Christmas in Sweden and Mom's Best Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Icing

Gladtig Jule!Merry Christmas from Sweden, our fourth stop on our Christmas Around the World series, and where the merry season begins on the evening of December 13th. The eldest daughter of the family assumes the role of the Italian saint Santa Lucia. Wearing a dress of white and a lighted wreath in her hair, she serves sweet rolls and drinks to her family, singing carols all the while. Here's our very own little Santa Lucia, without the lighted candles in her hair. I still can't figure out a way to do that safely. But still, she braved not fire but snow and wind to drop off our favorite cinnamon rolls to our little family and a few of our neighbors, too. On Christmas Eve, Swedish families gather to dip black bread into hot broth, a gratitude and good luck ritual but also a solem reminder of a time of famine.

That evening, Juletomte, a little elf brings gifts for his family, after which families enjoy a large supper. Christmas day is a quiet and meaningful day, but "Second Christmas," which extends from December 26th to January 13th, is a time for happy celebrating and lots of visiting with friends and family.

And now for your recipe, my friends, and this one is so unbelievably yummy. Really, you won't be able to believe me when I tell you how yummy my Mom's cinnamon roll recipe is; you will simply have to make your own and put it to the test. And if you make them as I do with a maple cream cheese frosting, I promise that you'll be tempted to have a "Gladtig Jule" every night this month.

Money Saving Tips: Cinnamon Rolls are a very inexpensive pleasure; the greatest cost will be your time. Consider making these rolls as gifts for your neighbors this year. Bake rolls in aluminum pie tins, frost and give them away warm on a Saturday morning.

Mom's Best Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Estimated Cost: $5.00 for about 20-24

Tips: I sprinkle extra sugar, cinnamon and butter on the tops of the "end" rolls, since they never get as much filling-you can see them below in the bottom right corner.

1 and 1/4 cups milk

4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 and 1/4 teaspoon yeast (I use SAF)

3 cups all purpose flour

For Filling:

8 tablespoons softened butter

3 teaspoons cinnamon

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

Frosting:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoons butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon maple extract

In a small bowl, heat butter and milk in microwave for about 30 seconds. Test milk with your finger to make sure it is not too hot. Pour mixture into free standing mixer (or mixing bowl) and mix in sugar. Add salt, yeast, and flour. Knead dough by hand or in mixer on medium speed for about 6 minutes. (The dough is going to be very sticky. You can add a little more flour here-about 1/4 cup, but the stickier you keep it, the better the rolls will be. The dough will be less sticky after it has risen.) Shape dough into ball (if you can-if not just squish it down to the bottom of the bowl) and place in buttered bowl and cover lightly with saran wrap. Allow to rise, in warm, draft free place for about 1 andd 1/2 hours, or until doubled. Lightly butter two 9 by 13 inch baking dishes. Divide dough into two equal parts. Coat you work surface with a generous dusting of flour. Roll out each dough piece into 12 inch by 8 inch rectangles. Spread each rectangle (leaving a 1/2 inch border) with 4 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugars, dividing evenly. Pat sugars into dough lightly with your hands. Roll up dough tightly, pinching the seams to make a good seal. Cut each dough roll into 10-12 individual rolls, making 20-24 total rolls. Place rolls in prepared baking dishes and cover lightly with saran wrap, allowint to rise an additional 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let stand for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare frosting by combining cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and extract to make a very thick icing. Frost hot rolls and serve.

Coming Next:

Christmas in Germany