Dinner rolls

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsps. salt
3 tbsps. butter
7 teaspoons of dry active yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (105°F – 115°F)
5 – 6 cups all-purpose flour

Method

In a small saucepan, stir milk, sugar, salt and butter together. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool until lukewarm.

Pour the warm water into the bowl of a stand mixer, add the yeast and a small pinch of sugar.  Allow the yeast to dissolve for about 5 minutes at which point you should notice it has started to “bloom” (this is a good way to see if your yeast is alive before proceeding further and possibly wasting time or ingredients if it is not).

Add the lukewarm milk mixture and 4 1/2 cups of flour to the mixing bowl, and using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed for about 1 minute. With the mixer still going, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix about 1 1/2 minutes, or until dough starts to clean the sides of the bowl. Knead on low speed for about 2 more minutes, or utnil dough is smooth and elastic – the dough will still be slightly sticky to the touch.

Place dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough to grease the top. Cover the bowl with a clean, dry dish towel, and let it rise in a warm place, free from draft, for about 15 minutes. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball, and place in a greased muffin cup. Remove one piece from a muffin cup and using kitchen shears, pizza cutter or a knife cut in half, then in quarters, and return all four pieces to the muffin cup. Repeat this process with each of the remaining muffin cups so the result is 4 quartered pieces in each muffin cup.

Cover the muffin pan with the dish towel, and let the dough rise in a slightly warm oven (90°F) for about 15 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 425°F.  Once oven has reached the desired temperature bake for 12 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown.

If desired, brush tops with melted butter and return to oven for 1 minute.

Remove rolls from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.