Yeast crosses the line

I'm a fan on cinnamon.  It can be sweet, it can be savory.  Sugar and cinnamon turn toast into a tasty snack.  Cinnamon takes chili to the next level. 

Yeast breads embody warmth and happiness.  The smell of bread in the oven is like a hug from a dear friend.  Studies have even shown the aroma of baking bread increases the odds a buyer will like your house!  Crazy.

So, pair up cinnamon and yeast bread and you get cinnamon rolls.  They're ubiquitous--from the mall to Ikea, everywhere is capitalizing on a great combination.

But...I like cookies!

And the average cinnamon roll could be used as a flotation device!

So when I saw this recipe in A Spicy Perspective, I was intrigued. Had to try it out.

And they're good.  Not as good as a cinnamon roll, but quicker, and tasty.

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 ½ sticks unsalted butter, softened (1 ¼ cups)
• 4 oz softened cream cheese
• 3 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
• 1 tsp. dry active yeast
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ Tb. cinnamon
• 3 Tb. whole milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Mix 2 tsp. vanilla extract with 1 tsp. of dry active yeast.
2. Cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla with yeast, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy—2-3 minutes.
3. Turn the mixer on low. Add the salt, then slowly add the flour. Scrape the bowl and mix until well combined.
4. Press the dough into a flat disk. Wrap and refrigerate the dough for (at least) 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
6. Cut the dough in half and leave one half in the fridge while working with the first half.
7. Flour a piece of wax paper and roll the dough into a 7 X 18 inch rectangle that is approximately ¼ inch thick.
8. Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar over the dough leaving 1 1/2 inches bare along the long edge. Starting on the cinnamon covered side, carefully roll the dough tightly toward the bare edge. You may want to cut the dough into two sections to make the rolling easier. *At this point, you can place the rolls back in the fridge and save for weeks if needed.
9. Press the seam firmly, then cut the roll into 1/3-1/2 inch slices and lay on parchment paper lined cookie sheets.
10. Repeat with the remaining dough and cinnamon sugar.
11. Bake for 9-12 minutes.
12. Cool completely. Then whisk the powdered sugar, milk and remaining vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Dip the face of each cookie into the glaze and set on a rack to dry.