You can either make your favorite cinnamon roll, or sweet roll, recipe. Follow the directions until the rolls are rolled out and ready to be spread with butter. Or, if you don't have time to make rolls from scratch, using thawed white bread dough works perfectly. I use Rhodes.
Roll dough out until it is about 1/2" thick. The overall size will vary depending on which bread recipe you decide to use. I make sure my rectangle is about 12"-15" from front to back.
Generously spread dough with butter. Generously sprinkle dough with granulated sugar. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Roll dough up from front to back keeping it tight as you roll. Pinch seem.
Set on greased baking sheet. Cover. Rise until doubled.
Bake as directed on sweet roll recipe. If you are using frozen, actually it will be thawed at this point ;) bake at 350 degrees for between 15 and 20 minutes. Baking time will vary depending on how large your rolls are.
While rolls are baking make icing. Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, extract, salt and milk. Beat until smooth, adding milk as necessary to achieve desired consistency.
Let rolls slightly cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with additional crushed candy canes. Candy canes will bleed a little if they sit over night. If I'm not serving the rolls pretty quickly after I make them I sprinkle with candy canes before serving.
NOTE: You can see the amounts on this recipe are not listed. That's because you will need different amounts according to your personal preference and which roll recipe you choose to use! In this one, I think more candy canes, sugar, butter, and white chocolate chips can't hurt a thing!