Quick-Bake Homemade Dinner Rolls

1. Make Flour Paste

To begin, make the flour paste by whisking together ½ cup of water and 3 tablespoons of bread flour in a small bowl. Microwave this mixture, whisking every 20 seconds, until it thickens to a stiff, pasty consistency, which should take about 40 to 80 seconds. This paste will help give your rolls a tender texture.

2. Prepare Dough

For the dough, combine the flour paste, 3/4 cup of chilled milk, 2⅔ cups of bread flour, 1 large egg, and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low speed for 1 to 2 minutes until the ingredients come together. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes to hydrate the flour.

3. Add Sugar and Salt

Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1¼ teaspoons of salt to the dough and mix on medium-low speed for 5 minutes. Then, add 2 tablespoons of softened butter, one tablespoon at a time, continuing to mix on medium-low speed. The dough should become smooth and elastic after about 5 more minutes.

4. Let Dough Rise

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured counter and knead briefly to form a ball. Place the dough ball in a greased bowl and spray the top lightly with vegetable oil spray. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, which should take about 1 hour.

5. Shape Dough

Once the dough has risen, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently press the dough into an 8-inch square on the counter and cut it into 16 equal pieces. Form each piece into a smooth, taut ball by rolling it in your lightly floured hands. Arrange the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, cover them lightly, and let them rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

6. Initial Bake

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees, adjusting the oven rack to the middle position. Bake the rolls for 14 to 16 minutes until they are risen with an internal temperature of 170 to 175 degrees. They should have little to no color at this point. Let the rolls cool completely on a wire rack, which will take 30 to 45 minutes. They may wrinkle slightly as they cool.

7. Freeze Rolls

Once the rolls are cool, place them in the freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour until they are solid. Transfer the frozen rolls to a zipper-lock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

8. Final Bake

When you are ready to serve, preheat the oven to 425 degrees, adjusting the oven rack to the middle position. Arrange the frozen rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until they are a deep golden brown. Allow the rolls to cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.