Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Steps

1. 1

   Combine the warm milk, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir briefly and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, until a layer of foam forms on top.

   Start 5-minute timer
2. 2

   Add the melted salted butter, vanilla, egg, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, a couple of shakes of nutmeg, and mashed ripe bananas to the foamy milk mixture. Stir or mix until combined; the banana mixture should resemble very thin oatmeal.

3. 3

   Add 600 g, or about 5 cups, of bread flour. Lock the mixer head in place and mix on low speed. Let it mix for a few minutes so the dough can begin coming together.

4. 4

   Check the dough. It will be very wet at first; if it does not come together, add a couple of tablespoons of additional flour at a time. The source notes that the total may be closer to 6 cups. The finished dough should remain quite sticky but be gatherable and removable from the bowl.

5. 5

   Lightly spray a separate bowl with oil. Gather the dough and place it in the oiled bowl.

6. 6

   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it on the counter for 1 to 2 hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

   Start 2-hour timer
7. 7

   While the dough rises, make the filling. Combine the softened butter, light brown sugar, a little salt, and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Mash and mix them together with a fork until a smooth paste forms. Cover the filling and leave it on the counter until assembly.

8. 8

   When the dough has doubled, preheat the oven to 375°F (190 °C). Lightly flour a work surface and turn the dough out onto it.

9. 9

   Roll the dough into a large rectangle approximately 1/4 inch thick.

10. 10

    Spread the prepared filling over the entire rectangle, taking it all the way from edge to edge.

11. 11

    Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the filled dough into 12 equal slices as evenly as possible.

12. 12

    Roll each slice tightly into a cinnamon roll.

13. 13

    Place the rolls in a greased 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

14. 14

    Bake at 375°F (190 °C) for about 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops begin to turn golden brown.

    Start 25-minute timer
15. 15

    While the rolls bake, make the frosting. Place the room-temperature cream cheese and softened salted butter in a bowl. Add the vanilla or vanilla bean paste and mix until fluffy.

16. 16

    Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup and about 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar. Mix until smooth, fluffy, and spreadable, adjusting the amount of powdered sugar as desired.

17. 17

    While the baked rolls are still warm, press their centers back down if needed to make them look more even.

18. 18

    Let the rolls cool slightly, then spread all of the maple cream cheese frosting over the tops. Serve warm or slightly cooled.