Grandma's Caramel Rolls
I have a confession. I wrote this blog about my Grandma's caramel rolls LAST Christmas and I forgot to post it! So now, one year later here is the recipe for you.
These caramel rolls are a tradition in my family. Each year my dad will bake the rolls and my family enjoys them together 0n Christmas morning. This year however, I decided it was time for me to attempt this recipe passed down from my Grandma. As soon as you take your first bite, you will know it was worth all the time you spent in the kitchen making these oh so good caramel rolls.
Roll Ingredients
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1 tsp of salt
2 beaten eggs
2 pkgs of dry yeast
1/2 cup of warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
1/2 tsp of sugar
6 cups of flour
Mix the milk, sugar, butter and salt together and bring to a boil
Cool to luke warm
Add the beaten eggs
Dissolve the yeast and 1/2 tsp of sugar into 1/2 cup of warm water and add to the previous ingredients
Add flour and knead by hand or with a kitchen aid
Let the dough rise
Caramel Ingredients
1 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of dark corn syrup
1/2 cup of butter
While the dough is rising, bring brown sugar, dark corn syrup and butter to a boil, making the caramel sauce
Spread the caramel sauce on a 9 by 13 pan (or a 9 by 9 square pan could be used)
Once the caramel sauce is evenly spread, place 36 pecan halves evenly on top.
When the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it into a 16 by 20 rectangle
Brush enough melted butter on the dough to cover it and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar
Cut the dough into 12 strips that are each about 16 inches long
Roll each strip (like a rolled bandage) and place each one in the 9 by 13 pan
Be sure that the ends of each strip is facing inward toward the center of the pan
Let the rolls rise
Bake in the center rack of a 375 degrees oven for 25 minutes
Let the rolls cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes, then invert on a rack and the rolls will fall from the pan
If you want to make the rolls ahead of time, wrap them in aluminum foil when they have cooled and stick them in the freezer. When you are ready to serve them, heat the oven to 300 degrees and place them in the oven for about an hour or until they are soft and hot all the way through. Once heated through, sit down and enjoy every bite you have with your caramel rolls. Before you know it they will be gone!
