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5 from 5 votes

Old Fashioned Butter Roll

Old-fashioned southern butter roll is comfort food dessert decadence. It's inexpensive, simple to make and brings back precious memories at mamaw's house.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 287kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 ¼ cups self-rising flour plus more for dusting
  • ½ cup shortening
  • cup milk
  • 10 tablespoons salted butter at room temperature
  • ½-1 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Vanilla Ice Cream optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450℉.
  • In a medium bowl, using a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands, cut the flour and shortening together until it resembles a small crumble. Add milk and stir until it's a cohesive ball.
  • Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Roll into a 12"x20" rectangle. Spread 8 tablespoons of the butter onto the dough in an even layer. If you'd like, sprinkle with nutmeg. Roll the dough up from the short end and cut into 3 individual log rolls. Cut those 3 rolls in half.
  • Heat the remaining butter in a 13"x9" baking dish in the oven that's preheating to 450℉ until melted. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and place the rolls evenly on the bottom of the pan. (See pictures for how to roll, cut and place in the dish).
  • For the glaze, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together water, sugar, and vanilla. Heat just until the sugar dissolves and comes to a boil. Carefully pour the syrup on top of the rolls. 
  • Bake 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350℉ and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Slice and serve with a spoon of the glaze on top. Optional, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Video

Notes

Expert Tips and Substitutions

  • Butter Roll Shape: The shape of old-fashioned butter roll depends on the way your Mamaw made it. It can be rolled into 3 logs like my mamaw does or into 2 larger logs. It can also be rolled cinnamon roll-style by rolling the flattened dough from the long side of the dough then cutting into 1-inch even rounds.
  • Mix-In Options: Other ingredients folks like to put in the center of the dough for butter roll are cinnamon, chopped dried fruit and chopped pecans.
  • Syrup Texture: The syrup poured on the dough will seem too thin. However, as it bakes, it'll thicken and puff up the dough.
  • Toppings: Vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream make for excellent toppers for butter roll. They complement the warm, gooey texture perfectly!
    • How to make fresh whipped cream: With an electric mixer, whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or paste and ¼ cup confectioners sugar on high speed until stiff peaks form. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Double the recipe if you like extra whipped cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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