Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

Wisdom for a happy life:  Celebrate each day like a birthday.  🎉   ​

Just like Christmas or Thanksgiving - birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate. To gather together.  To eat dessert.  To party.  🥳 But unlike holidays, birthdays are the one day a year that we can celebrate a someone's uniqueness.  A day to reflect on what is it about them that makes them special.  Celebrating the birthdays of the significant and impactful people in my life brings me so much joy and happiness.  And today I'm extra happy to be celebrating the birthday of my husband.  

I met this human when we were just 10 years old.  I went on my first date with him at the awkward age of fifteen and we've shared a last name now for almost 28 years! 👰🏻 I guess I kind of like this guy. 😂 And today, on his birthday, I get to celebrate everything that makes him unique and wonderful.  

How a person chooses to celebrate a birthday is very personal.  Some prefer a quiet, introspective afternoon of solitary reflection while others want to be surrounded by family and friends at an over the top celebration with food and gifts.  As for me, I like to spend birthdays, looking back on my accomplishments and setting goals for the future.  I remind myself to live in the moment and be fully present - something that I forget to do, a lot.  😂 I also feel like everyone deserves to feel special and valued on their birthday. And the baker in me believes that everyone deserves a special treat on their birthday.  (Even if that means that they treat themselves to something out of the ordinary.)

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I bake to honor my favorite people on their birthdays. 💁🏻‍♀️(#foodismylovelanguage) And since my husband might be the only other person on the planet with a bigger sweet tooth than me - I'm starting off his special day with a cinnamon roll cupcake.  I hope that his day is even sweeter than this vanilla frosted, sprinkle filled, pillowy soft cinnamon roll.   😅

Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes
2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast or 1 packet
1/2 cup granulated sugar divided
1 cup warm milk
2 large eggs room temperature
1/3 cup butter melted
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour

Filling
1 cup rainbows sprinkles
1 cup brown sugar packed
2 1/2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter softened

Icing
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 Tablespoons milk

Combine yeast, 1/4 cup sugar and milk.  Allow to sit for 10 minutes until foamy.

Add yeast mixture to remaining ingredients in mixer.  Knead 5 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap.  

Let rise until doubled in size or about 1 hour.  

Stretch dough into a rectangle on a floured countertop.  

Brush with softened butter.  

Spread sprinkles over butter.  

Combine cinnamon and brown sugar.  

Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over sprinkles.

Roll dough, starting with a long side. 

Slice roll into 1" pieces.  

Place cinnamon rolls in large, greased muffin tins.  

Let rise for 1 hour.  

Bake 12 minutes at 400.

​Combine icing ingredients.

Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls.  Add additional sprinkles. 

Birthday celebrations start early in this house.  There will still be cake and ice cream after dinner but why wait for the evening to honor the birthday boy when we can start the day with cinnamon roll cupcakes?  

Ciao!

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