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Light as a feather describes these fluffy dinner rolls perfectly. They are made using a flour paste which adds extra moisture into the dough.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This particular recipe makes 12 nice size fluffy dinner rolls. Sometimes you just don’t need two dozen rolls, but if you need more than 12 you can easily double the recipe.
The recipe uses a unique process to make the most delicious homemade dinner rolls. It was fun to try something different and the results were amazing!
What is Tangzhong?
It is a Japanese bread making method that uses a flour paste which adds extra moisture into the dough. It helps the rolls maintain that soft, light, fresh out of the oven texture for more than a day. The way in which the rolls are rolled out and then formed also helps create the soft feathery texture that give these fluffy dinner rolls their name.
Ingredients Needed
- Bread flour
- Cold Milk
- Egg
- Instant or Rapid Rise Yeast
- Sugar
- Salt
- Butter
What is Flour Paste?
Flour paste is a combination of bread flour and water. You stir the two together and then cook it in the microwave until it forms a pudding like consistency. This is added into the dinner roll dough. If you are a bread maker you will notice that the directions are different for these fluffy dinner rolls than you may be use to, but be sure and follow them. There are scientific reasons for them including building a strong gluten structure within the dough.
How to Make Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Make Flour Paste:
- Mix together water and flour in a small bowl until there are no lumps.
- Microwave for 20 seconds and stir, do an additional 20 seconds if the mixture hasn’t thickened to pudding like consistency. It should mound when dropped from the end of a spoon.
- In a stand mixer. combine flour paste and milk together. Mix until smooth. Add in egg and mix to combine.
- Add in flour and yeast and with dough hook attachment mix on low until flour is incorporated.
- Let rest for 15 minutes.
- Add sugar and salt and mix on medium low speed for 5 minutes.
- Keep mixer running and add in softened butter, 1 Tbsp at a time. Continue to mix for 5 more minutes, scraping bowl if necessary.
- Place dough onto a very lightly floured surface. Knead to form a ball. Place into a lightly greased bowl and lightly coat surface of dough and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size in a draft-free place.
- Grease a 9 inch cake pan.
- Transfer dough to counter and press out into a 8 x 9 rectangle with short side facing you.
- Cut into 4 equal strips lengthwise and then cut into 3 equal pieces crosswise for a total of 12 pieces.
- Stretch each piece of dough into a 8 inch x 2 inch strip.
- Starting at the short end of the dough roll up into a tight cylinder. Place into greased pan seam side down.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour.
- When doubled in size bake in a oven preheated to 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool on a cooling rack for 3 minutes and then remove from pan, turning upside down onto a rack and then reinvert.
- Brush tops with melted butter.
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving (I never do)
Tips for Making Fluffy Dinner Rolls
- Use instant yeast or active dry yeast.
- If you all you have is dry active yeast you can definitely use that. Replace 1/2 of the milk with 1/4 cup of warm water, using only 1/4 cup of milk. Place yeast in warm water (105-110 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until foamy and bubbly.
- To get your dough to rise quicker try one of these tips:
Cover your bowl of dough and place into your oven with the light on. The heat from the light will help the dough rise faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze fluffy dinner rolls?
I like to freeze the dough before it is baked. Freeze the rolls before the second rise. Cover with plastic wrap tightly and a layer of foil and freeze them in the baking pan. You can later remove them from the baking pan after they are frozen solid if you like.
To bake: Remove from the freezer an place the rolls back in the baking pan if you removed it and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. They will rise as they thaw. Bake according to directions. For a quicker thaw you can let them sit at room temperature until double in size.
Can I mix the dough by hand?
You can definitely make this dinner roll recipe without a mixer. Mix the dough ingredients together in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Once the dough comes together knead by hand for about 10 minutes.
To knead by hand, use the heel of your hand to press on the dough moving in a forward rolling motion. Rotate your dough ball and repeat. Continuing until dough is soft and smooth. !
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Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 Tbsp bread flour
Dough
- 1/2 cup cold milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 tsp instant or rapid rise yeast
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp butter softened
- 1/2 Tbsp butter melted
Instructions
Flour Paste
- Mix together water and flour in a small bowl until there are no lumps.
- Microwave for 20 seconds and stir, do an additional 20 seconds if the mixture hasn’t thickened to pudding like consistency. It should mound when dropped from the end of a spoon.
Dough
- In a stand mixer combine flour paste and milk together. Mix until smooth.
- Add in egg, stir.
- Add in flour and yeast. and with dough hook attachment mix on low until flour is incorporated.
- Let rest for 15 minutes.
- Add sugar and salt and mix on medium low speed for 5 minutes.
- Keep mixer running and add in softened butter, 1 Tbsp at a time. Continue to mix for 5 more minutes, scraping bowl if necessary.
- Place dough onto a very lightly floured counter. Knead to form a ball. Place into a lightly greased bowl and lightly coat surface of dough and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Grease a 9 inch cake pan.
- Transfer dough to counter and press outinto a 8 x 9 rectangle with short side facing you.
- Cut into 4 equal strips lengthwise and then cut into 3 equal pieces crosswise for a total of 12 pieces.
- Stretch each piece of dough into a 8 inch x 2 inch strip. Starting at short end of dough roll up into a tight cylinder. Place into greased pan seam side down.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour.
- When doubled in size bake in a oven preheated to 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool on a cooling rack for 3 minutes and then remove from pan, turning upside down onto a rack and then reinvert.
- Brush tops with melted butter.
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving (I never do)
Tips & Notes:
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Nutrition Facts:
Originally posted January 20, 2016
B Heyrend says
Light and delicious.
RedBlueSpice says
These rolls are the favorite around here. I have made a variety of rolls, but this one stands out! Thank you for sharing your yummy, Fluffy Dinner Rolls.
Carole says
I have tried to make this type roll forever. This is the one I have been looking for. Thank you so much for sharing. These rolls melt in your mouth.
Marie says
Can I double the recipe?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
Yes you can. Enjoy