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Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 55 reviews

These Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, and subtly buttery with a hint of sweetness. Designed to look like mini pumpkins, they make a festive and fun addition to any fall or holiday table. The rolls are shaped using kitchen twine to create the classic pumpkin ridges and topped with pretzel stems for a charming finishing touch. Perfect for family dinners or special gatherings, these rolls pair beautifully with any savory dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups (10 ounces) milk
  • 6 Tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (1.5 ounces) instant potato flakes
  • 2 ½ cups plus 1 Tablespoon (12.8 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast

For Shaping and Decoration

  • 48 pieces of kitchen twine, each cut into 8 to 10 inch lengths
  • 6 pretzel twists, broken in half

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk and melted butter. Add the sugar, salt, instant potato flakes, and instant yeast. Stir to dissolve the yeast and mix the ingredients well.
  2. Add Flour and Knead: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, stirring until a sticky dough forms. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for 6-8 minutes on medium speed.
  3. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
  4. Divide and Shape Rolls: Punch down the risen dough to release air. Divide the dough into 24 equal portions and shape each into a smooth ball. Place the dough balls spaced apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  5. Create Pumpkin Shape: Take a piece of kitchen twine and gently tie it around each dough ball to create indentations resembling pumpkin ridges. Be careful not to tie too tightly as the rolls will expand. Tie knots underneath the rolls to secure.
  6. Second Rise: Cover the shaped rolls loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let them rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
  7. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) while the rolls complete their second rise.
  8. Bake the Rolls: Remove the kitchen twine carefully just before baking. Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  9. Add Pretzel Stems: Immediately after removing the rolls from the oven, gently press half a broken pretzel twist into the center top of each roll to simulate pumpkin stems.
  10. Cool and Serve: Allow the rolls to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Use room temperature milk to help activate the yeast properly.
  • If you don’t have instant potato flakes, you can substitute with instant mashed potato flakes or omit for a slightly different texture.
  • Make sure your kitchen twine is food-safe and unbleached.
  • Do not tie the twine too tightly to allow dough expansion during baking.
  • These rolls can be frozen after baking and reheated for freshness.
  • For a glossy finish, brush the rolls with melted butter before serving.

Keywords: Pumpkin dinner rolls, festive bread rolls, shaped bread, fall bread recipe, holiday rolls

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/pumpkin-shaped-dinner-rolls-recipe/