🍞 Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls
🧈 Ingredients
- **4 cups** All-Purpose Flour (plus more for dusting)
- **1/3 cup** Granulated Sugar
- **1 teaspoon** Salt
- **2 1/4 teaspoons** Active Dry or Instant Yeast (1 packet)
- **1/4 cup** Warm Water (approx. $105-115^\circ F$ or $40-46^\circ C$)
- **2/3 cup** Warm Milk (whole milk recommended)
- **3 large** Eggs (at room temperature)
- **1/2 cup (1 stick)** Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled slightly
- **1** Egg (for egg wash, mixed with 1 tbsp water/milk)
📝 Instructions
- **Activate Yeast:** In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in the $1/4$ cup of warm water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour and salt.
- **Mix Wet Ingredients:** Add the yeast mixture, warm milk, and 3 large eggs to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until a shaggy dough forms.
- **Incorporate Butter:** Gradually add the melted butter while the mixer is running on low speed. Once all the butter is incorporated, increase the speed to medium-low and knead for 8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.
- **First Rise (Bulk Fermentation):** Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- **Shape the Rolls:** Gently punch down the dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12-16 equal pieces (or around 2-3 ounces each). Shape each piece into a tight, smooth ball (as seen in the top image).
- **Second Rise (Proofing):** Arrange the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a 9×13-inch pan, leaving a little space between them. Cover loosely and let rise again for 30–45 minutes, or until puffy and almost doubled.
- **Bake:** Preheat your oven to $375^\circ F$ ($190^\circ C$). Brush the tops of the rolls with the egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water/milk).
- **Bake for 15-20 minutes,** or until golden brown (as seen in the bottom image).
- **Serve:** For extra shine, brush with a little melted butter immediately after removing them from the oven. Let cool slightly before serving warm.
**Tip:** Ensure the milk and water are warm, but not hot ($105-115^\circ F$), to properly activate the yeast without killing it. Room temperature eggs mix into the dough better.
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