Slightly Better-For-You Cinnamon Rolls

Name: Slightly Better-For-You Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 40 min
Yield: 24 rolls, 12-24 serving(s)
Ingredients: 3/4 cup 1% low-fat milk; 1/4 cup half-and-half; 1/4 cup plain yogurt; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour; 3 cups white whole wheat flour; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 egg; 2 1/4 teaspoons fast rise yeast (instant, equal to 2 envelopes); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon canola oil, for coating bowl; 3/4 cup packed brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cinnamon; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature (neufchatel cheese); 1 cup powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 teaspoons 1% low-fat milk

Submitted by Susiecat too

"Based on a recipe from Bon Appetit magazine, but changed just slightly to include a few lower-fat options and a bit of whole grains. Still retains all its yummy-gooeyness, though."

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photo by Cuistot

Ready In:: 2hrs 40mins
Ingredients:: 19
Yields:: 24 rolls
Serves:: 12-24

ingredients

Dough
³⁄₄ cup 1% low-fat milk
¹⁄₄ cup half-and-half
¹⁄₄ cup plain yogurt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 cups white whole wheat flour
¹⁄₂ cup sugar
1 egg
2 ¹⁄₄ teaspoons fast rise yeast (instant, equal to 2 envelopes)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil, for coating bowl
Filling
³⁄₄ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
Glaze
4 ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature (neufchatel cheese)
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons 1% low-fat milk

directions

For the dough: combine milk and butter in a pyrex-type measuring cup, microwave on high about 1 minute until butter is melted and milk is warm. Mix in yogurt until smooth.
Pour into mixing bowl, add cup of whole wheat pastry flour, sugar, egg, yeast and salt. Mix well for about 2-3 minutes.
Add remaining (white) flour a bit at a time and mix until combined and sticky.
Turn out to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes.
Place oil in bowl and coat sides, add dough and turn around to coat all sides of dough.
Cover and leave in a warm place to rise, about 90 minutes, until doubled.
Prepare the filling: mix sugar and cinnamon together well until it resembles sand.
Coat a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray.
When dough has risen, punch down and roll on a floured surface to a large rectangle, about the size of a cookie sheet (15 x 10).
Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter over dough, leaving about 1/2 inch margin around sides.
Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over melted butter.
Starting at a long side of the dough, gently roll dough up into a log shape. Pinch the seam closed.
Cut about 3/4 inch slices, place each on cut sides in 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Set aside, covered, in a warm spot to rise again, about 45 minutes.
Alternatively, you may let them rise overnight in the refrigerator. Cover well with plastic wrap or lid. In the morning, take out of refrigerator, and set in a warm spot for 35-40 minutes to come to room temperature and finish rising.
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Bake for 20 minutes, until golden, on a center rack in the oven. Remove from oven and immediately invert to cooling rack, let cool for 10 minutes. Place right side up on serving dish.
For the glaze: combine room-temperature cream cheese and butter in a mixer on medium speed, scraping down sides as necessary. Add in powdered sugar at lowest speed until coarsely combined, then increase speed to medium. Add vanilla and milk, continue mixing until smooth, scraping sides of bowl to combine thoroughly.
Spread glaze onto warm rolls, serve immediately!

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Reviews

Delicious - I prepared them the night before and baked them for brunch in the morning - I used vanilla yogurt because I didn't have plain. There was one confusing part of the recipe my yeast packet says that one packet is 2 1/4 tsp - but the recipe says that equals 2 packets - I used 2 packets and it turned out fine. Any suggestions on replacing that last egg with something? - I would like to make them for my BF who is allergic to eggs.

mich_l728
This was a great recipe! I changed a few things though. I added spelt flour instead of pastry flour, dried orange peel to the dough. I also increased the amount of butter and brown sugar, and replaced the powdered sugar for the icing with about 2 tblsp. honey. It was wonderful when it came out, they were gooey and delicious! ^^

Spgty21
These are good, especially since they are a slightly healthier version of a sinful treat :) 5 stars because any changes I would make would make them less healthy and thus defeat the purpose of this recipe. Good even on day two

Cuistot

Tweaks

This was a great recipe! I changed a few things though. I added spelt flour instead of pastry flour, dried orange peel to the dough. I also increased the amount of butter and brown sugar, and replaced the powdered sugar for the icing with about 2 tblsp. honey. It was wonderful when it came out, they were gooey and delicious! ^^

Spgty21

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

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Two of my three cats. <img src="http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/512309/shayn%20ying.jpg"> And my *biggest* and *BEST* cat of all: <img src="http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/512309/gabby%206th%20birthday%20leopard.jpg"> I am a busy mom of small children by day, and I work part-time as a doctor at night. I am trying to find the ever-elusive balance between career-track and mommy-track. Cooking and baking bring me joy, and I love to see my kids eat healthy homemade foods. I have relatives with a local organic farm, so I use their produce as much as possible. Yum! After some trial and error with rating recipes for various contests and tag games, I think I will from now on stick to the definitions provided by Zaar: 3 stars means I liked it! I might have had to make some adjustments, though. 4 stars means I LOVED it! Almost no adjusting was necessary. 5 stars means one of the most outstanding things I have ever tasted! Stands, as is, as a fabulous dish. I can't imagine giving only 1 or 2 stars -- that would mean that I either picked a recipe that I should have known wouldn't suit my taste, or that I really messed up while making the recipe. <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PACfall08partic.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z205/jubespage/kid-friendlytag-participation2.gif"> <img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/Sharon123/Copyoftag300-banner.jpg" border="0" alt="Susie's Banner for Newest Zaar Tag"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%204/ZWTAB-tg.gif"> <img src="http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/3476/mybanner483b81c1ea2dfah7.jpg"> <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/DesertRose.jpg"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/lauralie41/cookbookswapspring08.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"><a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/Missymop/?action=view¤t=kidfrecipeswap.jpg" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/Missymop/kidfrecipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/PAC08Main.jpg"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg"> <img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/j_welcome/pics2/food/PRMRcopy.jpg"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/RSC%20Banners/RSC11-SusieCat.jpg"> <img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/copperhorse58/Zaar%20Food%20Photos/Food%20Photos%202008/herbspicesticker.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/CV.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> <img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Other/photo-swap-7sticky.jpg"> <img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj240/marienixon_715/kittencaljpg.jpg"> <img src="http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/holidaylightssticker.jpg"> <img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/Saturn6666/Other/tagforpage1.jpg"> <img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/Adopted1smp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"><img src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/smPACp.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

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