Dinner Rolls Our Best Bites Recipes

OUR BEST BITES DINNER ROLLS-(THE WORLD'S BEST) RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Combine milk, 1/2 c. sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down because this step can take forever. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast. While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn't bubbled, you'll need to repeat this step-moving on with yeast that hasn't been activated properly will only end in heartache for you and hate mail for us. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes. Add beaten eggs. Why should you beat your eggs first? Same reason you should combine your dry ingredients before adding them to moist ingredients when making cookies and cakes-it ensures everything is well-mixed and can be evenly-distributed through your dough or batter. If you add the whole eggs, your dough may not be as consistent. Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft-it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don't worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they're so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour. Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half. Spray 2 9×13 glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to use a pizza cutter because it has a blade on each side, so it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like playdough. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan. Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown. When done, remove from oven. Rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls. You must now eat one. Now. While it's hot. Then pop the rest into a bowl and no one will ever know that you cheated. Makes 2 dozen rolls.

CLASSIC DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine 3/4 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Heat milk, water and butter until very warm (120 degrees to 130 degrees F). 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 enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• Divide dough into 12 equal pieces; shape into balls. Place in greased 8-inch round pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Bake in preheated 375 degrees F oven for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; brush with additional melted butter, if desired. Serve warm.

DINNER ROLLS - OUR BEST BITES

Steps:

• Combine milk, 1/2 cup sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts.
• Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. (From author: I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down faster. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast).
• While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn't bubbled, you'll need to repeat this step with new yeast.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes. Add beaten eggs.
• Stir in as much of the remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft--it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don't worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they're so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour.
• Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half.
• Spray two 9 x 13-inch glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. We like to use a pizza cutter because it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like Play-Doh. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan. Use a kitchen scale if you want to ensure that the rolls are exactly the same.
• Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go, preheat oven to 375°F.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
• When done, remove from oven. Rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls. Eat one now while it's still hot--that's your reward for making the world's best dinner rolls!

BEST DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• COMBINE 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl; mix well. Heat water, milk and 1/2 cup butter in small saucepan until very warm (120 degrees to 130 degrees F). Add warm liquid and egg to flour mixture; blend at low speed until moistened. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. By hand, stir in an additional 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from sides of bowl.
• SPRAY large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Knead in 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 cups flour on floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in prepared bowl; cover loosely with greased plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80 degrees to 85 degrees F) until light and doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
• PUNCH down dough several times to remove all air bubbles. Divide dough in half. To make Pan Rolls, lightly spray two 13 x 9-inch pans with no-stick cooking spray. Divide each half of dough into 16 equal pieces. Shape each into a ball, pulling edges under to make a smooth top. Place balls, smooth side up, in prepared pans. Cover; let rise in warm place until light and doubled in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
• HEAT oven to 400 degrees F. Uncover dough. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove rolls from pans; cool on wire racks for 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter. Serve warm or cool.
• Tip: To make dough a day ahead, after first rise time, punch down dough, cover and refrigerate dough overnight. Shape dough as directed in recipe; let rise a second time until light and doubled in size, 25 to 35 minutes.
• High Altitude (above 3500 ft.):
• No change.
• VARIATIONS:
• BOW KNOT ROLLS: Lightly spray cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray. Using half of dough, divide dough into 16 equal pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch rope. Tie each into a loose knot. Place 2 to 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. After rising, bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 16 rolls
• SWIRL ROLLS: Lightly spray cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray. Using half of dough, divide dough into 16 equal pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into an 8-inch rope. Beginning at center, make a loose swirl or coil with each rope; tuck end under. Place 2 to 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. After rising, bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 16 rolls
• CROWN ROLLS: Lightly spray 12 muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray. Using half of dough, divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each into a ball, pulling edges under to make a smooth top. Place 1 ball, smooth side up, in each prepared muffin cup. Using kitchen scissors dipped in flour, cut balls of dough into quarters almost to bottom. After rising, bake 14 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 12 rolls
• CRESCENT ROLLS: Lightly spray cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray. Using half of dough, divide dough in half again; shape each half into a ball. On lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a 12 inch round. Spread each with 1 tablespoon softened butter. Cut each round into 12 wedges. Beginning at wide end of wedge, roll toward point. Place, point side down, 2 to 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Curve ends to form a crescent shape. After rising, bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 24 rolls
• CLOVERLEAF ROLLS: Lightly spray 12 muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray. Using half of dough, divide dough into 12 equal pieces; divide each into thirds. Shape each into a ball, pulling edges under to make a smooth top. Place 3 balls, smooth side up, in each prepared muffin cup. After rising, bake 14 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 12 rolls
• Tip: Diagrams for making dinner rolls are on pillsburybaking.com under Baker's Corner, Baking Tips, Shaping Dinner Rolls.