Incredible Cinnamon Rolls

My mother-in-law and her friend used to buy cinnamon rolls from Costco; a few months ago, they went and were told that Costco no longer carried the cinnamon rolls.  They were incredibly disappointed, and I have to say I was too since we always benefited from the large pan of cinnamon rolls she'd buy!

Then, a few weeks ago she got a recipe from a friend for cinnamon rolls that were "just as good or better" than Costco's rolls.  She had never made anything with yeast before so she asked me to help her out.  It was a lot of fun, especially seeing her first experience using yeast, and I think she'll be trying more yeast recipes in the future!  My favorite cinnamon roll recipe is Pioneer Woman's, but I would rank these as a very, very close second!  (So close in fact, that I had a really hard time telling the difference between the two rolls and just couldn't choose a definite favorite!)

You will need:
For the dough:
2 packages yeast (or 4-1/2 teaspoons)
1 cup warm water, 100-110 degrees
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
1/2 cup margarine
3 eggs, well beaten
6-7 cups flour


Filling:
4 Tablespoons margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon


Sticky bottoms:
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
2 Tablespoons water
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup margarine


Frosting:
2 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1.  In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 Tablespoon sugar in water. Let it stand until it becomes bubbly and foamy.

2.  Scald milk in a medium sauce pan.

3.  Add 1/2 cup sugar, salt, and margarine to milk.  Cool to lukewarm.

4.  Pour milk mixture into yeast mixture.  Stir in eggs.

5.  Add 2 cups of flour and mix well.  Add in enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough.  Knead until dough is no longer sticky, adding more flour as needed.

6.  Cover dough and let it rise until double, about 1-1/2 hours.

7.  While dough is rising, mix brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and margarine in a saucepan until margarine is melted.  Bring up to a slow boil and then remove from heat.

8.  Divide mixture between 2 9x13 pans.

9.  When dough has risen, punch it down and divide in half.

10.  Roll each half of dough into a 12x10" rectangle.

11.  Melt 4 Tablespoons margarine and brush over each dough rectangle.

12.  Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over each dough rectangle.

13.  Roll dough in a line toward you.  Slice into 1" slices and place in pan.

14.  Cover pans and let the rolls rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

15.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

16.  While rolls are cooling, beat together cream cheese, margarine, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy.

17.  Spread over cinnamon rolls.