Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Icing

  

Oh SNAP!!! Gingerbread cinnamon rolls are the perfect Christmas morning treat or anytime treat!!! These heavenly rolls are kissed with warm spices of cinnamon, cloves, ginger & nutmeg that SING holiday goodness. OH MY!!! 
Dough-
1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast

 1/4 cup warm water

 1 1/4 cups milk; scalded

 1/2 tsp salt

 1/2 cup sugar

 1/2 cup butter softened
1/3 cup molasses 
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

 3 eggs beaten

 5-5 1/2 cups flour

Sugar & Spice Mixture-
1 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup softened butter- for spreading  
Icing-
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp heavy cream- enough to make an icing consistency
  

 Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. Scald milk over med-high heat, add sugar, butter, & salt. Stir to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and add molasses. Gently stir to combine. Cool milk mixture to lukewarm & add yeast. Add beaten eggs, 2 cups flour, & spices. Stir to combine. Add the rest of flour and then knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes. Cover and allow to rise till doubled in bulk. About 1 hour. Divide dough in half. (I store other half covered in fridge and make another batch the next day) * Combine 1 cup sugar with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg & set aside. On a floured surface roll out dough into a 12x18 inch rectangle and spread softened butter evenly over dough and to the edges. Sprinkle the sugar & spice mixture over butter. Roll up dough jelly roll style. (like you would a cinnamon roll) and cut into 1-2 inch slices depending on how big you want your rolls and how many you want. I get 1 dozen per half of dough. So 2 dozen total. Place rolls in a greased 13x9 inch baking dish and cover. Allow to rise till doubled in bulk. About 50 minutes. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or till rolls are a light golden brown. Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla & heavy cream. Drizzle over warm rolls. Heaven sent!!