When Amish women bake cinnamon rolls they don’t mess around with small batches since they are always baking for a crowd. It’s never just one or two pans since many Amish women have eight or ten kids and a hungry husband to feed. to So when we stopped at the Amish run Stringtown Grocery during GrandCamp 2018 I decided I could give the Indy girls a glimpse of BIG baking…Amish style.
Many Amish women use a “Sweet Dough & Bun Mix” that is sold at the small, family run Amish stores in our area, so we grabbed a bag off the shelf.
And I also picked up the paper “cookbook” that is required to know how to use many of the unmarked mixes that are sold in the bulk section of the store. ( The “cookbook” cost a whopping fifty cents!)
Since most of you don’t have access to that mix, this post will simply show you the usual way to prepare cinnamon rolls, no matter what recipe you use.
First we measured 17 1/2 Cups of the mix into a LARGE mixing bowl. Yes…I said 17 1/2 CUPS!
I got that huge bowl as a wedding gift 47 years ago, and I’m sure it was purchased at one of our local Amish stores way back then. And they still sell them today.
In a separate bowl I mixed FIVE envelopes of yeast into 32 ounces of warm water. Yes…FIVE ENVELOPES! I also added a sprinkle of sugar to feed the yeast. (Lolo was quite surprised to find out that yeast is a living organism.) We let the yeast mixture “bloom” for five or ten minutes. The girls were shocked when the yeast began to bubble…and grow!
We mixed the wet and dry ingredients together until all the dry mix was evenly wet.
After kneading the dough on the floured countertop for about five minutes (a real workout!) we sprayed the same big bowl with cooking spray. Then we plunked the dough back in and we covered the bowl with a damp dish towel. We let the dough rise for an hour.
We cleaned the kitchen counter very carefully before we dumped the dough onto a sprinkle of flour.
Then we carefully rolled that huge ball of dough into a LONG oblong shape, and we plopped on a softened stick of butter. Using an offset spatula, Lolo spread the butter evenly over the dough.
Next we sprinkled on a generous amount of cinnamon, and several scoops of sugar. We used both white sugar and brown sugar.
Next, Lolo began to roll the dough into a tight roll.
That was one LONG roll!
And she used my bench scraper to cut the dough into individual rolls.
Now that’s a LOT of rolls!
We covered those four pans with damp towels and we allowed them to rise again…until double in size.
We baked those yummy rolls at 350 degrees until they were golden brown…and I must tell you…this old Meemaw’s kitchen smelled fantastic!
We mixed up a simple glaze using powdered sugar, pure vanilla and a splash of half & half. And the finished product?
I think my Amish friends would approve. (Those Indy girls and Peepaw sure did.)
Way too much fun and good food‼️‼️ Looks sooo good.
LOL! Thanks Dorothy! But I say it’s NEVER too much fun..or too much food at Meemaw’s house!!! (You’ve sat at our table…so you know it!)
🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
That was awesome Meemaw and such a fun time with the young gals from Indy!
Awww….Thanks Mary! And THAT was only the beginning of our cooking adventures! 🙂 Stay tuned!
XOXO
Meemaw
There was no kneading?? That’s always the hardest part!
You caught my mistake. I updated the post. 🙂
Darn it! I was hoping this was some kind of a new thing. LOL
Sorry! Just consider it your upper body workout for the day.
Works for me…at least on paper!
Hi,Where can I buy the roll mix ?
Thanks !
Hi Dot!
Thanks for your question! Unfortunately the roll mix won’t be easy to find unless you’re willing to drive to Southeast Iowa. It’s packaged at Stringtown Grocery Store…an Amish store near Kalona Iowa. And since it’s an Amish store they don’t have a telephone number you can call. If I can get more information I will share it with you…but if you live near any Amish settlements you may be able to get it through them. I wish you good luck with your search!
XOXO
Meemaw
Hmm. My guess is that if you contact a Whole Foods, which carries Kalona milk and other Kalona products, you might be able to talk them into talking the Kalona Amish community into
also selling their bulk flour/roll mix through Whole Foods as well. Maybe?
Thanks for your comment! That’s a thought…but I’m not sure who would be up for that negotiation task. Thanks again for your comment though!
XOXO
Meemaw
I live about an hour from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and of course there are a lot of Amish there. I will check some of the local grocery stores that carry the prebagged mixes and noodles.
Good luck on your hunt! It’s fun to create dishes that have been enjoyed by Amish families for years and years!
XOXO
Meemaw
Also check online much of it is available today. Check out Lancaster PA. Bulk food Amish stores. Good luck!
Thanks Dan!
XOXO
Meemaw
Thank you Kevin!
XOXO
Meemaw