Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

With all this extra time on my hands, I decided to do a little more experimenting in the kitchen!

Instead of being made with food coloring, these are made with Sanuus VegiX flour, which contains red beet flour.

Sounds weird, but I promise it is very tasty.

I bought this flour during a time where I was unable to buy any other flour and I am going to be honest, it was pretty intimidating, but it was actually great! I would really encourage you to try to add red beet powder or this flour to different bakes. It also adds a flavor note that was surprising, but fit fantastically well with these cinnamon rolls!

(PS Your don't have to use this flour, but I would highly recommend adding red beet powered into your bake, I just discovered red beet flour through this flour.)

Makes About: 8 Rolls

Takes About: 4 hours

Difficulty: 2 out of 5 because of the yeast

Prep:

Grease a 13 inch by 9 inch pan or two 5 inch by 8 inch pans (or something that will hold about 8 rolls sitting at least an inch apart.

Ingredients:

- Dough

1 cup milk

1/3 cup unsalted butter

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 1/3 cups Sanuus VegiX Beet Flour

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour - plus 1/2 cup for dusting

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

2 eggs

- Filling

3/4 cup - 1 cup cane or granulated sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter - room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- Icing - Option 1

Milk

Powdered Sugar

(These are not measured out because it depends on how much icing you want and how think you want it)

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Warm Some Things Up

In a small pan on low heat, add 1 cup of milk, 1/3 cup of unsalted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt until the butter is just melted, but not hot. If it does become hot, let it cool, but do not let it get cold. Should be between 110 degrees F (about 35 degrees C).

- Step 2 - Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, mix together 2 1/3 cup red beet flour, 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, and 2 1/4 teaspoons or yeast.

- Step 3 - Mix Everything Together

Add the melted wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and start mixing. Once everything starts to come together, add the two eggs and then mix until everything is incorporated and a dough starts to form.

Once it starts to come together, place it onto a lightly floured counter and knead until smooth.

- Step 4 - Let the it RISE

Butter a large bowl and place the kneaded dough in the middle and cover with a towel for an hour or until it doubles in size.

- Step 5 - Roll Out Dough

Once the dough has doubled in size. place the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out into a 21 inch by 18 inch rectangle (or just a very large rectangle that is about about 1/8 inch think.)

- Step 6 - Make Filling

In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup of sugar (or your choice), 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Mix well and set aside.

- Step 7 - Fill the Dough

Spread the 1/3 cup of room temperature butter over the dough until completely covered. Do not rip the dough

Spread the sugar and cinnamon filling over the butter until completely covered leaving about 2 inches of one long side not covered in sugar, so that way it sticks when you roll it.

Massage the filling into the butter.

I like doing this to make sure my sugar and cinnamon are well imprinted on the dough and also, I don't want it to all fall out when I'm rolling it up.

Make sure you do get the filling mixture as close to the short edges because you will be baking them and eating those pieces as well.

- Step 8 - Roll the Dough

Starting on one long end that has the cinnamon ans sugar filling, roll the dough into a long log towards the side that you left slightly empty.

Press the dough to close the seal, it is okay if it does not stick, you just want to make sure it is not falling open. .

- Step 9 - Cut the Roll

Instead of working from one end of the roll to the other, cut the roll in half, then in quarters, then in eighths until each bun is about 2 inches thick.

This will make all the rolls about the same size.

Tip: I don't slice the roll all the way through, I instead make slits into the roll and then after, I cut it completely through.

- Step 10 - Place Rolls in Baking Dish

Using the prepared buttered dish, place the buns into the baking dish with a little room between each one.

Don't forget to add the ends, they are not as pretty as the others, but they are just as tasty; especially if you made sure they also had filling.

Cover with a tea towel and let rise for an hour.

- Step 11 - Preheat and Bake

Once the rolls have doubled in size, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and bake for about 15-20 minutes.

- Step 12 - Add Glaze

If you would like to add a gaze, add about 1/4 cup powdered sugar into a small bowl and slowly start adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time and mixing until you reach a consistency you like.

Once finished, drizzle the icing over the rolls and enjoy!

Warning, it will be very sticky, but very delicious.

- Step 13 - Enjoy!