Wii Eat Healthy Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls

Who would think that cinnamon rolls would show up here in a post about healthy alternatives for meals??  Good ol’ Weight Watchers came through again with a recipe renovation for the warm, gooey treat.

I love to bake…and I love to have special breakfast for my family on the weekends, especially.  We used to buy those cans of premade cinnamon rolls and gorge ourselves silly….but you see where THAT got us!  These do take a little time … you have to wait on them to rise!!  But sooo worth it!  At 3 WW points per roll…they TOTALLY beat out the 9 point Pillsbury Grands that I did NOT eat just one of (yikes!).

Cinnamon Rolls

1c. fat-free skim milk

1Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 Tbsp. Sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. yeast (about 1 pkg)

2 1/2 c. All-purpose flour, sifted and divided

1/4c. unpacked brown sugar

1/4c. dark corn syrup

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. orange zest, grated

1/4c. raisins, dried cherries or cranberries

Stir together milk, vegetable oil, sugar and salt in a small saucepan.  Heat to lukewarm.  Pour yeast over 2 tbsp. lukewarm water and let sit 5 min.  Stir into milk mixture.

Transfer warm milk to a large mixing bowl and beat in half the flour by hand or with an electric mixer (I’m a big fan of my Kitchen Aid).  Mix in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Let rest 10 min; knead well on floured board or with an electric mixer and dough hook; let rest 10 min.

Spray a large, clean bowl with cooking spray, add dough, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hr.

Lightly coat a 9-inch round baking pan with cooking spray.  Turn the dough onto a floured surface and roll into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle.  Spray with cooking spray.

Stir together brown sugar, corn syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest; brush over dough.  Sprinkle with raisins.  Roll up tightly, like a jelly roll.  Cut inot 12 pieces.  **I find it easiest to use a serrated knife or a piece of dental floss!  Put the floss under the roll and then criss-cross it on top…pull it through quickly!

Place the buns cut-side up in baking pan.  Cover with plastic and let rise until doubled.

Preheat over to 350 degrees F.  Bake rolls until firm and nicely browned on top, about 30 minutes.

Cool completely before inverting onto a serving plate.

Enjoy!!