Dinner Rolls

At every family meal we have on my maternal side of the family, everyone gets really excited when they find out that my Aunt Bobbie has made the rolls or bread. She’s famous in the family for delicious, fluffy, homemade rolls and bread. At this most recent Thanksgiving, when she was slicing bread to place out on the table, my brother elbowed me and whispered, “Do you think anyone would notice if I just ate all the bread before dinner starts?” For the record Kev, I do think so…

We’re having Friendsgiving today this year, and so I decided to try to make her rolls. It’s never quite as good when you make someone else’s recipe that you love, but I thought it was worth the challenge. I adjusted a smidge from her recipe in the family cookbook, so we’ll know where I screwed up when it’s not the same!

Results? Pretty darn good, but shockingly, not exactly the same. Hers are fluffier. But these are still pretty fluffy, especially if you eat them right out of the oven! (How else would you want to eat them…?)

At hour 0 —–>

At hour 2

Dinner Rolls

(Recipe from my family cookbook, by Aunt Bobbie, obviously)

Ingredients: 

• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup warm water
• 4 tbsp butter, divided
• 3 1/4 tsp yeast

Instructions: 

1. Sift together the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a bread hook.
2. Stir the yeast into the warm water.
3. Beat the egg and then whisk in the sugar. Then add 2 tbsp of melted butter, followed by the water and yeast.
4. Pour all of the wet ingredients in with the dry. Start the stand mixer and knead for 3-4 minutes.
5. {If needed, add tiny amount of flour or water to combat too sticky or too dry dough.}
6. Place dough ball in a large, greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise for 2 hours.
7. Divide dough into individual rolls. Bobbie suggests 24; we did 18. Place rolls on a baking sheet.
8. Melt the remaining 2 tbsp of butter and generously brush on top of all the rolls.
9. Set aside for another 2 hours to rise again. They should double in size.
10. Finally, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 12-15 minutes.