Aunt Julie's Cinnamon Rolls

I've written about her before but to reiterate, my Aunt Julie is one of the most amazing cooks on the planet. Many of our favorite recipes are hers and the times I spent at her house as a child she always took time to teach me how to cook. What I really liked was that she gave me all of the tools and knowledge to complete my recipe and then she left me alone. She let me make messes, I mean, I had to clean them up, but that was all part of the learning process.
I made these cinnamon rolls for Molly's first day of school and quite a few people asked for the recipe. I am not great at making breads and rolls but this one was so easy! The dough was so easy to deal with and pretty that I was a little sad to cook it.
I giggle a little when I read this recipe because dear Aunt Julie obviously thinks that everybody knows how to make cinnamon rolls without real directions. I will share it the way it is written and then add my extra instructions.

Leanne's Bread or Cinnamon Rolls

Rolls:
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
2 1/2 cup warm water
2/3 cup lard or shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
8 cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in water. Stir in shortening, sugar, eggs, salt and flour. Knead. Let the dough rise, then shape into dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls.

Topping for cinnamon rolls
1 cup ice cream
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Melt ingredients together, boil for approximately 1 minute.

Literally. That is the end.
I love that she thinks people just know what to do with that. Here is the same recipe with my additions in color.

Leanne's Bread or Cinnamon Rolls

Rolls:
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
2 1/2 cup warm water
2/3 cup lard or shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
8 cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in water. Stir in shortening, sugar, eggs, salt and flour. Knead. Let the dough rise, then shape into dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls. To make the cinnamon rolls, roll dough out to a large rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar, I used about 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 1/3 cup sugar. Then, starting with the long side, roll up into a spiral. Cut into 20-24 1 inch slices.

Topping for cinnamon rolls
1 cup ice cream
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Melt ingredients together, boil for approximately 1 minute.
Pour mixture in the bottom of 2 9x13 pans and level out. Layer the slices of rolls evenly in the pan and cover to rise. Once they are doubled in size, bake about 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven when they look done in center. Let cool on counter for about 5 minutes and then invert on a baking sheet to let the caramel drip over them. 

This recipe is fantastic for dinner rolls as well. My Mom and I are of the opinion that holidays don't really need anything except these rolls.