Irish Freckle Rolls

Many people observe St. Patrick's Day by wearing green and looking for luck from a four-leaf clover. You can create a new tradition in your home by baking-up a fresh batch of mouth-watering Irish Freckled Rolls that will complement almost any meal. Wheat bran gives these delicious rolls a freckled appearance. These are a nice change of pace from the usual white dinner roll and the dough can be made days ahead of time.

Yield: 3 dozen rolls

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water (100 to 110 degrees F), divided
• 1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup dry milk
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran
• 6 1/4 to 6 3/4 cups bread flour, divided
• 3 large eggs

Instructions

1. Place 1/4 cup warm water in large warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved.
2. Add remaining water, sugar, dry milk, butter, salt, bran and 2 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
3. Add eggs and 1 cup flour. Beat for 2 minutes at high speed.
4. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Place dough in lightly greased bowl, turn to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for future use.
6. Punch dough down whenever doubled in size and use within three days.
7. Remove dough to lightly floured surface. Divide into 36 equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls. Place balls, about 2 inches apart on large greased baking sheets. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 40 to 45 minutes.
8. Bake at 375 degrees F for 13 to 15 minutes or until done.
9. Remove from pans; cool on wire rack.

Notes

To bake without refrigerating: After placing dough in lightly greased bowl, cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes. Shape dough and proceed as directed.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Fleischmann's Yeast