I just concluded my experimentation with one of the fine, recently posted, recipes that included pudding mix(?) in the cinnamon roll dough.
Hypothesis:
The point in the process at which you freeze cinnamon rolls, while important to convenience, will effect taste, texture, and ultimately, enjoyment of said rolls.
Procedure:
Form 12 equal size cinnamon rolls from the same batch of dough.
Cook half; tightly wrap and freeze other half.
Eat 3 from cooked batch...measure enjoyment level. The ubiquitous "yum" factor!
Tightly wrap and freeze remaining 3 cooked rolls.
Two weeks later defrost frozen cooked rolls; one on the counter, one in the microwave; one in the toaster oven.
Eat all three and analyze resulting enjoyment.
Put frozen, uncooked rolls in frig to defrost over night.
Take out in the morning to warm and rise
Cook and eat all 6... in a compare/contrast study to the previously consumed rolls.
Results:
The best ones are straight out of the oven cooked just as they are made.
The second best are the ones frozen before they rise...but it takes a long time from freezer to mouth.
Post-cooking, defrosted in the warm toaster oven runs a close third with no time factor figured in.
Counter defrost still needs a warm up
Microwave---NOT!
Conclusion:
Eating 12 cinnamon rolls in a two week period is hard on your hips.
(Can you tell I'm on spring break???)
Hypothesis:
The point in the process at which you freeze cinnamon rolls, while important to convenience, will effect taste, texture, and ultimately, enjoyment of said rolls.
Procedure:
Form 12 equal size cinnamon rolls from the same batch of dough.
Cook half; tightly wrap and freeze other half.
Eat 3 from cooked batch...measure enjoyment level. The ubiquitous "yum" factor!
Tightly wrap and freeze remaining 3 cooked rolls.
Two weeks later defrost frozen cooked rolls; one on the counter, one in the microwave; one in the toaster oven.
Eat all three and analyze resulting enjoyment.
Put frozen, uncooked rolls in frig to defrost over night.
Take out in the morning to warm and rise
Cook and eat all 6... in a compare/contrast study to the previously consumed rolls.
Results:
The best ones are straight out of the oven cooked just as they are made.
The second best are the ones frozen before they rise...but it takes a long time from freezer to mouth.
Post-cooking, defrosted in the warm toaster oven runs a close third with no time factor figured in.
Counter defrost still needs a warm up
Microwave---NOT!
Conclusion:
Eating 12 cinnamon rolls in a two week period is hard on your hips.
(Can you tell I'm on spring break???)