Fill your breadbasket with light and fluffy homemade dinner rolls. Here are step-by-step instructions for working with basic bread dough, as well as shaping instructions for Buttery Cloverleaf Rolls and Parmesan-Dill Spirals.
Basic Dough
STEP 1: Let yeast proof in warm liquid until foamy—this way, you know the yeast is active and ready.
STEP 2: Mix until a smooth, elastic dough forms. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can also knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface. Be sure not to add too much extra flour to the dough or the rolls might be tough.
STEP 3: Place dough in a lightly greased bowl; cover and let rise in a warm draft-free place. An oven with the light turned on is a good place.
STEP 4: Be sure dough has doubled in size before punching down. This may happen quicker or slower than specified in the recipe, depending on the temperature where the dough rises. Use the time in the recipe as a guideline.
STEP 5: Gently and evenly press dough down using your fingertips. If the dough springs back when you touch it, it’s not ready yet.
STEP 6: Use a bench scraper to divide dough into equal portions.
STEP 1: Use gentle, even pressure to roll each piece into a 9-inch rope.
STEP 2: Wrap the rope around itself to form a spiral shape.
STEP 3: Pinch the end of the rope onto the spiral to help the roll hold its shape.
STEP 1: Form each portion of dough into a small ball by cupping the dough with your hand and rolling it on the work surface.
STEP 2: Brushing with cream helps keep a skin from forming on the surface of the dough and gives the rolls a golden-brown sheen after baking.
STEP 3: After removing from oven, brush rolls with melted
butter. This softens the surface of the rolls and adds extra flavor.
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