One-Hour Amish Dinner Rolls: A Taste of Tradition in No Time

In the heart of Amish country, where simplicity and tradition reign supreme, the kitchen remains a hub of warmth and comfort. Among the many culinary delights, Amish dinner rolls stand out as a timeless favorite. These rolls, known for their soft, pillowy texture and rich, buttery flavor, can now be prepared in just one hour. This recipe offers a modern twist on a classic, allowing even the busiest home cooks to bring a touch of Amish tradition to their tables.

The Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 3/4 – 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp rapid rise yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup very warm water
• 2/3 cup milk
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces, plus more for tops
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat and Prepare
   Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whisk together 4 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients
   In a medium bowl, combine the water, milk, and butter. Stir until the butter is partially melted and softened.
3. Combine and Knead
   Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients in the stand mixer bowl. Add the lemon juice. Using the hook attachment, set the mixer to low speed, gradually increasing to medium-low. Knead the dough for about 3-4 minutes until it is smooth and elastic, adding additional flour as needed. The dough should be lightly sticky but manageable.
4. First Rise
   Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.
5. Shape the Rolls
   Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a 9 by 9-inch square. Cut the dough into 16 equal portions. Shape 15 of these portions into balls, using excess dough from the 16th portion to even out the sizes. Place the dough balls into the prepared baking dish.
6. Second Rise
   Dampen your hands with water and lightly brush the tops of the dough balls to prevent them from drying out. Place the baking dish in the oven, turn the oven off, and let the dough rise for 20 minutes without opening the oven door.
7. Bake
   Remove the rolls from the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the rolls to rest on the counter while the oven preheats, which should take about 5 minutes. Bake the rolls for 14-16 minutes until the tops are golden brown.
8. Finish and Serve
   Remove the rolls from the oven and run the top of a stick of butter over the hot rolls to coat them. Serve the rolls warm, and store any leftovers in an airtight container.

A Perfect Addition to Any Meal

These one-hour Amish dinner rolls are a testament to the beauty of simple ingredients and straightforward techniques. They are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a weekday dinner or a festive gathering. The rapid rise yeast cuts down on preparation time, while the traditional method of kneading and baking in a cast iron skillet ensures that these rolls retain their authentic, homemade quality.

In the spirit of the Amish, who value community and shared meals, these dinner rolls are best enjoyed fresh from the oven, paired with a pat of butter or your favorite jam. They bring a touch of warmth and a sense of togetherness to any table, making every meal a special occasion.

Conclusion

The one-hour Amish dinner rolls are a delightful fusion of tradition and convenience. By following this simple recipe, you can bring the comforting taste of Amish baking into your home without spending hours in the kitchen. These rolls are a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life are the simplest, made with love and shared with those we cherish.

Ingredients

• 3 3/4 – 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp rapid rise yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup very warm water
• 2/3 cup milk
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces, plus more for tops
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Directions

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer whisk together 4 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt.
• To a medium bowl add water, milk and butter. Stir to partially melt butter (you just want to make sure it’s softened through).
• Pour milk mixture into dry mixture in bowl of electric stand mixer along with lemon juice. Set mixer with a hook attachment then set mixer on low speed and gradually increase to medium-low, knead about 3 – 4 minutes until smooth and elastic while adding additional flour as necessary (dough should be lightly sticky but manageable).
• Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile butter a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.
• Drop dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into an evenly level square, about 9 by 9-inches. Cut into 16 equal portions (don’t have to be exact). Shape dough into 15 balls, while using excess dough from the 16th portion to add to smaller rounds as needed, and place shaped dough portions into prepared baking dish.
• Dampen hands with water and brush tops of dough with the water (just so they don’t dry while rising in oven). Transfer to oven, close oven and turn oven off, allow rolls to rise 20 minutes (don’t open oven door). Remove from oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees (this should take about 5 minutes, so just allow rolls to rest on counter while oven preheats).
• Bake in preheated oven 14 – 16 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and run the top of a stick of butter along tops of rolls just to coat. Serve warm. Store in an airtight container.