Homemade Rolls 101

There are few things that rival the taste of homemade rolls right out of the oven. It is hard to believe how just a few simple ingredients come together to create such a melt-in-your-mouth taste, but that is what these rolls are. If you are wondering why you should go to the trouble to make homemade rolls when there are so many store-bought varieties out there, I would encourage you to check out the ingredients listed on the store-bought kind. The list is lengthy! They are loaded with additives and preservatives and all kinds of things that were created in a laboratory and not in a kitchen. 

These rolls contain precious few ingredients: flour, salt, water, yeast, an egg, a little milk, and a bit of honey. No chemicals necessary! 

Before you think I spend hours fussing over the rolls, remember these two words: Bread Machine. Most of us have one of these, but often think of them as too laborious to “haul” out and actually use. Hopefully these rolls will convince you to use yours more often. I don’t really use the oven setting on my bread machine, but I let it make dough all of the time. Like a rice cooker turns out perfect rice every time, so does a bread machine make perfect dough each and every time. I use mine to make dough for rolls, French bread, hamburger and hot dog buns, sandwich bread, pizza dough, and even dough for soft pretzels. My mouth is watering just thinking about these creations. Let’s do this! 

Buttery Yeast Rolls

½ cup water

½ cup lukewarm milk, preferably organic milk

1 egg, lightly beaten, preferably from pastured chickens

1/3 cup butter, preferably made from the milk from grass fed cows

2 tablespoons honey, preferably local

1 teaspoon sea salt

3 ¾ cup flour, preferably organic 

3 teaspoons yeast

¼ cup melted butter

Add water, mil, egg, butter, honey, salt, flour and yeast to the bread machine in order suggested by machine’s directions. Press the “dough” setting and start machine. When dough is ready, turn out onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 20 to 24 balls and place in pan brushed with melted butter. It is fine for the rolls to slightly touch each other. Cover with a cloth and allow rolls to rise about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until doubled. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 18 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with melted butter. 

WARNING: Try to refrain from eating the entire batch in one sitting! These rolls freeze beautifully—don’t forget to label and date your freezer zipper baggie.