Dinner Rolls ~ My Favorite

Dinner Rolls   My Favorite

These rolls are soft like wheat bread but have a nutty whole-grain flavor that comes from wheat germ.  Placing the rolls together in a pan so that they touch as they bake makes them especially tender.  These rolls were served at our Thanksgiving dinner. 

Yield: 16 delicious dinner rolls.

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Ingredients:

2 teaspoons or 1 pkg. active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

pinch of sugar

2 1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for rolling

1/4 cup toasted wheat germ

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened, plus more for greasing bowl and brushing dough.

3 Tablespoons honey or 1/4 cup packed brown sugar.

3/4 cup water

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Directions:

Stir yeast into 1/4 cup warm water (105'-115' F) until dissolved and add a pinch of sugar to proof.  Let stand 10 minutes.

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Combine flour, wheat germ, and salt in bowl of food processor, stand mixer, or regular bowl.  (Reserve 1/3 cup flour if kneading by hand.)

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Stir butter and honey into 3/4 cup warm water.  Stir yeast mixture and butter mixture into flour mixture.  (If using food processor, add liquids through feed tube with processor running.  If using stand mixer with dough hook, add liquids in steady stream with mixer on low speed.)  Follow kneading instructions below.

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Place dough in buttered bowl, and cover.  Let rise in warm place 45 minutes to one hour, or until doubled in volume.  Deflate dough and divide into quarters, then divide each quarter into 4 pieces.  Roll dough into balls on floured surface.  Place dough balls in 4 rows in greased 9 inch baking pan.

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Cover dough; let rise 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.  Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375'F.  Brush dough with melted butter, and bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until tops of rolls are golden and edges are browned.  Serve warm.

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Stand Mixer Directions:  (with dough hook)  Place dry ingredients in mixer bowl, and fit mixer with dough hook.  Mix on low speed 1 minute to combine.  With mixer running at low speed, add yeast and liquids bu pouring them down the inside of the bowl.  Increase speed to medium-low and mix 2 minutes.  Let dough rest 5 minutes.  Mix at medium-low speed 5 minutes, or until dough is smooth.  Increase speed to medium, and mix 2 minutes.  Kneading is done when dough makes a slapping sound as it hits the side of the bowl.  Dough temperature should be close to 90 F'.