You don’t need a bread machine to make homemade dinner buns. With simple kitchen tools such as a bowl, rolling pin, small saucepan, and a floured board, you can easily make them yourself.
Flavor is Always First
To get started, first decide what flavor you want your homemade dinner buns to have. The possibilities are endless, ranging from plain buns to herb-infused, whole grain, hearty buns or even fruited buns for a more exotic twist.
If you’re adding herbs to your dinner buns, you’ll need about 2 to 3 tablespoons of an herb mixture for the basic recipe. For whole grain, hearty buns, substitute whole grain flours (such as whole wheat, rye, buckwheat, spelt, or barley/rice flour) for half to three-quarters of the regular unbleached flour. For a fruity version, add 1/2 cup of currants and consider replacing the milk with a juice, such as apple, pineapple, or your favorite juice blend.
Here’s your basic homemade dinner roll recipe:
1 1/2 cups of liquid (usually milk)
4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1/4 cup oil or 3 to 5 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons sugar or honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 packages active dry yeast
Start by combining your liquid and oil in a small saucepan. Warm it over low heat until it reaches about 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a mixing bowl, combine 2/3 of the flour, all the sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix thoroughly, then add the warm liquid and mix again.
Gradually add the remaining flour, a few tablespoons at a time, mixing and kneading as you go. The dough will be sticky at first, but as you add more flour, it will become shiny and elastic.
Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a towel, and set it in a warm spot, away from drafts or high heat. Let it rise for 15 to 20 minutes.
Once it has risen, turn the dough onto a floured board or countertop. Punch it down and knead for about 5 minutes.
Next, the fun part: shaping the dough. If you want round rolls, cut the dough into smaller portions and shape them into rolls. Place each roll onto a greased baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between them. Alternatively, you can use muffin pans.
For S-shaped rolls, shape the dough into an “S” before placing them onto the baking sheet. Some people prefer to create braided bread by forming three long strips of dough into a braid, similar to braiding hair. Brush the tops of the rolls with butter to encourage browning, then cover them and let them rise in a warm spot for another 20 minutes.
Once the rolls have risen to your desired height and shape, it’s time to bake them. Don’t expect them to rise much in the oven. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, then cool them on a wire rack.
Homemade dinner rolls are always a hit at any holiday party. Don’t miss out on them!
