Homemade Dinner Rolls
There's nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked dinner rolls wafting through the kitchen, especially during the holidays. Soft, fluffy, and irresistibly delicious, these Homemade Dinner Rolls are sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water test temperature with wrist
- 1 1/2 cups warm milk - microwave 30 sec test temperature with wrist
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp salt
- 6-8 cups flour
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 3 tablespoons of active dry yeast in 1 cup of warm water. To ensure the water is at the right temperature, test it with your wrist – it should feel comfortably warm, not hot.
- Warm 1 1/2 cups of milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Again, test the temperature with your wrist to make sure it's not too hot. Add the warm milk, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of shortening, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 4 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Gradually add the remaining flour to the bowl, stirring gently. Only add as much flour as needed to create a soft dough – this could be anywhere from 2 to 4 more cups. Be careful not to add too much, as this can make your rolls dense and heavy.
- Once the dough has come together, turn it out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This step helps to develop the gluten in the flour, which gives your rolls their delightful texture.
- Place the kneaded dough into a clean bowl and cover it with a tea towel. Find a warm, draft-free spot in your kitchen and let the dough rise there for about 30 minutes. During this time, the dough should roughly double in size.
- After the first rise, gently punch down the dough to deflate it slightly. Divide the dough into 24 equal-sized pieces and shape each one into a ball. Arrange the balls of dough in a large baking pan, making sure they have a bit of space between them to allow for further rising.
- Cover the pan of rolls with a clean towel and let them rise again in a warm place for another 20 minutes. While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Once the rolls have finished their second rise, remove the towel and place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on top and cooked through. You can test for doneness by tapping on the top of a roll – it should sound hollow when fully baked.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your freshly baked, homemade dinner rolls warm with a pat of butter or alongside your favorite holiday dishes!
Notes
Butter, coconut oil, or lard may be substituted for the shortening.
Nutrition
Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 451IUCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg
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