From Our Sweet Basil Kitchen Cookbook

Prep time: 40 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes | Makes: 8–12 rolls

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled shortening or butter, diced
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 cups grated apples (about 3 to 4 apples)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the shortening or butter pieces and cut in with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture becomes sand-like in texture (the shortening or butter should be pea-sized). Add the milk and stir to form a soft dough.
4. On a floured board, roll the dough in an oblong sheet 1/4-inch thick, and brush with melted butter.
5. Combine cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl.
6. Cover dough with grated apples and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Set aside.
7. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and sugar to create a simple syrup. Heat through and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
8. Roll dough out jelly roll style, cut in slices 1½-inches thick, and place cut side down in the pan of sugar water.
9. Bake for 40 minutes or until the rolls have enlarged to fill the entire pan. Serve warm in a bowl with milk or cream.

From Savoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites Cookbook

Prep time: 1 hour | Cook time: 20 minutes | Makes: 14 rolls

Ingredients
Rolls

• 1 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
• 3¼–3½ cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 (0.25-ounce) package instant or rapid rise yeast (about 2¼ teaspoons)
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg

Filling

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest

Glaze

• ¼ cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• Enough orange juice to reach desired consistency

Directions

1. For the dough: Place milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat 1 minute 30 seconds on high. Butter should be at least partially melted. Stir and set aside.
2. Whisk together 2 cups flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. When milk mixture has cooled to warm (not hot; about 105–110 degrees F.), add it to the flour mixture along with the egg. Beat until well combined, using the paddle attachment—about 1 minute.
3. Switch to the dough hook. Add the remaining flour only until dough barely leaves the sides of the bowl. It should be very soft and slightly sticky. Continue to knead dough with mixer for 5 minutes or turn dough onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes by hand. Allow to rest about 10 minutes while you make the filling.
4. For the filling: Combine ingredients in a small bowl.
5. To assemble: Roll dough into a rectangle about 12 x 14 inches. Spread filling mixture over the surface and use your fingers or the back of a spoon to gently spread around. Roll up from the longer side of the rectangle and pinch edges closed. Use a piece of dental floss to score the roll into 12 equal pieces and then slip the floss under the “log” and cinch off each piece with the floss to cut into rolls. Place in a 9 x 13-inch pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cover pan with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place about 30 minutes or until visibly increased in size. In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. When rolls have finished rising, bake 15–20 minutes or until light golden brown.
7. For the glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan or in microwave. Add the powdered sugar and enough orange juice to reach a smooth pouring consistency. Drizzle over warm rolls.
   

From Copycat Cooking with Six Sisters’ Stuff Cookbook

Prep time: 5 hours | Cook time: 20 minutes | Makes: 15 cinnamon rolls

Ingredients

Cinnamon Rolls

• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• ½ cup butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• Pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. Mix yeast, sugar, eggs, milk, melted butter, and salt in a large bowl. Add 4 cups all-purpose flour. Mix well with a spoon, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and allow dough to rise 4 to 6 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Do not knead the dough.
2. Roll out dough into a long, thin rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread on ¼ cup softened butter. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread evenly over the dough. Tightly roll into a jelly-­roll shape, starting at the long end of the dough. Use a string or floss to cut dough into 1-inch pieces and place in a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Cover and let raise an additional 30 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, and salt until smooth. Set frosting aside.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting while still slightly warm.

From Our Best Bites Cookbook

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Serves: 24 small individual servings

Ingredients

• 12 cups popped popcorn (about 1⁄2 cup un-popped kernels, popped) (see tip below)
• 1 cup roughly chopped pecans
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 cup real butter
• 1⁄4 cup light corn syrup (honey makes a good substitution)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 squares almond bark

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside.
3. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2-quart capacity microwave-safe bowl. Mix well. Chop the butter into chunks and place on top of the sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.
4. Remove from microwave and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. The mixture will foam and rise. Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated.
5. Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and spread mixture out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
7. Melt the almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When the almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Tip: You can use air-popped or microwave popcorn. If using microwave, try to find a natural flavor that’s low in butter and salt.