 120-130 F.
  3. Pour the hot liquid into the bowl with the flour mixture and top with the egg. Use a dough hook attachment on medium-slow until a soft dough forms, stopping to scrap flour into the center as needed. Continue to knead the dough with the dough hook for another 3-4 minutes, or until very smooth and elastic. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, cover the dates with boiling water and let rest for 10 minutes. Drain (reserving the soaking liquid).
  5. Transfer the dates to a food processor and pulse together the dates and cinnamon until a smooth paste forms. Add soaking liquid as necessary to form the paste. If your dates are fresh and moist you likely will not need any.
  6. Roll the dough out to a 12 x 8 inch rectangle. Gently spread the date paste out over the rectangle. Roll the dough up on the long edge and use a very sharp knife to cut into 8-9 rolls, placing them in a greased pie pan or cake round. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and let double in size, about 60-90 minutes.
  7. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-25 minutes, or until lightly browned. If they are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.
Frosting
  1. Cover the frosting dates with boiling water and let rest for 10 minutes to soften. Drain and reserve ¼ cup liquid.
  2. Combine the drained dates with the ¼ cup water and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.
  3. Add the softened cream cheese and butter and process until smooth and fluffy.
  4. Spread frosting over warm cinnamon rolls and serve. (You will likely have extra frosting)
  5. Store any leftover rolls in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Recipe by Alison's Allspice at https://www.alisonsallspice.com/date-sweetened-cinnamon-rolls/