Homemade Rolls ~ I’ve been perfecting this recipe for years now. It makes the most incredibly soft, fluffy texture, slightly sweet rolls that are just perfect with a homemade meal. They are relatively quick and easy to make. This is what you will need to make at least a fifteen of these beauties!
Homemead Roll Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream + 1/2 cup of water
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Large (pasture raised when possible) eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoon instant dry yeast
Equipment Needed To Make Homemade Rolls
The best part to making these homemade rolls is, they are so easy to make and doesn’t require any special equipment but some equipment may make it a bit easier. For this recipe I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer because it makes mixing the dough a snap.
If you do not have a stand mixer, you can knead this like you would for a pizza dough. You can watch this video from Fleischmann’s Easy Steps: Kneading Pizza Dough Video you can watch for a quick overview. Be mindful of the extra flour you are adding. You want this dough to be slightly sticky and shiney in the end.
You will also need a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Do not use a baking sheet because as the rolls rise, they plump because they are tucked nicely against each other. Just butter that dish up and set it aside for the rolls to do their final rise before baking.
Making the Dough For Homemade Rolls
First, mix the 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of heavy cream together. Then put the cream mixture in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to get the milk to 95-115 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermature here because you want the milk warm enough to be sure your yeast will give rise to the bread and creates a more open and airy texture. Little known fact to many is that the yeast also provides strength to the dough.
If you have a standing mixer, even though they are a pain to pull out sometimes, this will love the fact that you have one with this recipe. It will do all the work for you as I mentioned. Now add the cream mixture and butter in the bowl of your stand mixer and sprinkle the fast acting yeast on top of the milk.
Add the sugar, eggs, salt, and flour. With a paddle attachment for your stand mixer, mix for a few seconds until just combined. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
Carefully scraping off the dough from the paddle attachment, switch to the dough hook and knead the mixture on medium speed for 10 minutes. It will sound rather loud. It did kinda scare me to be honest when I first started making these but it is magical how it creates an amazing dough so quickly.
You can make this recipe without a stand mixer
I like to transfer the dough to a warm not hot bowl. I run warm water in the bowl so it is comforting for my dough and will rise beautifully. You can just cover the dough in the mixer bowl after you remove it however. Just let it rise in a warm place for 45 min to an hour until it doubles in size. Yes DOUBLES in size. Do not rush this.
Shaping The Rolls
Take the dough that has now doubled in size and divide and roll the dough into 15 balls. I use a scale to help me keep them as even as possible.
Place the rolls in a well butter greased 9×13 pan. Cover and let them rise again for 45 minutes. Remember do not rush here. I pre-heat my oven half-way in by the way to 375 degrees.
Once they have risen you will note that they have filled the pan completely with plump rolls.
Brush the top of the rolls with an egg wash made up of 1 egg and 1 Tablespoon heavy cream that is whisked until well combined.
Baking Homemade Rolls
Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-22 minutes. The exact time will depend on your oven. I find that 20 minutes is perfect.
Serve warm with soft butter!
Tips & Tricks
Make sure you have new(er) yeast when you are making the dough. A lot of times we have yeast or baking powder that has been in the cupboard a bit too long. Check your dates to be sure your yeast is ready to rise properly.
Do not rush the rising process. To be sure that the rolls are airy and tender, you need to be sure they have enough time to rise at each occasion.
Biscuit Kinda Girl?
If you are a biscuit kind of girl, then I have just the recipe for you. It has come to me by the way of my father in law who was raised on a farm in Alabama. Where things were simple and delicious. Head over to my Hearty Homemade Buttery Drop Biscuits. You won’t be sorry.