Friday, November 23, 2007

Classic Dinner Rolls


from Williams-Sonoma’s Essentials of Baking

1 package (2 ½ teaspoons) active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, plus 1 egg beaten
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
2 teaspoons salt

BY HAND: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Using a wire whisk, beat in the milk, sugar, 2 eggs, butter, flour, and salt just until mixed, then stir with your hands or a wooden spoon until a rough mass forms. Using a plastic pastry scraper, scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until it is smooth and elastic, dusting the work surface with flour to keep the dough from sticking, 5 – 7 minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

BY STAND MIXER: In the 5 qt. bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add the milk, sugar, 2 eggs, butter, flour, and salt. Place the bowl on the mixer, attach the dough hook, and knead on low speed. Add a little more flour only if the dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl after a few minutes of kneading. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 5 – 7 minutes. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Remove the dough from the bowl.

Form the dough into a ball, transfer it to a lightly oiled bowl, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot until it doubles in bulk, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Heavily butter two 9-inch cake pans. Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a clean work surface. Cut it in half with a sharp knife or bench scraper. Cut each half into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Put the balls in the cake pan, placing 7 balls around the edge and 1 ball in the center. Cover the cake pan loosely with a kitchen towel, and let them rise until puffy and pillow-soft when gently squeezed, 30 – 40 minutes.

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)

Brush the rolls lightly with the beaten egg. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 – 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

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