In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over top of warm water. Let dissolve. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over yeast and let sit for 1-2 minutes. The yeast should bubble and foam. If it does not, it is not active and should not be used.
In a large bowl, white whole wheat flour flour, 1 cup of all purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, and salt together.
In separate bowl, mix pumpkin puree, butter, almond milk and flaxseed meal mixture together. Or, use 1 large egg.
Pour wet ingredients into kitchenaid mixer along with activated yeast. Turn on mixer and combine yeast and pumpkin mixture.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the kitchenaid, one cup at a time, mixing and scraping down the sides in between addition of flour.
Turn out onto counter coated with some of the remaining flour. Knead the remaining flour into the dough until it is used up and you have a smooth, elastic dough.
Put dough into a bowl coated with cooking spray and lightly spray the top of the dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise. Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped walnuts and raisins in a small bowl, set aside.
Transfer the risen dough to a work surface, and pat or roll it into a 16″ x 12″ rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture.Roll the dough into a log the long way.
Next, using what I call my “dental floss trick”, cut the rolls into even slices (I got 9 rolls). The dental floss trick uses a long string of unwaxed, unflavored dental floss. You slide it under the roll dough and bring it up and across like you are going to start to tie a shoe. Then you pull each side to slice the roll dough.
Place slices in a greased 8 inch square baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap (not tightly) and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until they turn golden brown across the center.Remove from oven and let cool about 15 minutes.
Drizzle with your favorite confectioners frosting. I used Rum frosting I put on my Banana fosters Snack Cake.
Notes
Tips
Make sure the yeast is fresh. I'm pretty sure that is why my roll dough was so much nicer this last time.
If you are unsure if your yeast good to use, add a little bit of sugar to your yeast after it has dissolved in the warm water. If it foams and bubbles up, it is active and ok to use.
1 tablespoon of flax meal and 6 tablespoons of water is equal to 1 egg. You can use either for this recipe.
Make sure your roll dough has proofed long enough and is doubled in size before baking.
Feel free to make your own favorite icing. I will sometimes make a cream cheese icing instead of the rum flavored confectioners sugar one.