Lala's Ice Box rolls aren't just your every day run of the mill dinner rolls. They are so special that they are typically only made once a year, as part of the Thanksgiving feast. And my Grandma made not only dinner rolls (clover leaf are perfect with this recipe), but she also made half the dough into a sweet roll. I decided to focus on the sweet roll.
Each time I make these, I'm so amazed at how big, airy, and delicious they are. My Mom makes many things well, but Lala's Ice Box Rolls are the exception to the rule. And of course, like almost every recipe in Lala's arsenal, I do not remember a time when she made these rolls. As for my Mom, I have an idea of where things go awry. The problems occur at any one of these junctures: margarine instead of butter (have to keep it Pareve for the sake of a meat meal), non-dairy creamer instead of milk, old/spent yeast packets, making ahead and freezing, boxed mashed potatoes instead of fresh made, over baking. For the last decade plus, I have made these rolls once a year and when compared side by side with my Mom's, both visually and taste, it's like they're two different recipes. Of course, my Mom can make so many things well that I'm not going to dwell anymore on her Ice Box Roll short-comings.
The first thing you'll want to do, even before you really begin making this recipe, is make a pot of mashed potatoes. If course, at Thanksgiving, there's likely already a pot on the stove, full of delicious, creamy, rich, mashed golden goodness. As with any family feast that revolves around a delicious meal, the main dish goes in the oven first, then you work on the sides. And while the sides are doing their thing, you tackle the finishing touches, like Ice Box Rolls. When I make mashed potatoes, I prefer to use Yukon Gold or Yellow New Potatoes, whichever the grocery store has on hand. Here's a handy guide to potato varieties.
When mashing potatoes for this recipe, you'll want to be sure to get out ALL of the lumps. I love a good, lumpy, mashed potato just as much as the next person, but the lumps translate to potato chunks in the rolls. A few Thanksgivings ago, I had this problem. They still tasted fine, it was just strange to come across a hunk-o-potato mid bite. One way to ensure you've mashed all the lumps out is to grab your hand mixer and give it a whirl in the potatoes. I have one just like this.
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| Check out the lumps in these tasty mashed potatoes! |
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| Smooth and creamy mashed potatoes! |
Once the potatoes are mashed, or even while they finish boiling in their water, go ahead and proof your yeast. Be careful to use an appropriately sized vessel for proofing. As you can see in my photos, the proofing yeast is about to spill over. And it did!
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| Yeast proofing |
After the yeast is proofed and the potatoes are made, follow the instructions as written. I am sharing three hand written recipe cards with you. See the captions below each photo for more details.
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| This is my go-to version of this recipe. Written by Lala for my Mom, shortly after she and my Dad married, it has detailed instructions for my Mom to follow. See the notes I added to the copied recipe for a more modern take, one that is current by today's standards and grocer availability. |
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| Written by Lala, this recipe was in her box, wrapped around the next recipe card. |
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| What makes this recipe even more special has nothing to do with it being unique from the rest. It certainly isn't different in that aspect. What makes this one special is that it's written in Grandma Bundy's handwriting. Likely written around 1900, it's well worn, taped time and again. This recipe is limited mostly to the ingredients. It was tucked inside the recipe above in Lala's pen. |
I'll leave you with this final photo. I make my cinnamon rolls in a muffin tin. You can also make them in a baking dish or on a baking tray. Your preference. These rolls puff up to magically epic proportions and are eagerly devoured by all! This recipe, in it original form, is very dear to me. You won't see it retyped anytime soon. It's wrapped in memories of many generations gathered around the dining table, sharing in the blessings of our lives.
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