Honey Yeast Rolls

I am so sorry I didn't make these sooner! No matter how many different rolls Annie makes, she always comes back to these as her favorites--and now I know why! These rolls are perfection. They are simple to make and the results are out of this world. The perfectly crisp exterior gives way to a light and fluffy inside that nearly melts in your mouth. Kevin loved them so much he asked if I could make them every day. :) I hope I do!


Honey Yeast Rolls

recipe adapted from annies-eats.com

Yields 10-12 rolls

Ingredients

2-1/2 tsp. instant yeast

1 cup warm water (105-115˚ F)

1/4 cup honey

3 Tbsp canola oil

1-1/4 tsp. salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

4 cups flour

Vegetable cooking spray

2 Tbsp butter, melted--optional

2 Tbsp honey--optional

Directions

Note--a stand mixer makes fast and easy work of these rolls, but they can also be made by hand.

In a large bowl, stir together yeast and warm water. Mixture will bubble. To the yeast mixture, stir in the honey, oil, salt, and egg. Mix until evenly combined.

Gradually stir in 3 cups of flour (the 4th cup will be added later). Dough will become sticky, but keep stirring until it comes together in a cohesive ball. Slowly stir in the remaining 1 cup of flour. Use a dough hook or knead by hand for 8-10 minutes, adding a sprinkle of flour as needed. Dough should be smooth and springy.

Coat a large bowl with a light layer of oil. Move dough to this bowl, rolling it around to coat lightly with the oil.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a tea towel. Move to a warm place in your kitchen and let rise for 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.

Once the dough has finished rising, lightly flour a counter top or cutting board and knead dough briefly for 30 seconds to remove air bubbles. Let dough rest on the counter, covered with a tea towel, for another 10 minutes. Punch the dough down and use a knife or bench scraper to cut into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball. Spray a 10 inch round baking dish/deep dish pie plate with non-stick spray. Place dough into the pan, spacing evenly. Place the towel over the rolls and allow another 30 minutes to rise.

Preheat the oven to 400F. If using the optional honey-butter spread, combine the melted butter and honey and brush on top of rolls. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the rolls are baked through. Serve warm.