Easy Yeast Rolls

Ingredients:
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup boiling water
2 eggs
6 cups all-purpose or bread flour

Directions:

• Add yeast to warm water and set aside. I just mix it in my two-cup measuring cup and set aside.

• Place sugar in mixing bowl.

• Cut butter into small pieces (about a half-tablespoon) and add to sugar.

• Pour boiling water over and stir to melt the butter. (I usually use a wooden spoon or even my paddle attachment on my Kitchen Aid Mixer.)

• Allow to cool before adding eggs and yeast mix.
• Mix well.
• Add 2 cups flour and beat well to form a batter.

• Add more flour one cup at a time to form a dough consistency.  (I usually take the paddle attachment off and use the hook when I have about 5 cups in the mixture and scrape down the sides of the bowl.)

This tiny little spatula is a fabulous tool for scraping down the sides as well as for cleaning out small things such as a measuring cup or a jar.

Notice that this isn't really like a dough that one would roll out - it is still a bit batter-like.

Move dough to an extra-large bowl and cover with greased wax paper or a bread cloth and set aside to rise.  (Mixture can be refrigerated for up to a couple of weeks.)

• After dough has doubled in size, roll out on a floured surface to about a half-inch thickness.
• Cut with a small biscuit-sized cutter or into two-inch squares with a knife and place on a baking pan that has been buttered or sprayed with vegetable spray.
• Allow to rise again for at least an hour.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes until golden in color.  
• Brush with melted butter and serve warm.

This recipe is also delicious rolled out thinner and spread with melted butter, cinnamon, a mixture of white and brown sugar, raisins and pecans.  Then, roll up jelly-roll style and slice for cinnamon rolls.  I have also rolled the dough into balls and placed three into a muffin tin for clover-leaf rolls.  The recipe is ultra-versatile and I have tried it in lots of different shapes and forms.  However, my favorite is just to cut it into rolls and bake and eat warm!