The original recipe Mr. Hastings gave my mother had very sketchy directions and calls for an entire ounce of yeast, enough to make the bread dough rise high above the deep sides of my mixing bowl, so be sure to use a very large bowl. You can add chopped toasted walnuts or pecans to the cinnamon-and-sugar mixture (or substitute brown sugar instead of white to make the filling richer and more caramel-like) or even throw a handful of raisins into the filling or right into the dough itself. Diamalt will give the bread a slightly sweeter, richer flavor. You can find it at some home brewing stores.
4 1/4 ounce packages of yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening (I use softened butter)
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon dry Diamalt (optional)
1 cup milk
7 cups flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted
6 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
6 teaspoons cinnamon (or to taste)
Mix water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl. When yeast has dissolved and the mixture is bubbly, add shortening (or butter) and egg, and mix with wooden spoon. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of flour, salt and Diamalt (if using). Slowly stir in milk, then add rest of flour a little at a time. Knead until a smooth dough forms, approximately 10 minutes. Dough will be sticky. Cover and let rise, in a warm place, once to double the bulk, approximately 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Flour hands and divide dough into 3 portions. On a well-floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 9-by-13-inch rectangle. Brush dough with some of the melted butter, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon, or to taste. Starting at one of the 9-inch sides, roll dough into a jelly roll, and place, seam side down, in a greased 9-by-5-by-3 loaf pan. Cover and let rise another time.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush tops of loaves with any leftover melted butter (if desired), and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes or until tops are browned and the bottom of the loaves sound hollow when tapped with your fingers. Remove loaves from pans and let cool on wire rack. Makes 3 loaves.
