Baking Project

When I was in Walmart Friday, I was tempted to pick up a can of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, but decided to buy some pecans and yeast instead. I had made homemade carmel rolls before and decided it would be a good Saturday morning project. It's not expensive to make them since you have most of the ingredients on hand anyway. It's also not difficult. You just have a little bit of time invested. This is a recipe that I got from a Taste of Home cookbook a few years ago. I use my Kitchenaid mixer for the kneading part, but have also done it by hand.

Carmel Pecan Rolls

In a large bowl mix together with an electric mixer until smooth (about 2 minutes):

-1 pkg yeast disolved in

-3/4 quarter cup warm water

-3/4 quarter cup warm milk

-1/4 cup sugar

-3 Tbsp vegetable oil

-2 tsp salt

-1 1/4 cup flour

Add an additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour to form a soft dough. If you don't have a stand mixer, you can do this by hand. Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic - about 6 to 8 minutes. Place into a greased bowl, turn once to grease the top. Cover and let rise one hour.

Punch down dough and roll into a 18 x12 inch rectangle on a floured surface.

Filling:

-1/2 cup butter, spread across the dough to within an inch of the edges

-1/4 sup sugar mixed with 3 tsps cinnamon, sprinkle over the butter.

Roll up jelly-roll style, pinch seam. Cut into 12 one inch slices.

Topping:

-Combine 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup heavy cream, spread into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

-Sprinkle with 1 cup chopped pecans.

Place the rolls into the prepared pan. Cover and let rise until doubled - about an hour. Bake at 350 for about 30 to 35 minutes or until well browned (I gave it the full 35 minutes). Cool for one minute before turning on the serving platter. It's very satisfying to see lift up the pan and see the results.

Again, none of this is difficult. While the dough in the bowl is about done rising, I get the topping and filling ready, so it's pretty easy once you get to the rolling out the dough stage. I think the next time I make these, I might use a bit more brown sugar and cream. The carmel is my favorite part. Paul went fishing around 10 o'clock yesterday and it was just bugging him that they wouldn't be done before he left.