Cinnamon Rolls, The Ancient Classic with the Long History.

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December 9, 2024

Nothing says “back home” like a fresh cinnamon roll. These golden brown patties covered in a delicious brown sugar, cinnamon and butter sauce are as pretty as they are tasty. They have a sweet glaze on them, they are breakfast meets dessert, so you can just put them on every table.

But what started cinnamon rolls? And why do they so popular?

Did you know?
The key ingredient, cinnamon, is 1,000 years old too? Let’s dive a little deeper into this oldie, the fact of the matter, and why cinnamon rolls are a lover’s delight.

The Story of Cinnamon Rolls

The cinnamon roll as we know it is a gastronomic evolution, a European adaptation. They’re believed to be from Sweden where they were called Kanelbullar. There’s even a day of celebration in Sweden – Cinnamon Roll Day (Kanelbullens Dag) on 4 October.

Swedish one is sweeter, sometimes with cardamom mixed into the dough for kick. The recipe spread to Europe, then the Americas, and eventually became the sugary, thicker rolls we know today.

The US puts cinnamon rolls in the Midwest, where giant cheese-slice shapes have been a breakfast institution. Philadelphia’s sticky buns, the cinnamon rolls with chili in the Midwest: these are a few of the many ways this classic American dessert has changed.

The Mysterious World of Cinnamon

The main ingredient in cinnamon rolls is cinnamon, and it is as old as the rolls themselves — thousands of years old. Contracted from the inner bark of plants of the genus Cinnamomum, the spice once fetched more than gold.

Victorian Applications: Egyptians had cinnamon beaten into bodies and the ancient Mediterranean cherished cinnamon as a cure.
Middle Ages Trade: Cinnamon was a popular product in Europe by the Middle Ages, leading to migration and exchange to the East.
Evolutionary Smell: We see cinnamon everywhere now, but the apricot-spice scent is just as fantastic.

Fact: There are 2 different types of cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon (“real”) and cassia cinnamon. Cassia is more standard but Ceylon cinnamon is subtle, a little more intense and perfect for fine baking.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls

It takes time and patience, love, to make cinnamon roll. ‘They’re all there, from when they let the yeast live to when they work the dough. Let’s break down the magic:

The Dough: The Foundation of Fluffyness.
The heart of a cinnamon roll is in the flour. It’s whipped up with butter, sugar, milk and eggs to keep it light and soft. And it’s the yeast that really makes the difference, puffing up those rolls.

Did You Know?
Hot milk needs to get the yeast stirring. Too hot and the yeast will starve; too cold and it won’t respond. Aim for 37°C (98°F) or less — not scorching hot really.

The Filling: Sweet and Spiced
– It is the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon that makes cinnamon rolls so addictive. That brown sugar is melasses-based, and that cinnamon is the caramely warmth.

Fry in some chopped nuts, raisins, nutmeg or cardamom for a different twist on the filling.

The Roll and Rise: Delay is the Game.
When the filling is poured over the dough and it’s turned into a log, the dough is rolled out and cut into rolls. This second rise is very important because you give the dough another chance to stretch and you get really airy light rolls.

Tip: If you want uniform slices, slice with a toothpick and a piece of unpatterned dental floss, rather than a knife. You just pull the floss under the dough, flip the floss and cut down hard.

The Glaze: The Sweet Finish
Even the rolls are divine but the glaze is an enlightened gastronomic adventure. Smooth, tart and cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and milk; it’s the perfect sweet to accompany the rolls.

if you need a lighter one just apply some powdered sugar and milk icing.

To Bake Cinnamon Rolls at Home?

So if everything else can be bought from you now in the age of prepackaged cakes and biscuits, why bake cinnamon rolls yourself? And the answer lies in experience: The experience.

Containment Of The Ingredients: You can bake your own rolls, you can control the sweetness, flavor or good stuff.
Baking, The Good Life: Nothing is more wonderful than when it comes out as intended, and there is nothing better than having something assembled from top to bottom than cinnamon rolls.
-The Taste: Nothing says home like cinnamon rolls cooking in the oven, the cinnamon and all the spices are heavenly when you smell them.
Exhaustive Customizing Ingredients: Pecans, pumpkin spice, you name it, it is customisable in infinite ways.

Fun Cinnamon Rolls Facts Fun Cinnamon Roll Facts Cinnamon Rolls Fun Facts About Cinnamon Rolls.

The Largest Cinnamon Roll in the World: Cooks in Kansas City, Missouri, rolled up a cinnamon roll that weighed over 1,100 pounds in 2018!
Cinnamon Rolls with Chili: You’ll also be told in parts of the Midwest that cinnamon rolls accompany a bowl of chili, which is not expected, but it’s a fav combo.
A Space-Saver Tip: Commercial cinnamon rolls come packaged in “pop” cans — an invention born of the desire for a 20th-century, convenience-filled breakfast.
Not Just For Breakfast: The most popular time for Swedish people to consume cinnamon rolls is fika, the communal coffee break at which everyone sleeps and gets to know each other.

A Sweet To Share, A Sweet To Give.

Making cinnamon rolls at home is more than an indulgence, they are proof that it’s a lot of fun to bake and a lot of fun to eat when people enjoy it. They’re a hit in any kitchen because of their history, taste and endless versatility.

For a wedding, brunch, or just for you, sweet cinnamon rolls are in. So knock a piss, clap on it, and indulge in the sweet, greasy comfort of this time old favourite.

The brown sugar and cinnamon, the sensation of having made something amazing in every bite.

Share your favorite fillings or tricks in the comments!