Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls

Instructions

To make the tangzhong: Combine all of the starter ingredients in a small saucepan, and whisk until no lumps remain.

• Place the saucepan over medium heat, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until thick and the whisk leaves lines on the bottom of the pan. About a minute or so. Remove from the heat, and set it aside for several minutes.

To make the dough:

• OK, I have found that some things don't necessarily require all of the muscle if you have tools on hand. Rolling out and beating the bejesus out of the dough is fun for some but I find more often you just want it to be easy. I recommend either using your stand mixer to knead the dough, or better yet, let the bread machine do it (but obviously not bake it). So I opted to use my Zojirushi bread maker for this.
• Into the bread machine goes the yeast and warm milk. Let that foam and bubble for 10 minutes
• Add remaining ingredients, including the tangzhong, with the salt being last
• Start bread machine on the DOUGH cycle

To make the filling:

• Combine the brown sugar, salt, cardamom, and cinnamon, mixing thoroughly.
• After the dough cycle is complete on your bread machine, gently deflate the risen dough, divide it in half, and shape each piece into a rough rectangle.
  
• Working with one piece at a time, roll the dough into an 18" x 8" rectangle.
• Place half of the dough into plastic wrap, and a freezer bag and save for later.

To Assemble

• Brush butter along your remaining rolled out dough, leaving about 1/2 inch along the top.
  
• Sprinkle half the filling over the butter. Gently press the filling into the dough
• Starting with a long edge, roll the dough into a log. With the seam underneath, cut the log into 12 slices, 1 1/2" each. Using a serrated knife, gently cut the cylinder into 2-inch rolls; yielding 8 or so pieces.
  
• Lightly grease a 9" x 13" pan. Space the rolls in the pan.
• Cover the pan and let the rolls rise for 45 to 60 minutes, until they're crowding one another and are quite puffy.
• Alternately you can cover these and put them in the fridge to rise overnight to have in the morning!

To Bake

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Uncover the rolls, and bake them for 22 to 25 minutes, until they feel set. Their interior temperature at the center should be about 188°F.

For the Icing

• Whisk the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until creamy. Add the milk and whisk until combined. Sift in the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Spread over the rolls and serve immediately.
• Remove the rolls from the oven, and turn them out of the pan onto a rack. Spread them with the frosting; it'll partially melt into the rolls.
• Serve the rolls warm. Store completely cool rolls for a couple of days at room temperature, or freeze for up to 1 month.