Description
Grandma’s Yeast Rolls are soft, slightly sweet, and perfectly golden knots of bread, made with a gentle blend of milk, applesauce, and egg whites. These delicious homemade rolls are ideal for family dinners and special occasions, yielding two dozen soft, tender, and flavorful rolls that complement any meal.
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
- 1 cup 2% milk (110° to 115° F)
- 1/4 cup sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature, beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
Dry Ingredients
- 3-1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Activate Yeast and Mix Dough: In a large bowl, dissolve the active dry yeast in the warm 2% milk (between 110° to 115° F). Add sugar, unsweetened applesauce, beaten egg whites, salt, and 2 cups of all-purpose flour. Beat the mixture until smooth. Gradually stir in the remaining flour, enough to form a soft dough.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 6 to 8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. The dough will be slightly sticky. Place the dough in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning it once to coat the top. Cover with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Shape Rolls: Once risen, turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. Shape each piece into an 8-inch rope and tie it into a knot. Place the knotted dough pieces onto two baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
- Second Rise: Cover the baking sheets and let the knotted rolls rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375° F. Bake the rolls for 12 to 16 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- Cool: Remove the rolls from the pans and place them on wire racks to cool before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the milk is warm (110°-115° F) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- If you do not have cooking spray, butter or oil can be used to coat bowls and baking sheets.
- Be careful not to overbake the rolls to keep them soft and tender.
- For a sweeter flavor, you can sprinkle a little extra sugar on top before baking.
- These rolls freeze well—cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container. Reheat before serving.