You've got to try these!!

Ok I was going to put the BEST cinnamon rolls as the title but it seems redundant. But these are the best. Those I have made them for have said they are better than their grandmothers, and their grandmothers, and so forth. So you see, you need to try them! Please don't let the fact that they have yeast in them scare you away. If I can make them anyone can. So lets face our fears. Here we go......

You will need:

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour

First add the yeast to the warm water, stir and set aside.

This allows for the yeast to start doing its thing. Make sure the water is between 120 and 130 degrees. If it is too hot it will kill the yeast and if its too cold the yeast wont grow. I promise this is the most complicated this recipe gets.

Take the cup of milk, 1/4 cup shortening, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt and heat it up in the microwave until the shortening almost melts. Take it out and stir till shortening melts completely. Add the mixture to 1 1/2 cups of flour. stir completely.

Then add in 1 egg, stir, add in yeast mixture, stir again, and add the remaining 2 cups of flour. Once stirred completely turn onto floured surface and knead in more flour if it feels sticky.

Knead for a few minutes and shape into a ball, place in greased bowl. Grease the top of the dough and place a towel over the bowl and let rise in warm place (i let mine rise in the oven that I have turned on to get warm and then turned off.) Makes sure the oven is off before you place the dough in there!
Let rise until double in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Once it has doubled in size punch it down and turn onto floured surface. Divide the dough in half, cover the dough again and let rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes take half the dough and roll it out into a rectangle.

For filling you will need a stick of softened butter and sugar and cinnamon.
Take the softened butter and smear it all over the dough. Yes, with your hands!

Than add a layer of sugar and then sprinkle cinnamon all over, like so.

Roll up the rectangle long ways and cut the roll into 10 equal pieces. Place each roll into greased 9x9 circle or square pan or whatever you have.

Once you are done with this, repeat the steps with the other half of the dough. Once all the dough is in rolls cover the pans and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes in a warm place. I forgot to take a picture of this part, sorry bout that.
Here are some right out of oven! yummy!


Now for icing:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/8 tsp vanilla
add enough milk to reach a drizzle consistency.
You may need to make more, if you like a lot of icing like me.

Here we go....drizzle over top and dig in! These are so delicious and yummy! These take me to my happy place. Try them!