Pillowy-soft yeast rolls are the perfect addition to any holiday dinner with a fried herb and toasted garlic flavor. They are so buttery that they almost melt in your mouth. Lightly frying the herbs and garlic will help them release their delicious oils and give the rolls an irresistible smell. You can also leave them unbaked overnight to get that fluffiness you’re going for.
How to Make the Yeast Rolls
These buttery yeast rolls are easy to make and don’t require many ingredients. Here’s what you need.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for greasing
- 6 finely chopped garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup chopped mixed fresh herbs of choice
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon warm water
- 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 large eggs
- 5 cups bread flour
- Flaky sea salt, to taste
Instructions:
- Heat the butter and the oil over medium heat while stirring. Let it melt, and add the garlic. Keep on stirring until lightly browned. Then, add the herbs and stir for 30 more seconds. Reserve 1 tablespoon of herb oil in a small bowl and set aside. Pour the rest of the oil into a heatproof bowl, and add sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and fine sea salt. Stir and set aside.
- Mix together 1/2 cup of warm water, yeast, and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of sugar in a stand mixer. Once it gets foamy, stir in the sour cream mixture and 1 egg. Run the mixer on medium-low speed and start gradually adding flour and beating until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the dough gets elastic. Then, put it in a lightly greased large bowl. Cover and leave at warm room temperature for about 1 hour.
- Divide dough into 24 pieces and shape into balls. Put them in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch pan and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
- The balls should double their volume in 45-60 minutes at room temperature. Preheat oven to 375°F during the final 20 minutes.
- Whisk together 1 egg and the remaining 1 teaspoon of warm water. Lightly brush the balls with the mixture. Bake them until they get golden brown. It should take no more than 20 -25 minutes. Brush the tops with the reserved 1 tablespoon herb oil while the rolls are still hot. Then, sprinkle some flaky sea salt to taste. Voilá!
Some Tips and Tricks
It’s a smart idea to prepare the yeast rolls ahead of time and leave them tightly covered with plastic wrap for up to one day. Once they’re baked, you can serve them with your favorite soup or pasta.
If any rolls are left after your dinner (we doubt it), you can toast them and make a strata. One thing to be conscious about is your stand mixer. Keep an eye on it while mixing the dough to prevent a mess.