Linny Lee’s Cinnamon Rolls

Since many of you loved the ice cream cake recipe,
and others loved my corn on the cob recipe…
and now after so many requests over the years 
for my cinnamon roll recipe –
it’s time to share.
They are our family’s favoritest treat.
 Each of my big girls 
{Abigail, Sarah, Autumn, and even Emma in Uganda}
 make Cinnamon Rolls! 
Totally tickles my heart. 
It’s these special traditions over the years that allow 
families to have warm, sweet memories together.
I thought it would be fun to show you the recipe card itself,
35 years old and narrowly surviving the fire that took our home…
albeit pretty water-logged
and beaten up after that.
So here’s the recipe:
Linny Lee’s Cinnamon Rolls
{This is a triple batch.  I was going to try to 
adjust it down to a single batch and then I giggled:
I make a triple batch because we are a large family.
This is my life with my sweet pile of treasures.
You can always freeze the extra.}
Start by putting this in a bowl : 
6 Tablespoons Sugar
3/4 Cup Butter
13 and 1/2 teaspoons Yeast
1 Tablespoons Sea Salt
6 and 3/4 Cups Very Warm {not hot}Water
Mix these together.
Let the yeast begin to activate.
Add 
3/4 Cups Ground Flax Meal
Mix.
Add 
4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
Mix.
Add at least 
6 Cups Unbleached Flour
The consistency should begin to be dough like.
I have a mixer that makes my life much easier.
Although I begin by using the regular mixing hook, I change to the
 the bread/kneading hook to stir while adding the flour, 
before it gets too thick.
Slowly I add more and more and more of the unbleached flour
until it begins to be very dough-like.
I would love to tell you an exact amount,
but seriously, each time it is a different amount.
If the dough is too sticky, add more flour.
If it feels tough, just let it keep mixing 
{and pray a lot}.
Let it knead for at least 5 minutes.
If it begins to get sticky again, add a dab more flour.
When it finally feels like bread dough
put it in a large greased bowl.
Cover with small towel and set aside to allow it to rise.

An old trick:  When we have lived in places that are chilly,
I often let the dough rise in the oven. 
Do *not* start your oven.
Just boil water in a cast iron pan.
Take boiled water in pan off stove and set in bottom of oven.
Now set covered dough bowl above it.
It will hasten the rising process beautifully.
Don’t forget to take cast iron pan out before you start oven.
 If you forget to check the dough, it will do this:

I couldn’t help myself, I was off playing with Ruby and taking
 pictures of our littlest princess…
Can you blame me?

I mean, come on, how could I help myself?
No shame in admitting, I’m completely smitten.
After it has risen…
Divide dough into manageable piles. 
I usually divide it into three.
Roll it out…brush with a bit of butter.
Sprinkle sugar across the dough.
I use a modest amount.
Some would say my rolls aren’t sweet enough.
But we like ’em this way!
I then sprinkle Cinnamon across the entire dough.
Too much and it’s gross.
Rather have less, than too much.
Roll the dough up and gently cut with a serrated knife.

Lay each sweetly in your greased pan.

Let them rise one more time {this usually takes about 1/2 hour}.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
I check to see if they are done by pulling the cinnamon rolled dough apart.
If it looks sticky, stick it back in.

Ruby wonders out loud: 
“Seriously, you guys are having rolls again.  
Mom, when is the Lord is going to heal my
 ‘chewer’ so I can eat the rolls too??
Baby food pears is so not the same as your rolls.” 
When they come out I have the kids spread a dab of melted butter
over the top.  
Not much, just a dab.
We love them warm.
Dw likes his with peanut butter spread on them.
I find that gross and disgusting.
I like mine with a dab of butter.
Either way – enjoy them bunches.
Let me know if you try them.
I pray you love Linny Lee’s Cinnamon Rolls.

18 thoughts on “Linny Lee’s Cinnamon Rolls

  1. Oh wow! That seems like a LOT of work! I so want to try them though… I could've sworn Ruby's expression was sayin' "seriously, mom….you're giving away the 'super-secret-scrumptious-Saunders cinammon roll' recipe? How could you?". LOL. She's such a doll! Her pictures ALWAYS make me smile. Thanks for sharing!!

    1. Actually, I do believe you are right! Ruby's expression is much more like, "SERIOUSLY MOM?" I should have put a paypal link and made some real cash, right? haha. So when you come to visit I'll just make the crepes one morning and the rolls another, does that work for you? =)

  2. Can't wait to try the cinnamon rolls! Thanks for the recipe. And look at Miss Ruby holding her head up! Yippee!! Sweet girl is amazing 🙂

  3. Can't wait to try the cinnamon rolls… Thanks for the recipe! And look at Miss Ruby holding her head up ALL BY HERSELF!! Yippee! Sweet girl is AMAZING 🙂

  4. Your rolls look so good this morning :). A trick I was taught when cutting rolls is to take a piece of thread, slide it under the 'log' of dough and criss cross it across the top, pull string on both ends and it will slice right through the dough. Ahhh, so much easier for little hands to cut the rolls instead of a knife and stuggling with them falling apart. Thanks for sharing

    1. Ya' know Aleta, I used to use the thread method, but the Rheumatoid in my hands made it not so fun…so I went to the serrated knife and have had much better and easier success. The kids actually use the knife and gently 'saw' each roll and it has worked well for them too. Maybe it's just God's grace on us because of the RA, cause I use to prefer the thread, but not anymore. xo

  5. I am SO excited that you shared this recipe! My 12 year old daughter and I were talking on Sunday afternoon about how we wanted to learn how to make cinnamon rolls — and here Sunday you shared this exact thing even though I didn't see it til today. I was MEANT to be! And I love sneaking flax into food. My kids beg for my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and they have lots and lots of whole oats, flax, and whole wheat flour. Secretly healthy cookies (sort of). So this is the perfect addition in our house and a triple batch is just the right size 🙂

    BTW – I think Ruby is thinking "mom, get to the part where it SMELLS amazing so I can enjoy them!!"

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