Southern Light Rolls Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN ROLLS

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in the shortening and sugar; stir until melted. Add cold water and let cool until lukewarm.
• Pour milk mixture into a large bowl. Add egg and yeast; mix well. Beat in 3 cups of flour and let stand for 20 minutes.
• Sift in baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 cup flour. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Divide each piece in half and form into 24 rolls. Place the rounds in a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking pan or on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

SOUTHERN BUTTER ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast in a bowl. Add shortening and mix well. Mix in water.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand for 20 minutes, or by machine for 12 to 14 minutes. Toss dough with vegetable oil in a bowl; cover the bowl and let proof for 1 hour.
• Form dough into 24 rounds, and place on a greased baking tray. Cover and let proof for 45 minutes more.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 12 to 14 minutes.

FEATHERLIGHT ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in 1 tablespoon sugar; let stand 5 minutes. Add the milk, shortening, eggs, salt, 3 cups flour and remaining sugar. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (mixture will be sticky). Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 24 portions. Divide each portion into three pieces; shape each into a ball. Place three balls in each greased muffin cup. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-3/4 hours. , Preheat oven to 350°. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm.

SWEET DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.
• When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.

GRANDMA'S OLD-FASHIONED YEAST ROLLS

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Stir in sugar and salt until you see foam rising. Add 3 cups flour and 3/4 cup shortening; mix with the dough hook until the mixture is the consistency of a thick pancake batter.
• Fill a pot with hot (not boiling) water.
• Remove the mixer bowl and cover it with plastic wrap and a towel. Place the bowl over the pot of hot water, making sure the bottom does not touch the water. Let rise until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Place the bowl back on your stand mixer and gradually mix in remaining 4 cups flour until dough is smooth and elastic; you may need to add up to 1 additional cup.
• Heavily grease two 9x13-inch pans with shortening.
• Divide dough into 24 balls. Place 12 balls into each of the prepared pans; cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour; balls will start out at about 1 1/2 inches in diameter but will rise and touch the sides of the pans.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake rolls in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush melted butter over top.

SOUTHERN "LIGHT" ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix water, yeast, and sugar together until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add oil and salt, mix.
• Add flour, one cup at a time, until dough pulls away from the side of the mixing bowl and does not stick to your fingers when touched.
• Let dough rise, about 1 hour.
• Punch down, shape, and place on your baking pan (makes 36 rolls or 2 loaves).
• Let dough rise again, about 1 hour.
• Brush tops of rolls or loaves with 1 stick of melted butter. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until golden brown.
• Optional: When rolls are removed from oven, brush with another stick of melted butter.