Make Your Own Dinner Rolls

I was at the grocery store last night and noticed that they were out of dinner rolls.  If you did not pick up any, you can make some.  Here is the recipe we used last week in our roll making workshop.  All three batches came out great even though they were made by different people.  We shaped these rolls in a variety of shapes from cloverleafs to Alphabet letters.  You can also just do the traditional round rolls.  We will be having homemade rolls for our Thanksgiving Dinner also.  My son has requested his favorite with a honey glaze.

Beginner Dinner Rolls

2 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 packet Instant, RapidRise or Platinum Yeast

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk (whole, 2%, 1% OR skim)

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons butter OR margarine

Combine 3/4 cup flour, sugar, dry yeast and salt in a large mixer bowl and stir until blended. Combine milk, water and butter in a small microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on HIGH in 15 second increments until very warm but not hot to the touch (120° to 130°F.  Butter won’t melt completely). Add to flour mixture.

Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/4 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in just enough remaining flour so that the dough will form into a ball.

Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic and springs back when lightly pressed with 2 fingers, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cover with a towel; let rest for 10 minutes.

Cut dough into 12 equal pieces; shape into balls using your hands. Place in greased 8-inch round or square pan.  Cover with towel; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Bake in preheated 375ºF oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan by running a knife around the edges and invert onto wire rack; brush with additional melted butter, if desired. Serve warm.

To speed up the rising process, we poured hot water in a 13 X 9 X 2 pan and placed our baking sheet with the shaped rolls on top.  This cuts the rising time in half, so we could make the rolls in an hour.