Last November we held a sibling retreat and my older sister, Quyen, made these wonderful yeast rolls. They were surprisingly easy to prepare, and her presentation looked even better than mine.
I often find myself sighing when I talk about family because my feelings run deep. I love my sisters and brother—I’d do anything for them. That retreat reminded me to let go of perfectionism and to be gentler with my siblings. The week was full of laughter and tears. We’ve been through a lot as a family, and I’m fiercely protective and proud of all of them.
My mom is one of the strongest people I know. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American who made it to the U.S. during the Vietnam War, she sacrificed so much for our family. Growing up, I wanted her approval above all, and this year she gave me a birthday card that left me reaching for tears. Her resilience and devotion have shaped who I am.
We cooked a lot during the retreat and even made pho in that gorgeous kitchen (I’ll share my Mom’s pho recipe soon). Food is always central to our family gatherings. I inherited my love of cooking and feeding people from Mom—it’s one of the greatest gifts she passed on.
For the retreat we stayed at a lovely Global Resort Home in Windsor Hills, Kissimmee, Florida. The kitchen was well equipped and the house had six big bedrooms and a pool, which made the stay comfortable and fun. It was the perfect setting for family time as relatives arrived from across the country and from Germany.
When I bake bread I always weigh ingredients. I used King Arthur all-purpose flour; according to their guidance, 4.25 ounces of flour equals one cup.
Gather your ingredients. For this recipe I split the flour into three portions—it’s really as simple as one, two, three. The method is straightforward and forgiving.
Once the dough comes together, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead into a smooth ball. Place it in a greased bowl, cover loosely, and let it rise until nearly doubled.
Yes, my pieces were uneven rectangles (you can see them on the right), but the texture and flavor were still excellent.
When the rolls come out of the oven, brush them with butter for a glossy, irresistible finish—this step is essential.
These rolls are delicious and very easy to make. My mom loved them—she’s a self-proclaimed bread addict and said they reminded her of the big yeast rolls she used to enjoy. If you like soft, buttery rolls, you’ll be very happy with this recipe.
(Easy) Yeast Rolls
Ingredients
- 3 cups unbleached, all purpose flour (divided)
- 1 ½ Tbsp active dry yeast, rapid rise
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups VERY warm water, between 120-130 degrees
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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In a large mixing bowl combine 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir to blend, then add the very warm water slowly and mix. Add the olive oil and melted butter and stir until combined; the mixture will be quite soupy.
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Add the remaining flour a half cup at a time, stirring after each addition, until the dough starts to pull away from the bowl. You may not need all the flour.
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Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly until it forms a smooth ball, adding a bit of flour to keep it from sticking. Avoid over-kneading. Place the dough ball in a lightly greased bowl, cover loosely, and let it rise in a warm spot for 15–30 minutes or until nearly doubled. This is the first rise.
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On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll the dough into a rectangle about one inch thick. Cut into 12 equal rectangular pieces. Grease a baking pan with butter and arrange the pieces close together. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let them rest in a warm place for another 15–30 minutes for the second rise.
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Bake on the middle rack for about 15 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown. As soon as they come out of the oven, slide a stick of butter over them for a shiny, buttery finish.
Notes
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Disclosure: Global Resort Homes hosted our sibling retreat, and I received compensation from Visit Kissimmee for blogging about our Kissimmee experiences.