Chewy Dinner Rolls

The All-New Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook provided me with this recipe a few months ago. Ever since trying it, I am hooked. Baguettes can also be made out of this recipe. You can use a cookie sheet, but baguette pans create a better crust.

Ingredients:

4 1/2 teaspoons active-dry yeast
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups warm water (100º-115ºF)
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
6-7 cups all-purpose flour
olive oil for greasing a bowl

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients in a 4-cup measuring cup (or whatever size you have over 3 cups; you can also just measure out the ingredients in a bowl if you do not have a large measuring cup.) Let stand 5 minutes for the yeast to foam up.
2. In a large bowl of a mixer, stir together yeast mixture, softened butter, and salt. Gradually stir in enough flour to make a soft but slightly sticky dough (see picture below)
3. Place in a well greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 40 minutes or until doubled in bulk (see below pictures)
4. When dough has risen, punch down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly (see picture) four or five times. Divide dough into equal portions for rolls (about 16 equal portions) and gently form into oval balls and place on the baguette pans or cookie sheet. Using kitchen scissors, snip a slit on the top of each roll (see photo below). Cover with plastic wrap or light-weight kitchen towel and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
5. Bake rolls at 400ºF until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Take out of oven and brush with melted butter and serve.

*These rolls can be wrapped in plastic wrap, placed inside a freezer bag, and frozen up to 2 weeks. To reheat, unwrap from plastic and wrap or cover in foil and bake at 350º until thoroughly warmed through, about 30 minutes. 

*If you want to make baguettes instead, follow instructions up to step 4. Turn out and knead, and then divide into four long baguettes and place in pan or on cookie sheet to rise, making diagonal cuts on the tops of the baguettes. Bake at the same temperature and about the same time. 

Makes 16 large rolls or 3-4 baguettes.