Mom's Awesome Caramel Rolls

This is my Mom's caramel roll recipe, they are definitely a family favorite!  And they are the easiest caramel rolls I have ever made!

This recipe makes 2 - 9 x 13 baking dishes of caramel rolls, so they are great for making when you're going to have company!  Or just so you have leftovers to warm up for breakfast, snacks or dessert throughout the week.  

You assemble everything the night before, let them sit at room temperature overnight and bake them in the morning!

Enjoy, you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients:

-2 1 lb. loaves of frozen bread dough, partially thawed  

{or you could make  your own dough and freeze it before cutting; I have tried white and wheat, they are both great}

-1/2 cup sugar

-1 tsp cinnamon

Ingredients for Caramel:

-1/2 cup butter

-1/2 cup brown sugar

-1/2 cup sugar

-1/2 cup vanilla ice cream  

{I've even substituted vanilla strawberry swirl ice cream}

Process:

1. Cut each partially thawed dough in half lengthwise and then in half again lengthwise.

2. Then slice each piece into 8-9 pieces; yielding 32-36 pieces per loaf.

3. In a medium-small bowl combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.  Mix well.

4. Toss a few dough pieces at a time in cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated on all sides.

5. Place cinnamon-sugar coated dough pieces into a well greased 9 x 13 baking dish {1 dough loaf per pan}.  Repeat until all dough is coated and in baking dish.

6. If you have leftover cinnamon-sugar mixture sprinkle it over the dough pieces.  Set aside.

7. Now its time to make the caramel sauce; in a small saucepan heat together butter, sugar and brown sugar, until melted and well combined.

8. Now add the ice cream and stir to melt and combine.

Here I substituted vanilla strawberry swirl ice cream,
it didn't noticeably change the flavor of the caramel.

9. Pour the hot caramel mixture over the prepared cinnamon-sugar coated dough pieces dividing evenly between both baking dishes.

10. Cover pans with a clean kitchen towel and allow to sit at room temperature overnight.

This is what the rolls look like in the morning, all risen and ready to bake...

11. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake rolls for 20-30 minutes.

12. Immediately place a dish larger than the baking dish over the top of the caramel roll pan.  Hold the dishes together tightly and quickly flip over, allowing caramel and rolls to be inverted out of the baking dish onto the other larger dish.  {BE CAREFUL!  The caramel and rolls will be very hot!}

13. Allow rolls to cool slightly.  Enjoy with or without a little spread of butter!

{The leftovers are always tasty, just warm slightly or enjoy right out of the fridge.}