Brown-and-Serve Wheat Rolls

Wheat Rolls

Will you be cooking for a crowd? This recipe for wheat rolls is sure to be a winner! Best of all, you can prepare it ahead — up to a month — and simply brown the rolls before your guests arrive. Delicious homemade rolls with less stress? Yes, please!

On a specialized diet? This recipe works well for folks following a plant-based (vegetarian) diet — and, of course, omnivores!

Ingredients

  • 3 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 2 (¼ -ounce) packages instant yeast
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2½ teaspoons salt
  • 1½ cups 2% low-fat milk
  • 1½ cups water
  • ½ cup (1 stick) margarine or butter
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 5½-6 cups bread flour, divided

Directions

  1. In a mixing bowl, mix white whole wheat flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt.
  2. Heat the milk, water and margarine to very warm (120°-130°F). (Note: The margarine or butter does not need to melt.) For best results, check liquid temperature with a thermometer.
  3. Add to dry ingredients and beat for 2 minutes at low speed, scraping the bowl as you go. Add eggs and 2 cups bread flour; beat 2 minutes, scraping bowl. Gradually mix in enough additional bread flour to make a soft dough.
  4. Knead on a lightly floured surface or with a dough hook for 10-12 minutes. Cover dough and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  5. Shape dough as desired and place on greased or parchment-lined baking sheets or pans. Cover dough that is not being shaped so it does not dry out. Cover rolls and let rise in a warm (80°-90°F) place until doubled in size, about 45-60 minutes. To check if the dough has doubled, press tip of finger lightly into side of roll. If indention remains, the dough has doubled in size.
  6. Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until rolls are set and they are just starting to change color. Cool rolls in pans or on baking sheets 10 minutes. Remove rolls to wire rack; cool completely.
  7. Place rolls in sealable bags, label and date. Store in refrigerator up to 1 to 2 days or in freezer up to 1 month.
  8. To brown and serve: If frozen, defrost rolls at room temperature, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place rolls on cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

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