"In a Hurry" Nutella Rolls!

We have been working closely on EZ DOH with the Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University. They have been SUCH a huge help with our business, especially when we reach "crossroads".....ie: major decisions that could make or break us. Our advisor, Bill, is a big teddy bear of a guy. A 70-something year old "Bostonian", he tells us like it is, with lots of colorful stories in between. His life has been quite a ride.....served in the armed forces in Vietnam; owned his own business; was VP of another major company; has 6 kids; is still married to the same patient woman after nearly 50 years.....we tell him he should write a book!

Our appointments are on Wednesdays, and I always take in some EZ DOH goodies for Bill and the gang in the SBDC office. Last week, though, I was just beat.........the last thing I wanted to do was to get up early and make bread. Well, it was  really the "get up early" part that I didn't want to do.....I didn't mind the "make bread". So I didn't get up early. My body thanked me, but I felt badly that I wouldn't have anything for Bill. So I grabbed my EZ DOH and cranked out a recipe of "regular" bread dough - nuthin' fancy. I really wasn't in the mood to do regular old cinnamon rolls, so I raked through my cupboards for inspiration and.....viola! A smidgen of Nutella left in the jar (actually about a 1/4-1/3 cup). Nutella is certainly inspirational! After my dough had risen, I rolled it out into a rectangle and smeared the Nutella all over the dough - perfect! (Though thinking about it now, I could have also sprinkled it with some toasted chopped nuts....). After rolling everything up, I cut it in slices and layered the slices in a circle on a cookie sheet and let 'em rise briefly. By the time we had to head out for our morning appointment, the rolls were ready to go! Let me tell you.......these "inspirational" rolls were a hit!! It was just a way of saying "Thanks for EVERYTHING!!!"

Nutella Rolls with Basic Dough

1 Cup warm water

1 packet/Tbsp Red Star Platinum yeast 

2 1/2 - 2 3/4 Cup unbleached, all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. oil 

Place water in EZ DOH bucket. Add yeast and dissolve. Let rest 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and EZ DOH-it for 2-3 minutes, adding flour as necessary to produce a smooth, elastic dough. Remove dough from bucket,spray bucket with cooking spray and return dough to bucket. Cover and let rise till doubled. 

Remove dough from bucket and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a large rectangle. Spread with 1/4C- 1/3 Cup Nutella. Roll up dough jelly-roll fashion, starting at the long edge. Slice log into 12-15 rolls. Overlap rolls (see pic) on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and let rise briefly. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Drizzle with confectioner's icing: 

1 Cup confectioner's sugar

1 tsp. cocoa powder

1/2 Tbsp. softened butter

1-2 Tbsp. milk

1/2 tsp vanilla 

Combine the sugar and cocoa powder. Add remaining ingredients and stir well till mixture is smooth- no lumps! Place in a sandwich baggie. Cut the corner off and drizzle icing over cooled rolls. Come to think of it, I could have subbed a bit of Nutella for the butter here....and left out the cocoa! Next time!! And believe me, these are sooooo easy, there WILL be a next time! 

"In a Hurry" Nutella Rolls!