Basic Sweet Rolls
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. shortening
1/2 c. warm water
2 packages of cake yeast, active dry or compressed
2 eggs, beaten
5 c. flour (about)
Scald milk, add sugar, salt and shortening, cool to lukewarm. Measure into bowl 1/2 c. warm water, sprinkle or crumble in yeast. Stir until dissolved. Stir in lukewarm milk mixture. Add 2 eggs, beaten and 3 c. of the flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough onto lightly floured board, kneed until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl; brush top with soft shortening. Cover, let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Shape as directed.
Variation No. 1. Cinnamon Twists
DIVIDE SWEET DOUGH IN HALF. Roll into a square about 12 x 12 inches. Brush lightly with melted butter. Mix together 1 c. sugar and 1 T. cinnamon. Sprinkle center third of square with 3 T. of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Fold one third of dough over center third. Sprinkle with 3 T. of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Fold remaining third of dough over the two layers. Cut into strips 1 inch wide. Take hold of each end of strip and twist tightly in opposite directions. Seal ends firmly. Place on greased cookie sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle tops with remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture. Cover. Let rise until double in bulk (about 1 hour). Bake in moderate oven 350 degrees about 25 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.
Variation No. 2 Rosebuds
DIVIDE SWEET DOUGH IN HALF. Roll into square 12 x 12 inches. Spread evenly with 1/4 c. jam (raspberry, or strawberry). Roll up as for jelly roll. Cut into 12 equal pieces (about 1 inch wide). Place cup side up in greased muffin pans 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches. With scissors cut crosses, about 1/2 inch deep across buns. Cover, let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour). Beat together 1 egg yolk and 2 T. milk. Brush tops of buns with egg mixture. Bake in a moderate oven 350 degrees about 30 minutes. Ice Tops with plain icing.
Plain Icing
1 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 T. milk
1/4 t. vanilla
Combine all ingredients, beat until smooth.
