Moms Caramel Rolls Recipes

MOM'S ULTRA SOFT AND TENDER CARAMEL ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. I always aim for the water to be the warmness of a bottle of milk that you would give to a baby. Set aside.
• In a small pan over medium heat, melt shortening in 1 cup of hot water. Remove from heat and add 1 cup cold water. Add the shortening and water mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer, and then add the 3/4 cup of sugar, salt, eggs, and dissolved yeast. With a dough hook attachment, mix these ingredients. Then add the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing in the flour almost completely each time before adding the next cup. When all flour has been incorporated, you will have a very soft dough that is easy to handle.
• At this point you can either use the dough right away or store the dough in the refrigerator for up to a week to make the rolls at a later time. To continue making this recipe, cover the bottom and sides of a large bowl with a very light coating of oil. Place dough in the oiled bowl, turning dough over to get some oil on all sides, so the top of the dough stays soft. Cover top of bowl with a clean kitchen towel and set in a warm place. Let dough rise to about double the original amount. This can take at least an hour, depending on the warmth of your surroundings, etc. While dough is rising, prepare the caramel (directions are listed below). Once dough has doubled, score it in half and roll out each half into a large rectangle shape, about 14″ x 8″. Melt the 1/4 cup of butter in a small bowl and brush dough with half of the butter. In a small bowl, stir together the 2/3 cup of sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar evenly over the melted butter. Starting with the wide side of the dough rectangle, roll the dough up tightly, pinching the seam to seal it at the end. Cut dough roll into 12 slices. Place dough, cut sides up, in a 9″ x 13″ pan that already has caramel sauce in it. Repeat with the other half of the dough, to create a second pan of rolls. Cover pans with kitchen towels and allow dough to rise in a warm place for a second time, until doubled. This can take at least an hour, depending on the warmth of your surroundings.
• To make the rolls at a later date, place the dough in a large airtight container that has a bit of oil in it to coat the dough. Spray one side of a piece of plastic wrap with nonstick spray and place it directly on top of the dough (so it doesn't stick to the dough). Put a lid on the bowl and place the bowl in the refrigerator. The dough will still rise while in the refrigerator, just at a much slower rate. When ready to make rolls, prepare the caramel and divide it into two pans. Then score the dough in half and continue with the recipe as normal. Note that when the dough is cold, it will take longer to rise in the pan.
• Preheat oven to 350°. Place prepared pans of caramel and rolled dough in oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until nicely browned. I found that the stoneware from The Pampered Chef required a bit more time in the oven than a metal pan. If you want to turn the rolls out onto a platter, let the rolls rest for 5 minutes after removing them from the oven before doing so. We usually just serve the rolls right from the pan.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together brown sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup, and water until melted and combined. Heat to just near boiling, but do NOT boil. It will have a cloudy appearance and will stay softer once the rolls are cooked. Divide caramel between two 9″ x 13″ pans. Set pans aside to let the caramel cool while the dough is rising.

MOM'S CARAMEL ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix water and yeast and wait 5 minutes.
• Stir in sugar, salt and 2 cups of flour.
• Add egg and butter and mix.
• Stir in rest of flour by hand, if dough is still sticky add just enough to make it not sticky anymore.
• Let raise until dough is double in size.
• Sprinkle flour on surface and roll dough out until is approx 18 X 12 inches.
• Spread a very thin layer of soft butter on dough and sprinkle cinnamon/sugar mixture on it.
• Roll dough from the long side, it should look like a log.
• Cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Should be 18 pieces.
• Place brown sugar and butter into microwave dish and heat until butter is just melted; stir well.
• Stir in 3 T water.
• Divide mixture into 3 pans (8-inch cake pans).
• Place 6 pieces in each pan.
• Let raise for about 45 minutes.
• Bake for 20 minutes in a 325°F oven.
• When you take out of oven, turn each pan of rolls over on a plate, otherwise you will have a hard time getting them out when they cool.
• If you can, let them cool slightly and enjoy them when they are still warm.