Admit it, resistance to these rolls would be futile! But that’s ok when these delicious rolls are made from hearty and healthy whole grain flours and products from Hodgson Mill! I have been challenged by this wonderful company, Hodgson Mill, to create a holiday recipe for their blogger contest entitled “Have A Grain Holiday” so instead of making cookies or cake, a pie or something sweet, made rolls.
Now don’t get all worked up and say “But I can’t bake bread, never mind rolls! They are too hard…and I don’t know how to use yeast!” Well guess what….below are step by step instruction with photos to go with them to make these delicious treats…….so relax and give it a try!
These are much more than dinner rolls. Slightly sweet with a touch of molasses, these rolls are perfect for a celebratory dinner, hot out of the oven, for the holiday buffet (no one will know or care that they are eating healthy whole grains), for lunch for using up leftover turkey or slices or holiday roast in a sandwich and the next day for a light breakfast–see what I made for myself this morning below! Also super fabulous for a holiday brunch with a little maple butter (softened butter mixed with a few tablespoons pure maple syrup) served right next to them….the possibilities are endless! They are sitting on my kitchen counter, all wrapped up, as I baked them yesterday….what do you think…..try making little French toast with them on Wednesday when I have time for a proper breakfast? How about bread pudding end of the week if they last that long, which is highly unlikely as my Mom says they reminder her of her Mother’s oatmeal rolls growing up!
So without further delay, here’s the recipe and step by step how to guide:
First, assemble your ingredients:
2 cups cold water
1 cup old fashioned oats, plus one tablespoon for sprinkling
1/3 cup warm (100-110 degrees F)
1 package Hodgson Mill Yeast (great for whole grains!)
1/3 cup molasses
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour
2-3 cups Hodgson Mill All Purpose flour
1 tablespoon milk for brushing (optional if keeping recipe veg/vegan)
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil and add oats.
Cook and stir for 2 minute until oats are softened.
Remove from the heat; cool to lukewarm (I put mine outside for a quick cool down as it was 34 degrees!)
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a drop of the molasses.
Allow to become foamy and active in a warm place, about 10 minutes.
To the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, in a food processor with the plastic kneading blade attached or in a large bowl, add the oat mixture, olive oil, molasses, salt and Hodgeson Mill Whole Wheat Flour and 1 1/2 cups of the Hodgeson Mill white flour; beat until smooth.
Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Continue to beat/process slowly until surface of dough is soft and elastic adding more flour little by little until dough is no longer sticky.
Knead about 3-4 minutes on low speed or turn dough on to a floured surface and knead by hand until ball of dough is smooth and elastic, about 7-9 minutes.
Place dough in a large bowl that has been lightly coated with cooking spray or additional olive oil (or just wash out the one you were using before) cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1.5 hours. This picture is of the dough before it has doubled in size….it literally does double in size–just be sure it is in a warm spot, out of drafts or the yeast will not be happy.
When doubled in size, punch dough down and allow to rest, covered for 10 minutes.
Spray or butter two 9” x 13” casserole dishes (preferably clear glass so you can see what is going on when they are baking) and set aside.
Shape dough into 30-two inch balls.
Tops of rolls will be smooth if you flatten the ball, and then pull the edges together like a purse, placing the gathered sided down in the prepared pan, 15 to a pan.
This is what the bottom of the roll will look like:
And this is the top of the roll:
Cover pans with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (you can preheat the oven and put them on top, that would work) until doubled, about 45 minutes. Brush tops of risen rolls lightly with milk and sprinkle with oats–this part is optional if you are making them vegetarian/vegan.
This is what they look like before the rise in the pan:
And this is what they look like after the rise:
See how they are touching and have again nearly doubled in size?
Bake at 350° in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. If you have an instant read thermometer and are nervous that they are not cooked through, the internal temperature of the roll in the middle of the pan needs to be about 195 degrees F and they will be perfect.
Yield: 30 rolls
This is what I had for breakfast…..toasted oatmeal rolls with goat cheese and holiday spiced pear and cranberry jam….so delicious! These rolls also make excellent egg sandwiches with cheese and bacon.
And what about using them for the leftover roast or turkey sandwiches I mentioned earlier? How about a beef and horseradish sauce sandwich with lettuce and cheddar? Oh yes….that’s the ticket!
So, just when you thought this blog post couldn’t get more delicious or interesting, there’s more! Hodgson Mill is sponsoring a sweepstakes on their blog–the winner gets a great prize package filled with a ton of their wholesome baking ingredients and they are giving away 50–yes 50 of them so your chances are really good. And they are drawing the winners on the 10th of December, just in time for holiday baking! Here’s the link:
http://www.hodgsonmill.com/win-a-grain-holiday/
But wait, there’s more! Last but not least, I am offering $25.00 worth of Hodgson Mill products to give away too! Simply comment below before Friday, November 30th at 9:00 what you would make with delicious whole grain Hodgson Mill products, share my giveaway on Facebook and/or Tweet it for more entries and you might just win! I will have the fabulous Lily draw the name out of a hat as usual! And because the people at Hodgson Mill are in the holiday spirit, here’s the link to a printable $1.00 off coupon too!
http://www.hodgsonmill.com/grain-holiday-coupon/
Good luck to all and please, let me know if you make these yummy rolls!
laurielufkin