Let me start out by saying that I’m not a baker.  I’ll make an occasional cookie or pie, but when it comes to bread,  I haven’t had much success.  I even have a bread machine.  Go figure.

 

I guess I just don’t have the patience. The kneading, the rising, the rising again, the waiting…no thanks.   Or maybe the recipes I have are too vague.  Or perhaps it’s because I don’t follow the directions word for word.  I’m lazy that way.  Anyway, I found myself with a little extra time the other day, so I decided to figure out this mysterious bread thing for us.  Ready?  I’m about to give you very complete and through instructions.

 

Here are some things you knead (hehe) to know for this recipe.

 

1) You need a bread machine, but what kind doesn’t really matter.  You’re just using it to make the dough, not cook the bread.

 

2)  Pre-measure all the ingredients. Don’t skip this step.   You want to be ready to throw everything into the bread machine when it’s time.

 

3)  The order to you add the ingredients to the bread machine is important.  Do not do your own thing here.

 

4)  This dough is versatile.   I’m showing you how to make crescent rolls here, but you can shape it into any shape.  Or just throw it into 2 loaf pans.  You can roll it out and make it into cinnamon rolls, too.  Just let it rise for 2 hours before you bake it.

 

Bread Machine Rolls

 

1 stick butter

4 cups flour (all purpose is fine, bread flour is better)

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 ½ teaspoons dry instant yeast (it could be labeled as quick rise)

2 eggs

1 cup milk

 

 

Melt butter in microwave.

Measure 4 cups flour into a bowl.

Measure ½ cup sugar and 1 teaspoon salt into another bowl.

Measure 2 ½ teaspoons yeast into a small bowl.

Crack 2 eggs into a small bowl and beat them with a fork.

Heat milk in microwave until very warm.  120 degrees is perfect, if you have a candy thermometer to measure the temperature.  If not, just touch it with your finger it should feel hot, not scalding.

 

 

Put ingredients into bread machine IN THIS ORDER:

warmed milk, melted butter, beaten eggs, flour, sugar and salt, and yeast.  Do NOT STIR.

 

Turn on the machine to the dough setting, should be 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, the bread is ready to form into rolls.  Pull out the bread machine bucket and dump the dough onto a floured surface (I use my clean countertop).    Divide the dough in half to form 2 balls.

 

Bread Machine Dough

 

 

Crescent Rolls

 

1 stick butter, melted

Bread Machine dough

 

 

Prepare 2 cookie sheets by greasing with butter.

 

With a rolling pin, roll out a 9 inch circle with the first ball of dough, using extra flour as necessary to prevent sticking.  Brush the circle with melted butter. Cut into 6, 8 or 12 wedges (like a pizza), depending on how large you want the rolls to be.  Starting from the wide end, roll up to look like a crescent roll. Place each roll onto the buttered cookie sheet.  Brush tops and sides with more butter.  Repeat the process with the second ball of dough.

Bread Machine Rolls 

Set the cookie sheets aside and let the rolls rise for 2 hours at room temperature.  Rolls will double in size.  Mine aren’t perfect, but that’s the beauty of homemade rolls!

 

Bread Machine Rolls 

After 2 hours, bake in preheated 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.