Sweet Rolls

This dinner-roll recipe comes from one of my mom’s friends, and it’s so easy and delicious. It calls for an absolutely huge amount of yeast, which is why the rolls rise so quickly. One evening, I hosted a fun social evening for the women in our church, and I did a demonstration of these rolls. The theme of the evening was “We Knead You,” and it was such a special night of female friendship and getting to know each other. I had been really concerned that, given our limited time, the rolls wouldn’t have enough time to rise fully, so I purposefully chose a recipe that worked quickly. I mixed the dough while everyone watched, then we did a get-to-know-you game for about an hour. When I checked on the rolls at the supposed halfway point, they were bulging out of the baking pan. I threw them into the oven before they could take over my living room!

These are an amazing addition to the Sunday table, a Thanksgiving dinner, or a neighborhood barbeque. Turn these sweet, soft buns into pulled-pork sandwiches or burgers, or mop up the gravy from a pot roast. I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

Ingredients:

1 cup canned milk

1 cup warm water

4 tablespoons dry yeast

¾ cups, plus 1 tablespoon sugar

4 beaten eggs

8 cups flour, divided

1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter

2 teaspoons salt

Directions:

Combine canned milk, water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and let sit for 5 minutes. Yeast should begin to foam and smell pungent.

Add the remaining ¾ cup of sugar, eggs, and 4 cups of flour, and mix until a moist dough begins to form. 

Add the butter, salt, and remaining 4 cups of flour. Mix for 10 minutes vigorously with the dough hook, or knead by hand for 15 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Form into rolls or knots, then place on baking sheets (I use two large sheets). Cover with clean kitchen towels, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours. Check on them, lest they become absolutely enormous!

Bake 13-15 minutes, until light golden brown.

Once done, brush with butter while still hot. Serve immediately.