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Rolls

Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Pillowy, pull-apart rolls with just enough sourdough character to be interesting without overpowering the butter you're going to put on them. An enriched dough with milk and egg, so it handles differently than a lean loaf. Give the shaped rolls a proper second rise and they'll be tall and tender.

Prep
45 min
Bake
25 min
Difficulty
Intermediate
Total
70 min

What You'll Need

bread flour500g (about 4 cups)
whole milk, warmed to about 100Β°F200g (about ΒΎ cup)
unsalted butter, melted and cooled60g (about ΒΌ cup)
large egg1
granulated sugar25g (about 2 tablespoons)
fine sea salt9g (about 1Β½ teaspoons)
active sourdough starter100g (about β…“ cup)
unsalted butter, meltedas needed
for brushing after baking

Let's Get Baking

1

Mix the dough

5 min

In a large bowl, whisk together the warm milk, melted butter, egg, and sugar. Add the starter and mix to combine. Add the flour and salt and mix until a shaggy dough forms.

2

Knead

10 min

Turn the dough out and knead 8 to 10 minutes, either by hand or in a stand mixer with a dough hook, until it's smooth, elastic, and only slightly tacky.

3

Bulk ferment

240 min

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise at about 78Β°F for 3 to 4 hours, until nearly doubled. Enriched dough rises more slowly than a lean loaf, so give it the full time, longer in a cool kitchen.

4

Divide and shape

15 min

Turn the dough out and divide it into 15 equal pieces, about 55g each. Shape each into a tight ball by cupping your hand around it and rolling it against the counter. Arrange in a buttered 9x13-inch pan, evenly spaced.

5

Second rise

120 min

Cover loosely and let the rolls rise at room temperature 1.5 to 2 hours, until puffy and touching each other. If you'd rather bake fresh in the morning, cover the shaped rolls and refrigerate overnight instead, then let them sit at room temperature about an hour before baking.

6

Bake

25 min

Preheat the oven to 375Β°F. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until deep golden brown on top and cooked through. Brush with melted butter the moment they come out of the oven. Serve warm.

sourdoughrollsintermediateenricheddinner rollsholiday

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