1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 cups warm milk (100-110º)
3 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp sugar, divided
1 Tbsp salt
2 1/2 Tbsp yeast, dry active (or one packet)
6 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
Melted butter for garnish
Add yeast into warm water along with 1 tsp of the sugar. Stir to combine and allow to sit for 6-8 minutes or until foamy.
Mix together milk, butter, remaining sugar, salt and yeast mixture.
Add in 5 cups of flour and mix until dough forms with the paddle attachment on a stand mixer or by hand. Continue adding flour, 1/2 cup at a time until the dough becomes smooth and a ball forms. Dough will be slightly tacky. *
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough in the bowl. Cover and allow rising until double in size (30 minutes or so depending on room temperature)
Press dough down and roll into a 8 x 12 rectangle. Cut the dough into 4 strips the long way and then each strip into 6 pieces for a total of 24 pieces.
Roll each piece of dough into a ball and place on a greased baking sheet.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 20-25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350º.
Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Brush the baked rolls with melted butter if desired.
Makes 24 small rolls.
*I chose to do knead this by hand for a few minutes, after mixing the dough.
