Texas 3 1/2 Hour Yeast Rolls

 Texas 3 1/2 Hour Yeast Rolls

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3-1/2 cups bread flour
  

 Tip: For really fluffy rolls with the perfect texture, use bread flour rather than all-purpose flour. Bread flour contains a higher protein content than other types of flour, which is essential for developing the gluten in this particular dough.

Step 1: Activate the yeast

Dissolve the yeast in a glass measuring cup with the warm milk.

Be careful.  Too hot and you kill the yeast, while too cold and the yeast will not activate.  Temperature 110 to 115 F is your goal.

Step 2: Combine the ingredients

In the bowl of a Kitchenaide, combine the egg, egg yolk, 1/2 cup melted butter, honey, salt, yeast mixture and 2 cups of bread flour.

Mix for one minute on lowest speed.

Continue mixing on medium speed.

Mix until a smooth yet sticky dough forms. 

Begin to gradually add the remaining flour (you may not need the full 1-1/2 cups) until a soft dough forms that pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.

Tip: For best accuracy, use a simple food scale to measure your flour by weight when baking bread. Generally, 1 cup of bread flour should weigh 120 grams, meaning you should use about 420 grams of bread flour to prepare these rolls.

Step 4: Knead and rise

Turn the finished dough out onto a floured surface.

Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. 

Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning it over once to grease the top.

 Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Step 5: Divide and shape

Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. 

Divide and shape into 24 equal-sized balls. 

Arrange the balls in greased 8×8-inch baking pans (12 rolls per pan) and cover them with clean kitchen towels.

Step 6: Do a second rise

Let rise, undisturbed, in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour,

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°.

Step 7: Bake

Bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. 

Remove promptly and immediately brush the tops of each roll with the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

Bread should be done when it reaches an internal temperature of between 160 and 185º.