Mili’s trinity dinner rolls

Trinity Rolls are what I like to make and offer at special-occasion meals. At Christmas, we love to have fresh bread at the table, and this is the recipe for light and airy rolls are best served warm from the oven.

This recipe makes about 20, cupcake-sized portions. I recommend making enough to allow for two rolls per person you are serving.

I also recommend serving them with sides of orange and/or honey butter. Please see my beautiful butter post for these recipes.

* Helpful Timing Hint * Once your dough is made, it needs to chill for 8-24 hours, so make sure to schedule the right timing for when to make the dough and when you’ll be baking and serving the rolls with your meal.

(In 2013, I modified this recipe, inspired by “Icebox Dinner Rolls,” from Southern Living.)

Here’s what you’ll do:

Using a standing mixer, with a standard paddle attachment, place butter into the bowl. Pour over the boiling water. (To boil my water, I measure the water in a glass-handled Pyrex measuring cup, and place it the microwave for 2 minutes.) Add sugar and salt. Stir at lowest speed, until butter melts and the salt and sugar have dissolved.

On the side, add the 1/4 cup warm water to a bowl, and stir in the packet of dry active yeast. If you do not have a dry yeast packet, and use bulk, then measure out 2 and 1/2 teaspoons. Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes.

Add the beaten egg and activated yeast mixture with the ingredients in your standing mixer. Stir at low speed until combined. Add flour and mix on low for 2-5 minutes, until you see that the dough is soft and completely smooth.

Use cooking spray to grease a bowl that is larger than your dough. Place dough in the bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours.

Here’s what to do, after the dough has been chilled, and it’s between one-two hours before you will serve the rolls with your meal:

Prepare two cupcake/muffin baking tins with a liberal amount of cooking spray.

Turn dough out, onto a clean, floured surface. Lightly knead by hand for about 1 minute.

Now it’s time to roll out small balls. (Small hands are a great help with this. So, if you have little helpers, now is the time to bring them in.) Place three, touching, 1 inch dough balls into each cup of the pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to the balls rise by placing the pans in a warm area of your home, for one hour.

Brush melted butter on the top of each roll.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Once they are out of the oven, brush the tops with the remaining melted butter and serve immediately.