Rolling Buns

My Grandma Hunter always made sure there were fresh-baked cinnamon rolls when our family came to visit. My youngest brother, Carl, when he was just a little squirt, called them "rolling buns", and the name just stuck! I can still picture her standing at the kitchen table kneading that yummy dough.

I needed to take something to the church bake sale fundraiser for Girls Camp, so I decided to make... what else? Rolling Buns! Here's the recipe (I let the bread machine do the kneading!):

Dough:

1 pkg active dry yeast

1 cup warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

4 cups all-purpose flour

Dissolve the yeast in warm milk. Add sugar and allow to rest 10 minutes.

Add melted butter and eggs. Mix well and pour into bread machine.

Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to machine 1 cup at a time while machine mixes.

Allow machine to knead dough for 7 - 10 minutes. Remove dough and proceed to assembly step.

Filling:

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup butter (or margarine), softened

Mix together cinnamon and brown sugar; set aside.

Assembly:

Roll out on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle about 16" X 20", about 1/4" thick.

Spread softened butter evenly across dough.

Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon and brown sugar mixture.

Starting from the top of the long side of rectangle, roll dough down to meet the bottom edge.

Cut into 12 slices.

HINT: To cut rolls, Grandma Hunter always slid a piece of thread under the roll, brought the ends up and crossed them across the top, and pulled to cut. I mark off 12 even slices, then line the thread up and pull it across on the marks. (This method keeps a knife from mashing down the dough!)

Place rolls, evenly spaced, in a PAM-coated 13" X 9" baking dish.

Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled - about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Bake at 375 about 15 minutes, or until tops are light brown and dough is cooked through.

Do not over-bake.

Icing:

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

While rolls are baking, mix together icing ingredients with electric mixer. DO NOT add milk or other liquid. Beat until fluffy.

Spread on warm (not hot) rolling buns.

Seems like a lot of steps, but they're all easy-peasy, and soooooooo worth it!!