1st Draft Magazine Article

 This is my first attempt on my magazine article for my double-page spread

Christmas Cinnamon Rolls

- Decadent Christmas Cinnamon Rolls: Caramel Cream Cheese Delight -

Tis the season for the Fluffy Christmas Cinnamon Rolls featuring the beloved Caramel Cream Cheese Icing - a cherished Christmas breakfast tradition. These are the epitome of classic and scrumptious! The dough is a masterpiece - buttery, soft, and irresistibly fluffy, skillfully swirled with cinnamon sugar. Each roll receives a lavish coating of a heartwarming brown butter and caramel cream cheese icing, cascading into every crevice. It's a symphony of flavors, ensuring every bite is a delectable melt-in-your-mouth experience. Whether you're a kid or a grown-up, a Christmas morning without these is simply incomplete. The universal love for these rolls transcends age.

Without fail, as Christmas week arrives, I find myself in the kitchen crafting cinnamon rolls. Though the tradition remains unchanged, it's the recipe that takes center stage. Amidst the numerous cinnamon rolls I've shared and cherished, these hold a special place in my heart as the Christmas go-to. Using my reliable dough recipe, I enhance the cinnamon filling twofold and pair it with the favored icing of all. For us, cream cheese is a necessity, and despite the initial aversion to caramel expressed by many, it's precisely what gives the icing its irresistible allure.

Ingredients:

1/4 -1/3 cup caramel sauce
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tablespoon brown sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground vanilla bean powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2-3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup warm milk
6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
4 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar 

How to make them:

Creating the dough is a breeze. Just combine yeast with warm milk and a hint of brown sugar. Allow the mix to sit for a few minutes to activate the yeast. If it doesn't become bubbly on top, your yeast might be old - consider using fresh yeast. Next, incorporate butter, eggs, flour, and salt into the mix. Blend until smooth and let the dough double in size. Once that's done, it's time to shape the rolls. I like to keep the dough wonderfully simple because, let's face it, the holidays are hectic enough.

For the cinnamon-sugar mix, I opt for a blend of brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon for the ultimate flavor. Brown sugar adds depth, while a generous amount of cinnamon creates sweet cinnamon swirls. Then spread the dough with butter, sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar, roll it up, slice, and bake.

The enchanting aromas from the oven will transport you. Sweet cinnamon with hints of vanilla—it's perfection and smells like Christmas. Don't forget the magic: salted caramel. Just a quarter cup, but enough to make the icing meld into every nook and cranny. It's truly delightful and forms the perfect icing for your cinnamon rolls.

Self Reflection:

Writing this article proved challenging as I needed to gather resources for the ingredients and methods of preparation. Surprisingly, the actual process of creating it turned out to be enjoyable and less stressful than I had anticipated. Perhaps this is due to having more time to complete the task, as my schedule has been cleared of other events that previously impeded my progress. Overall, I am quite satisfied with the outcome.