Mom's Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

3 TBS dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1 heaping tsp sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup powdered milk
10-11 cups flour
1 TBS salt
3 cups warm water
4 eggs
1 cup oil
Brown sugar
At least 2 cubes butter


Directions:

Dissolve yeast and tsp of sugar in 1 cup warm water. Allow it to stand until yeast is bubbly. If using a hand mixer, sift 6 cups flour and salt into a large bowl. Blend in a blender the 3 cups of water and the powdered milk. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the milk, yeast mix, eggs and oil. Mix until smooth and well mixed. Slowly add remaining flour until it has the right consistency (smooth, some bounce, but still sticky). Be careful not to add too much flour. Allow dough to rise (covered) one hour or until doubled.

In a 9x13 pan melt 1/2 cube of butter and add a couple of handfuls of brown sugar (3/4 - 1 cup). Mix together so you have a brown sugar paste on the bottom of the pan.

Divide dough into thirds. Roll one section of dough into a large rectangle on an oiled surface. Spread softened butter, brown sugar, and a little cinnamon evenly across dough, spreading with a knife. Roll up dough lengthwise to make a long roll; pinch to seal. Cut 1 1/2 to 2'' slices and set in prepared pan, leaving a little room to raise (about 3 across and 4 down). Press rolls down firmly and let raise 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Bake at 375º for 15-20 minutes or until very brown on top. Immediately turn the pan upside down on tin foil to cool. Repeat the process with the other 2 thirds of dough and 2 pans. May also add pecans in pan and dough.

Source: Mom

Knot Rolls

Ingredients:

3 cups milk
1 1/2 cubes butter
1 cup instant potato flakes
3/4 cup sugar
1 TBS salt
1 heaping TBS Saf-Instant Yeast
4 eggs
7 cups flour

Directions:
1. Heat milk in a large glass bowl in the microwave for about 7 minutes. Add the butter, potato flakes, sugar and salt. Let sit for five minutes. (Put the other 1/2 cube of butter out to get soft, you will need this to spread on top of dough)

2. Beat four eggs in mixer or by hand. Add the above milk mixture to eggs, make sure it is not too hot or it will cook the eggs. Add the yeast. Mix and add seven cups of flour.

3. Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours. Divide dough in half and roll one half into a large circle. Spread butter on the top of the dough. Take the bottom half of the dough and fold to the center of the circle. Take the top half and place tot he fold so you have three layers of dough. Your dough should be a long rectangle about four to five inches wide and about twenty inches long. With a pizza cutter, cut 1-inch strips and tie in a knot. Let rise for three hours and then bake at 375º for 11 minutes.

For cinnamon rolls:
Mix 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 heaping tsp. cinnamon. Follow instructions for step 3. Mix the cinnamon/sugar mixture and sprinkle on top of the large buttered circle. Fold dough as stated above and cut and tie. Let rise for three hours and bake at 375º for 11 minutes. Add another minute in the oven if the cinnamon rolls aren't brown enough.

For orange rolls:
Mix 3/4 to 1 cup sugar and the rinds from 1 to 2 oranges. Follow the same instructions for the cinnamon rolls.

Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
2 TBS butter
1 tsp vanilla
milk or cream

For the orange rolls add 1 to 2 TBS grated orange rind and about 2-3 TBS orange juice to the above mixture.

Spread onto rolls when they come out of the oven.

Source: Vanessa