Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls

I have had a favorite cinnamon roll recipe for years, but I tried this one recently and the rolls were so soft and delicious I will probably be using this recipe from now on!

ROLLS:

1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons active dry yeast or 1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3.5 ounce package instant vanilla pudding (see note)
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
6 to 7 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING:

1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
4 teaspoons cinnamon

FROSTING:

8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl combine water, yeast and sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside.
In large bowl, take pudding mix and prepare according to package directions. Add butter, eggs and salt. Mix well. Then add yeast mixture. Blend.

Gradually add flour; knead until smooth. Do not overflour the dough! It should be very soft but not sticky. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled (if using boxed pudding, it will take quite a while to double because of the cold milk – see note above).
Roll out the dough on a lightly greased or floured surface to about 34 X 21 inches in size. Take 1 cup soft butter and spread over surface.

In bowl, mix 2 cups brown sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top. Roll up very tightly. With knife put a notch every 1 1/2 inches. Cut with thread or serrated knife.
Place on lightly greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise until double again.


Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove when they start to turn golden (don’t overbake). Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting (combine butter and cream cheese and mix well, then add vanilla and sugar and mix again, then add milk for desired consistency).


https://www.melskitchencafe.com/vanilla-pudding-cinnamon-rolls-with-cream-cheese-frosting/ *The first time I made them I doubled the batch.  It made 3 cookie sheets and one 9x13 pan of cinnamon rolls.  A single batch is probably sufficient most of the time!