Vegan Sweet Rolls with Cinnamon "Buttery Spread":

For whatever reason, though I have deadlines screaming at me from just about every angle, I have found myself extremely bored as of late. I feel like my life is stagnating. I need to get out, to travel someplace. I miss those feelings of inspiration and creativity that plagued me so greatly during and in the few months after traveling through Europe. Those feelings have begun to fade, and I feel myself in a sadness of sorts. You know what they say, "all good things are wild and free." Right now, I feel neither wild not free, even despite my impending trip home.

 Oh God...sorry for rambling like an idiot. (Depressing much?)

Haha. That's enough about my feelings.

Anyways, these rolls cheered me up. If you've ever had Texas Roadhouse rolls, you will find that these are very similar. They take a few hours to make (most of the time is to let the dough rise). However, they're very easy to make, and worth the extra time. The brown sugar in the dough gives them a sweet flavor, which goes well with the cinnamon "butter."

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup warm water + 1 1/2 tsp. yeast + 1 1/2 tsp. white sugar
1/2 cup ice cold water
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp. canola or olive oil, divided
1/4 tsp. salt (+ some to sprinkle on the rolls before baking)
2 tsp. white sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Instructions:

1. First, proof the yeast: dissolve the yeast and 1 1/2 tsp. white sugar in the warm water. Let stand until frothy, 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Next, add the flour, brown sugar, and salt to a large bowl. Sift the ingredients until well-combined. Add in 1 tablespoon of the oil and the yeast mixture. Mix well, and then add the cold water. Knead until the dough is smooth and tacky, about 7 minutes. Form the dough into a ball, coat with oil, and let it rise for about 2 hours.

3. After the dough has risen, separate it into 16 one-inch balls. Grease your baking pan, and place the dough balls in the pan, allowing room for them to rise. Let them rise for another hour.

4. Next, mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Brush the rolls with the remaining oil and sprinkle them with about 1/3 of the cinnamon sugar mixture and a dash of salt. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and then bake for 25 minutes, until golden-brown.

5. While the rolls are baking, mix the remaining cinnamon sugar with the Earth Balance. Brush the cinnamon butter onto the rolls after you pull them out of the oven.