Aunt Shirley’s Famous Dinner Rolls (and a Bun in the Oven Announcement!)

By CheeseDiva

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening OR real butter
• 1 egg
• 4-5 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 4 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing

Details

Servings 24
Adapted from thefoodcharlatan.com

Preparation

Step 1

Instructions
In a small bowl or coffee mug, microwave the 1/2 cup water for 20-30 seconds, until it is lukewarm but not hot.
Add the yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar and stir. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes. Watch it so it doesn't overflow!*
In a glass measuring cup, microwave 2 cups milk for 1-2 minutes until it is warm but not hot.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, add 1/3 cup sugar, salt, and shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Stir together with a wooden spoon.
Add the warm milk, yeast mixture, and 1 egg. Mix well and let rest 5 minutes. At this point I started using the dough hook on my mixer.
Add 2-3 (or up to 3 and 1/2) cups flour, one cup at a time, mixing in between. Once all the flour has been incorporated, knead for 5-6 minutes, using your hands or the dough hook.
Grease a large bowl well with oil or butter. Scrape all the dough into the bowl, shape it together, then turn it over so that the top is greased.
Cover loosely with a tea towel or plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch down the dough. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball (pinch one end with your fingers).
Place the rolls in 2 well-greased pans. I used one 9x13 pan and one 2 quart casserole dish.
Cover the pans with tea towels and let them rise in a warm spot for another 30-45 minutes, until doubled in size. When they are almost done rising, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown all across the top.
Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter.
Eat hot!