Early Morning Cinnamon Buns

On my Holiday Baking To Do List, I had Monkey Bread to bake.  I remember my mom baking, what I thought was Monkey Bread, when I was younger.  I can vividly recall her putting the towel over top of the pan and turning out the lights for the night.  What I didn’t know, was 1. that it wasn’t what is now called Monkey Bread, and 2. that it was so easy!  She had some tricks up here sleeve.

Since I thought is was Monkey Bread she had made, I added it to my to do list.  After researching a number of delicious sounding recipes, none of them being quite right, I finally decided just to ask her where her recipe was.

“Monkey bread? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know, that dish with the dough balls, that you left over night?”

“Oh!  That’s in Best of Bridge.”

So, I went back to my trusty Best of Bridge series, looked it up and it is called Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns! Success!

The best part about this recipe is that you throw everything into a pan the night before, go to bed, wake up and put it in the oven.  So easy, so quick (minus the eight hour sleep time!) and so tasty.  To make these a little bit healthier, I used whole wheat frozen dough balls, and a little less sugar and butter than the recipe calls for.

NOTE: do not use “those balls that have been in your freezer for the last couple of months” in order to use them up.  I tried this tactic and they didn’t rise. . . they remained little freezer burned dough balls.

What was I thinking?  I was tired and in a Christmas fog.  At least that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!

Goodnight doughy goodness.

Good morning!  My how you’ve grown!

Pop them into the oven for about 20 minutes.

Carry them to your mom and dad’s house so you don’t eat all of them yourself!

The unveiling!  Pick out all the un-risen dough balls!  Rookie move, Jenn.

Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns

adapted from Best of Bridge Series

• 20 frozen dough rolls (I used whole wheat)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding
• 1 -2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/4-1/2 cup melted butter (I used 1/4 c.)

1. Before you turn in for the night, grease a 10″ bundt pan (I used an angle food pan) and add frozen rolls.
2. Sprinkle with brown sugar, pudding powder, cinnamon and raisins.
3. Pour melted butter over all.
4. Cover with a clean, damp cloth.
5. (Leave out at room temperature).
6. Off to bed you go!
7. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.
8. Let sit for 5 minutes and then turn out on a serving plate