Caramel Cinnamon Sweet Rolls
Anyone would get right out of bed if he or she smelled these rolls rising in the oven—even on a Saturday! We believe the magic lies in the homemade caramel sauce. The caramel is rarely something we consider making from scratch, yet it is surprisingly easy to do. Double the sauce recipe and store the extra goodness in a plastic squeeze bottle in the fridge. The squeeze bottle is the perfect tool for drizzling this rich caramel over ice cream or apple slices.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 12 servings
Ingredients
Caramel Sauce
Preparation
Step 1
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add 1/2 cup of butter, 1 cup of the flour, 1 1/4 cups of the sugar, and the egg to the bowl. Beat for 2 minutes, then add the remaining 1 1/4 cups of flour and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the batter from the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a clean bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place (about 85°F) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Step 2
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured counter. Roll into a 9 x 12-inch rectangle. Gently spread 1 tablespoon of softened butter on the dough. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar; sprinkle onto the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the dough. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, starting from the larger side. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces.
Step 3
Place the rolls in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish that has been greased with the other tablespoon of softened butter, tucking the loose ends of the dough under each roll so they’ll hold together when baked. Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise in a warm place (about 85°F) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Step 4
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 15 to 20 minutes, or until light golden brown. Brush the hot caramel sauce on the rolls while still hot.
Caramel Sauce
Step 5
In a large pot set over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and honey. Bring to a boil, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once or twice (watch carefully to avoid scorching). Remove the pot from the heat and swirl in the cream until it is fully incorporated. Be very careful when adding the cream because the mixture will bubble up.
note
Step 6
Sandy’s Granny Haley made the best cinnamon rolls in the world. It seemed so effortless and magical to her grandkids. The smell the cinnamon wafting through the house stopped people in their tracks. As Sandy grew older and really began to appreciate the lessons given her by her family, she started taking note when Granny would cook. Unfortunately for Sandy, one of her biggest regrets was not getting the exact measurements for the cinnamon rolls. When Sandy graduated from culinary school, one of the first tasks given to her by her mother was to re-create Granny’s cinnamon rolls. Sandy was able to locate an old hand-written recipe card with the general method, but the problem was that the recipe said things like a “drop” of this and a “handful” of that. Sandy has worked diligently on these cinnamon rolls. She feels like hers have gotten really close to Granny’s, but she thinks Granny’s hands must have been much smaller. Her laughter and tiny hands are missed.
