Aunt Gladys' Sweet Rolls

My Great Aunt Gladys was one of the most amazing women I’ve ever known. She also knew how to bake like nobody’s business. (In fact, Ronald Reagan asked her to be his personal cook at the White House when he won his first election after tasting her food on the campaign trail. She politely declined, but was very flattered nevertheless.)

Beyond her genius in the kitchen, Aunt Gladys had a giving, generous spirit. You could frequently find her at the local prison, dropping off baked goods for the inmates. Each night, she prayed for every family member by name, and that included her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Aunt Gladys made these rolls for every family celebration for as long as I can remember. My parents continued the tradition, and Bob and I have carried it on with our kids and make them for every birthday and holiday.

If you have little ones around, this recipe is a perfect family activity. Have one child dip the dough in water, another roll the dough in the cinnamon-sugar, etc. Growing up, my father was in charge of the sweet-roll line, telling all six kids what to do. These days, I’m the "Sweet Roll Factory" job delegator.

This version is my own iteration of her beloved classic.

1 thawed bag of 24 frozen yeast rolls

3 tablespoons cinnamon + 2 cups sugar, mixed together

1 cup heavy whipping cream, minus 2 tablespoons

1 stick melted butter

3⁄4 cup lt. brown sugar

a bowl of water 

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2: Pour melted butter into a 9x13-inch pan and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top.

Step 3: Dip each roll in water and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 4: Stretch and tie each roll into a knot.

Step 5: Evenly place each roll into the pan.

Step 6: Cover the pan with tin foil and allow to rise overnight on your counter.

Step 7: Before baking, pour the heavy whipping cream over the risen rolls. 

Step 8: Bake for 20 minutes, covered with foil. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Step 9: Place a plate on top of the pan and flip the sweet rolls onto the plate.