cinnamon rolls with almond cream cheese icing

growing up, my siblings and i loved the cinnamon rolls from The Blueberry Muffin, a mom 'n pop bakery and restaurant in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The best part of those rolls was the almond extract in the cream cheese frosting...yum! These rolls were surprisingly easy, and gone before I could say, "milk please!" They take about 2.5 hours from start to finish, including rising time for the dough. I have been on the hunt for the best cinnamon roll in Denver, and I think I found my favorite recipe right in my own oven! I will definitely be making these again! 

• 1 (.25 oz) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk (I used skim)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour

for the filling:

• 1 cup packed brown sugar, light or dark
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

for the icing

1 cup powdered sugar

4 oz cream cheese, room temp

1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temp

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2-3/4 tsp almond extract

1. For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.

2. Add sugar, margarine salt, eggs, and flour, mix well.

3. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. If you have a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment for mixing the first six ingredients and then use the bread hook to knead the dough. 

4.  Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size. I used my oven on warm.

5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 21 inches long by 16 inches wide in a rectangular shape. It should be approx 1/4 thick. 6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
7. To make filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

8. Spread the softened margarine/butter over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the surface.
9. Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.
10. Cut the dough into 1 3/4 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan.11. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until light golden brown and your kitchen smells divine. 

12. While the rolls are baking combine the icing ingredients.
13. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
14. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing. Let cool before icing if you want a thicker glaze.