Life On The Sweet Side: Cinnamon Rolls and Buns

Let's be honest. There's nothing better than a cinnamon roll...hot out the oven and covered in cream cheese frosting.

As long as I can remember, I have always loved cinnamon rolls. Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls reigned supreme growing up. I would take the palm of my hand, pop open that can of rolls, and 20 minutes later the smell of sweet cinnamon filled the kitchen. When we didn't have Grands, my mom would take crescent rolls and fill them with cinnamon sugar. Any form of cinnamon-y goodness was always the perfect dessert.

Cinnamon rolls have been the one recipe that I've been able to master with my eyes close without too many trials and errors. It's become a family tradition that I make cinnamon rolls for our annual Christmas pajama jam! Recently I called my grandma and told her I'd be coming home for a few days. She immediately asked if I could make cinnamon rolls for her. I'm glad that my family enjoys my baking and I can make them happy.

When I went to Paris in March, I discovered French cinnamon rolls are quite different from the American version. In France, they are not covered in icing or in roll form. In fact, this type of cinnamon bun was created in Sweden. They are twisted and tied into a knot-like shape. Once baked, they are brushed with a simple syrup. This delicious pastry is called a 'roulé cannelle' in French. I tried my first roulé cannelle at my favorite Parisian bakery, Mamiche. It was love at first bite. It was so good! I won't say how many roulé cannelles I had while I was there, but I ate all of them without any shame.

My first mission once I returned home was to recreate that masterpiece of a pastry. I used my cinnamon roll recipe with a few tweaks. I watched a YouTube video on how to tie the dough and hoped for the best once I put them in the oven. I topped the buns with a brown sugar glazed fresh out the oven. The first bite immediately transported me back to Paris. I was over the moon at the results!

Moments when I'm baking these sweet treats often reminds me of truly how sweet life can be. Flour, butter, yeast, and sugar can make a wonderful dessert that boosts your mood and make you dance with every bite. Even when life can be trying, I'm grateful that I can resort to baking to provide joy. Life is truly sweet.

Enjoy these pictures of my cinnamon roll and roulé cannelle adventures! If you're ever in Paris, I highly suggest you try a roulé cannelle. Most boulangeries have them, and you will not be disappointed!

Until next time, y'all stay sweet!

-Kourtney