Squash Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe was created to encourage my picky kids to eat the squash that we had in abundance. These turned out so good they like them better than the ‘normal’ cinnamon rolls. You can use any type of squash including butternut, acorn, hubbard, or even pumpkin. This recipe is a modified version of Winter Squash Rolls and Clone of a Cinnabon®.

Step: 1

Put squash in a saucepan and pour in enough water to cover; bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain water from saucepan, cool squash, and mash using a potato masher or fork.

Step: 2

Pour warm water into a bowl and sprinkle in yeast. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.

Step: 3

Combine flour, white sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir yeast mixture, mashed squash, milk, and 1/2 cup butter into flour mixture until dough starts to hold together. Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth.

Step: 4

Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Step: 5

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step: 6

Roll dough into a 16x21-inch rectangle. Spread 1/3 cup butter over the top of dough. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and sprinkle over butter layer. Roll dough around filling and cut into 12 to 15 rolls. Place rolls in the prepared baking dish and let rise until nearly doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Step: 7

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Step: 8

Beat confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together in a bowl using an electric mixer until frosting is smooth; spread onto warm rolls.

Per Serving: 550 calories; protein 8.9g; carbohydrates 88.4g; fat 20.4g; cholesterol 53.5mg; sodium 542.9mg.

The quality of the flour can make a real deal to your bread. Different makers do vary. Great taste or Canadian flours, which are bet higher in gluten, may give you a best rise than standard bread flours – especially if you’re make wholemeal dough , which doesn’t always rise as well as clear bread.

To make this in a breadmaker , add all the menus to your breadmaker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

A dough’s first rising can be done in the fridge overnight . This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It’s also a great timesaver , as you can start it yesterday , then clear it off the next day.