Icebox Yeast Dough

How to make Icebox Yeast Dough Recipe - Rural American cooks have been excellent bakers throughout the history of our country.

Ingredients:
2 (1/4-ounce) packages active dry yeast (scant 2 tablespoons)
1 cup warm water (105F to 115F, 40C to 45C)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
About 4 cups unbleached bread or all-purpose flour

Method:
In a large bowl, combine yeast and warm water; stir. Let stand about 5 minutes or until yeast foams. Stir in butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is too stiff to mix which may be before all of flour is added. Cover and refrigerate 2 hoursor up to 4 days. Proceed as directed in 1 of the variations below.

Variations
Parkerhouse Rolls:
Cut chilled dough into quarters. On a lightly floured board, roll out 1 part at a time to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into 3-inch rounds. Brush with melted butter. Crease each round of dough just off center. Fold each piece of dough so larger part of fold is on top side of roll. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Brush with additional melted butter. Cover and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Bake 15 minutes or until golden. Makes 48 rolls.

Giant Caramel-Pecan Rolls:
On a lightly floured board, roll out chilled dough to a 12-inch square. Brush with 1/2 cup softened butter. Sprinkle with a mixture of 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Roll up jelly-roll fashion. Cut into 12 equal slices. Melt 1/2 cup butter in the bottom of a 13" x 9" baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. Drizzle with 1/2 cup dark corn syrup. Sprinkle with 1 cup chopped pecans. Arrange dough slices evenly over nuts in baking pan. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Bake rolls 25 minutes or until golden. Let cool slightly, then turn out of pan while still warm. Makes 12 giant rolls.

Pennsylvania Dutch "Strickle'' Sheets:
Grease a 17-1/2" x 11-1/2" jelly-roll pan. Pat chilled dough into pan making an even layer. Cover and let rise until puffy, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 2 cups packed light-brown sugar, 1/4 cup softened butter and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour until crumbly. Mix in 1/4 cup boiling water. Stir until blended. With your fingers, poke holes into risen dough, spacing holes about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle crumbly mixture over top. Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Bake sheets 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm. Makes 24 servings.

Cardamom Bread:
Add 1 teaspoon freshly crushed cardamom pods and 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk solids to liquid mixture. Divide chilled dough into 2 parts. Divide each part into 3. Shape into 3-foot ropes. Braid 3 ropes together to make each loaf. Place 2 loaves on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until puffy, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Brush dough with a mixture of egg and milk. Sprinkle with sliced almonds or pearl sugar. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Makes 2 loaves.

Christmas Wreath:
Prepare Cardamom Bread, above. Divide chilled dough into 3 parts. Shape into long ropes and make 1 long braid. Shape into a wreath on a greased, large, baking sheet or pizza pan. Let rise and bake as for Cardamom Bread.

Note:
When rolling dough into long ropes, it is helpful to work on a lightly oiled countertop. Dust the dough lightly with flour, if necessary.