Red, White, and Blue Rolls
These are a derivative of my Blue Ribbon Apple Rolls, which took first place at the county fair. Mind you it wasn't the everyone—that-meets-the-criteria gets a blue ribbon sort of competition, but a 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place competition, and the apple rolls got best of, #1, 1st place. Ta Da! I think the Red, White, and Blue Rolls are even better.
Dough
In your lovely KitchenAid stand mixer, mix together:
2 1/4 t quick or breadmaker yeast
3 1/4 C white flour
1/4 C white sugar
1 t salt
In a big measuring cup, combine and then add to your big bowl:
1/4 C hot water
3/4 C milk
1 egg
Then add:
1/4 C softened butter, cut up
Run the mixer on low for 20 minutes. Rest for 2 hours. Run for 4 minutes. Rest for 1 hour. (Not you, the KitchenAid, though you are free to Run and Rest too, if you want to.)
Remove from bowl and force it into a lumpy rectangle-like shape on your floured pastry cloth. Dough will resist you. Let it rest for a minute or two while you work on the filling.
Filling
Melt together and let boil for 1 minute:
1/2 C butter
1/2 C white sugar
Remove from heat and add:
1 t almond extract
Also have ready:
1/2 C dried or frozen cherries or raspberries
1/2 C dried or frozen blueberries
1/2 C white chocolate chips
1/2 C slivered or chopped almonds
Go back to the dough and roll, push, and cajole it into a large thin rectangle. Dribble the butter/sugar mixture over it. Don't worry about spreading it out, but do make sure you get the right and left sides, so that the end-rolls get some. Leave about a 2 inch at the top bare. Repeat with the fruit and nuts.
From the bottom, roll the dough up. Slice into 3/4 inch to 1 inch slices and place into baking dishes (one 9/13 will work, though I usually use 2 pie pans).
Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until nicely brown. Frost if you wish, I usually do not.