Bread, Bread, Bread, Cinnabun

A few weeks ago I had lunch with a friend at Panera and, long story short, I somehow convinced him he could be making breads and tasty breakfast treats -- better than those at Panera -- very easily in a bread machine. Well, he went out and bought one.

I sent him my recipe for Cinnabuns, and promised that as I made different breads, I would send him the recipes. Well, Christmas Eve is a big bread making day for me, and today I'm making three types of loaves, and cinnabuns for tomorrow's breakfast. Thought the recipes might make a nice holiday-themed blog post.

These recipes have been perfected over the years. Usually I'll sub out up to half of the Bread Flour with Whole Wheat Flour, depending on my mood and how much of each flour I have on hand, but for Christmas it'll be all soft, fluffy Bread Flour.

Note: Most bread machine recipes have you add the wet ingredients and yeast first, but through trial and error, I've found that adding dry ingredients first, then pitching the yeast separately before adding it to the machine works best. It takes just a few minutes to put it all together. Easy Peasy, as my kids say.

Plain Ol' White Bread

* 3 cups Bread Flour
* 1 tsp Salt
* 2 Tbsp White Sugar
* 1/4 cup Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)
* 1 cup warm water (110 degrees)
* 2 1/4 tsp Rapid Rise yeast (for Bread Machines)

Add Bread Flour, Sugar, Salt, and Oil to bread machine pan. Dissolve yeast in warm water until it begins to foam, them add to the bread machine. Select Basic setting, and press Start.

This next recipe is a Pumpkin Yeast Bread that I usually make with leftover pumpkin after I made pumpkin desserts in the Fall. Today I'm using up some leftover Squash from our dinner a few nights ago. I had made a usual recipe of Mashed Butternut Squash with cinnamon, brown sugar and applesauce, but I think it'll make a good substitution here.

Pumpkin Yeast Bread

* 2 3/4 cup Bread Flour
* 1/4 cup Dried Buttermilk Powder
* 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
* 1/2 cup Pumpkin (or leftover squash) puree
* 1/4 cup butter (melted)
* 1 tsp Cinnamon (I like Saigon Cinnamon)
* 3/4 tsp Nutmeg
* 3/4 tsp Salt
* 1/8 tsp Ground Ginger
* 1/8 cup skim milk
* 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees)
* 2 1/4 tsp Rapid Rise Yeast (for Bread Machines)

Add Bread Flour, Brown Sugar, Pumpkin, Dried Buttermilk, Cinnamon, Salt, Nutmeg, Ginger, Butter, and Skim Milk to bread machine. Pitch yeast in warm water until it begins to foam, then add to bread machine. Select Basic Setting, then press Start.

Molasses Oat Bread

* 3 cups Bread Flour
* 3/4 cup Rolled Oats
* 2 Tbsp Dried Buttermilk Powder
* 1 1/2 tsp Salt
* 1 Tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
* 1 Tbsp Butter (melted)
* 4 Tbsp Molasses
* 1 tsp Lemon Juice
* 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp Warm Water (110 degrees)
* 2 1/2 tsp Rapid Rise Yeast (for Bread Machines)

Place Bread Flour, Oats, Buttermilk Powder, Salt, Brown Sugar, Butter, Molasses and Lemon Juice in Bread Machine pan. Pitch yeast in warm water until if begins to foam. Add to Bread Machine. Select Basic Setting and Press Start.

Cinnabuns

(for ease, I've separated this recipe into dough, filling and frosting instructions.)
For the Dough:

* 4 cups bread flour
* 1 Tbsp sugar
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/2 package instant cheesecake pudding mix (vanilla works, too)
* 1 cup milk
* 1 egg, beaten
* 4 Tbsp butter, melted
* 4 Tbsp warm water (110 degrees)
* 2 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast

For the Filling:

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 2 tsp cinnamon (I use Saigon Cinnamon)

For the Frosting:

* 3 oz. Cream Cheese
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
* 1/2 tsp vanilla
* 1/8 tsp salt

1. In the bread machine, place all dough ingredients, except yeast and water, in the pan in the order given. Pitch yeast in the warm water separately, then when it begins to foam, add to bread machine. Choose Dough cycle.

2. When cycle is finished, remove dough and knead by hand for about five minutes. Roll out into a rectangle.
3. Mix together all filling ingredients, then spread evenly over dough. Then, starting with the widest end, roll the dough into a tight log, and pinch seams together. Cut into 1 inch slices, and place in a greased 9x13 pan. Cover with a damp towel and let rise until doubled.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

5. For frosting, mix all frosting ingredients together. Spread over warm cinnabuns.