- 1 large russet potato, peeled
- 1 envelope dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F.)
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups (about) unbleached all purpose flour
- 2 egg whites, beaten to blend
- 1 1/4 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Vegetable oil
- Cook potato in medium saucepan of boiling water until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Mash potato and transfer 1 cup to large bowl, reserving remainder for another use. Mix 3/4 cup cooking liquid into potato. Cool to lukewarm.
- Sprinkle yeast and sugar over 1/2 cup warm water in small bowl; stir to dissolve. Let yeast mixture stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add yeast to mashed potato mixture.
- Add milk, honey, 3 tablespoons oil and salt to potato mixture. Stir in enough flour, 1 cup at a time, to form soft dough. Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if dough is sticky, about 5 minutes. Let dough rest on floured work surface 20 minutes. Gently punch dough down.
- Grease large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat entire surface. Cover bowl. Let dough rise in warm area until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
- Grease large cookie sheet. Gently punch dough down. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 20×15-inch rectangle. Brush dough with egg whites. Mix brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon in medium bowl. Spread sugar mixture over dough, leaving 1-inch border on all sides. Starting at 1 long side, roll dough up jelly roll fashion to form cylinder. Pinch seam to seal. Cut cylinder into 2-inch-wide pieces. Arrange rolls on prepared sheet, placing cut side up and spacing 2 inches apart. Brush rolls with vegetable oil. Let cinnamon rolls rise until doubled in volume, about 35 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly in pan on rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.