Featherlight Yeast Rolls

Serves: 4

Alessia Franecki

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

49

Spice

49

Sweetness

53

Sourness

34

mins

Prep time (avg)

5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Whole Milk

1 tsp

Salt

2 tbsps

Sugar

2.666667 cups

All-Purpose Flour

Directions:

1

Generously cover potato with cold water in a medium saucepan

2

Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until very tender, about 10 minutes

3

Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid, then drain potato well

4

Meanwhile, melt 2 1/2 tablespoons butter

5

Mash hot potato in a large bowl with a fork

6

Stir in milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons melted butter (mixture will be lumpy)

7

Cool 1/2 cup cooking liquid to warm (105 to 115°F)

8

Stir in yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes

9

(If mixture doesn't foam, Start over with new yeast and remaining cooking liquid

10

) Stir yeast mixture into potato mixture, then stir in flour with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms

11

Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, dusting surface and hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes (dough will be slightly sticky)

12

Brush a large bowl with some of remaining melted butter, then turn dough in bowl to coat

13

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise, chilled, 8 to 12 hours

14

Punch down dough (do not knead), then halve

15

Roll each half into a 12-inch-long log on a very lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands

16

Cut each log into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a ball

17

Arrange evenly spaced in 6 rows of 4 (less than 1/2 inch apart) in a buttered 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan

18

Cover pan with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth)

19

Let rolls rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled (they will fill pan), 1 to 1 1/2 hours

20

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle

21

Melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

22

Brush top of rolls with melted butter and bake until golden-brown, 25 to 30 minutes

23

Loosen edges with a sharp knife, then transfer rolls to a rack and cool slightly

24

Generously cover potato with cold water in a medium saucepan

25

Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until very tender, about 10 minutes

26

Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid, then drain potato well

27

Meanwhile, melt 2 1/2 tablespoons butter

28

Mash hot potato in a large bowl with a fork

29

Stir in milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons melted butter (mixture will be lumpy)

30

Cool 1/2 cup cooking liquid to warm (105 to 115°F)

31

Stir in yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes

32

(If mixture doesn't foam, Start over with new yeast and remaining cooking liquid

33

) Stir yeast mixture into potato mixture, then stir in flour with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms

34

Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, dusting surface and hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes (dough will be slightly sticky)

35

Brush a large bowl with some of remaining melted butter, then turn dough in bowl to coat

36

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise, chilled, 8 to 12 hours

37

Punch down dough (do not knead), then halve

38

Roll each half into a 12-inch-long log on a very lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands

39

Cut each log into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a ball

40

Arrange evenly spaced in 6 rows of 4 (less than 1/2 inch apart) in a buttered 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan

41

Cover pan with a kitchen towel (not terry cloth)

42

Let rolls rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled (they will fill pan), 1 to 1 1/2 hours

43

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle

44

Melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

45

Brush top of rolls with melted butter and bake until golden-brown, 25 to 30 minutes

46

Loosen edges with a sharp knife, then transfer rolls to a rack and cool slightly