How to Make Soft Yeast Rolls

Butter on a roll keeps the crust soft.

Warm and soft rolls make a tasty addition to any meal. By using yeast in your roll recipe, you can help make the rolls even softer. Yeast is a leavening agent that makes the bread dough expand during the mixing process. Once cooked, the yeast dies and the air pockets that remain leave your rolls light and soft. Soft yeast rolls pair nicely with holiday meals or a hot soup. You might consider offering diners butter, honey or jam to serve with their roll, though the bread will be tasty enough without any toppings.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pkg. yeast
• ¾ cup warm water (110 degrees)
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 2 ½ cups flour
• Bowl
• 2 inch deep baking pan
• Towel
• Soft butter

Instructions

1. Mix the yeast with the warm water in a bowl until fully mixed.

2. Stir in the sugar, oil, salt and egg until the sugar and salt has fully dissolved. Add 1 cup of the flour and stir well.

3. Cover the dough with a towel and let it rise for 15 minutes.

4. Stir the batter again and add the remaining flour.

5. Knead the dough for 3 to 5 minutes to fully mix the flour. You can add extra flour if the dough is a little sticky.

6. Shape the dough into balls and place in the baking dish.

7. Cover with the towel again and let the dough rise for 35 minutes.

8. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

9. Remove from oven and brush with soft butter before serving to insure a soft crust.

References

• "Bernard Claytons Complete Book of Small Breads: More Than 100 Recipes for Rolls Buns Biscuits Flatbreads Muffins and Other"; Bernard Clayton; 1998
• "The Cornell Bread Book: 54 Recipes for Nutritious Loaves, Rolls and Coffee Cakes"; Clive M. McCay and Jeanette B. McCay; 1980
• "The Bread Book: More Than 200 Recipes and Techniques for Baking and Shaping Perfect Breads, Sweet and Savory Muffins, Rolls, Buns, Biscuits, and Piz"; Betsy Oppenneer; 1994
• "The Bread Bible: 300 Favorite Recipes"; Beth Hensperger; 2004