Dinner Rolls

These rolls are one of my very favorite things in the whole world! I've always been a little intimidated by baking bread, but this recipe could not be easier! I got the recipe from Cooking Classy, and you can find the original recipe HERE.

Start by mixing together 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon of rapid rise yeast and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Once the dry ingredients are mixed together set them aside & get out a glass measuring cup (I use a 4 cup one).

Add 3/4 cup of cool water, 2/3 cup of milk and 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) of butter to the glass measuring cup. Microwave these 3 ingredients until the mixture reaches 115 degrees - I use a thermometer to check the temperature. I start by microwaving the mixture for 1 minute and 15 seconds and then additional 15 second increments until I reach 115 degrees. I use the thermometer to stir the ingredients around between each bit of time in the microwave.

Add the hot liquid ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until a mass of dough forms. The dough looks really shaggy at this point but that will lessen as you knead it. I take the dough out of the bowl and transfer it onto a generously floured surface to knead it. As I am kneading, I add more flour until the dough is less sticky. I need the dough for about 8-10 minutes.

***you could do this part (the mixing & kneading) with an electric mixer. I used to use a Kitchen-Aid but I knead by hand now that I am more comfortable kneading. If you are using an electric mixer, add all of the ingredients in the same steps I explained above to an electric mixer with the dough hook attachment. Once you add the warm liquids gradually increase the speed of the mixer until it is mixing at a medium speed and let it knead for 3-4 minutes. You will need to add a little more flour to help the dough cling to itself rather than the bowl & hook.

Once your dough is smooth and elastic, put it back in it's bowl or leave it in the bowl of the electric mixer, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside to rise for 5 minutes while you butter the dish.

I recommend using a 9x13 inch Pyrex dish because the rolls expand quite a bit! Once your dish is buttered, remove the dough from the bowl and shape it into a 9" square on the counter.

Once your dough is in a square like shape (it does not need to be perfect!) cut your dough into 16 pieces, once again preciseness does not really matter. Once you have 16 pieces of dough, roll them into balls and use the 1 of the 16 balls to add to other smaller dough balls hopefully evening out the size. You should be left with 15 balls of dough.

Place the dough balls into the buttered Pyrex dish and brush the tops of the dough with water so they don't dry out in the oven. Preheat the over to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, place the rolls in the oven to rise for 20 minutes and turn the oven off - Do not open the oven door as the rolls are rising.

After 20 minutes, remove the rolls from the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit - allow the dough to rest on the counter as the oven is warming.

Once the oven is preheated, place the rolls back in and leave them to bake for 14-16 minutes until the tops are golden brown. You can brush the tops of the rolls with butter if you want or just serve them as is - they are delicious either ways!

DINNER ROLLS (from Cooking Classy)
ingredients
4 cups all purpose flour (plus more for when you are kneading)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon rapid rise yeast
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cool water
2/3 cup milk
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) butter

directions (if you're working by hand)
1. Mix the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Pour the water, milk and butter into a glass measuring cup and heat in the microwave until the mixture reaches 115 degrees. (Start by microwaving for 1min 15sec then check the temperature and microwave for additional 15 second increments if necessary)
3. Pour the warm liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon of fork until a shaggy mass is formed.
4. Remove the dough from the bowl and transfer it onto a generously floured surface. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes adding additional flour until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Put your dough back in the mixing bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes while you butter a 9x13 inch Pyrex dish.
6. Shape you dough into a 9" square then cut your dough into 16 parts.
7. Roll the dough into 15 balls, using the 16th piece to add to smaller dough balls to even them out.
8. Place the dough balls into the Pyrex dish and brush their tops with water. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, put the rolls into the oven, turn the oven off and leave the dough to rise for 20 minutes.
9 After 20 minutes, remove the rolls from the oven, and allow them to rest on the counter while the oven is preheating to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the rolls for 14-16 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
10. If desired, brush the top of the baked rolls with butter.


directions (if you're working with an electric mixer)
1. Add the flour, sugar, yeast and salt to the bowl of the electric mixer with the dough hook attachment.
2. Pour the water, milk and butter into a glass measuring cup and heat in the microwave until the mixture reaches 115 degrees. (Start by microwaving for 1min 15sec then check the temperature and microwave for additional 15 second increments if necessary)
3. Pour the warm liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix on low until a shaggy mass is formed.
4. Increase the speed of the mixer to medium and knead the dough for 3-4 minutes adding additional flour until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Cover your bowl in plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes while you butter a 9x13 inch Pyrex dish.
6. Shape you dough into a 9" square then cut your dough into 16 parts.
7. Roll the dough into 15 balls, using the 16th piece to add to smaller dough balls to even them out.
8. Place the dough balls into the Pyrex dish and brush their tops with water. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, put the rolls into the oven, turn the oven off and leave the dough to rise for 20 minutes.
9 After 20 minutes, remove the rolls from the oven, and allow them to rest on the counter while the oven is preheating to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the rolls for 14-16 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
10. If desired, brush the top of the baked rolls with butter.

Let me know if you have any questions!