By: Key Jones-Ford
Pre-Meal Dinner Rolls
Yields 10-12 rolls
2 1/2 cups of milk (use oatmilk for dairy-free)
3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 packet of active dry yeast or instant yeast (or roughly 2 ¼ tsps)
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
Cooking spray or oil (coconut or vegetable oil recommended)
- If using active dry yeast, activate your yeast in half a cup of warm (around 100°) milk and a pinch of sugar, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready if the yeast starts to foam. If using instant, skip this step.
- While the yeast is rising, combine the remaining milk, salt, sugar, and oil in a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the risen yeast mixture and about 2 cups of flour. Stir to combine. If you’re mixing the bread by hand, continue adding flour in small amounts until the mixture is difficult to combine by stirring. You’ll know dough is ready when it is slightly sticky to the touch, but not impossible to knead.
- Once the dough is properly combined, place flour onto a flat surface and begin to knead your dough lightly for 7 minutes. Alternatively, if you have a dough hook for a stand mixer, run the dough in your mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes. Your dough should be smooth and slowly bounce back when lightly poked.
- Grease your bowl with either your oil or cooking spray. Place the dough in, cover your bowl with a cloth, and leave it in a warm place to rise for 1 ½ hours. After the dough has had time to rise, punch your dough to deflate it.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Divide your dough into separate balls, roughly the size of golf balls. Stretch the dough between your fingers and pinch it underneath to ensure smoothness. Place your rolls into a loaf pan or 9 x 13’’. Cover the loaves with a cloth and leave to rise for another 30-45 minutes.
- Place your baking dish on the lowest rack of your oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until rolls are golden brown on top. Remove your rolls and allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
- OPTIONAL: Brush the rolls lightly with a mixture of honey and melted butter once they’re out of the oven for honey butter rolls.
Perfect before the main course of any meal!