retired09's Recipe

Crusty Chewy German Rolls Recipe

Category: Baked Goods

1 2/3 tsp. active dry yeast
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 cups + 1 T + 1 t warm water (1 1/4 cups at first)

Stir, then add the rest of the water, and let set 15 minutes


3 1/2 cups (or more) all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons fine salt

Pour yeast mixture into a 9"x13" glass dish. Add 1/2 of the flour. Stir and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and let set 1 hour in a warm place, until it starts to bubble.
Add remaining flour and salt. Stir well or you can use your hands or a mixer with dough hook.
Pour dough onto floured surface and knead about 8 minutes.
Coat large bowl with oil. Add the dough ball and oil the dough as well.
Cover with a dish cloth and let set in a warm place 1 hour. Then release air from dough with hands by light kneading.
Place on a floured surface and work into a ball. Divide into 10 equal pieces.
Form balls and cover 15 minutes.
Flatten each dough ball. Roll and pinch to form an oval. Seal seam by pinching. Cover and let rest on baking sheet, seam side down, for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Slash the tops of each roll with a sharp knife and spray them with water.
Put a pan with 1 cup of hot water on the bottom rack of oven.
Put pan of rolls on center rack and also spray the sides of the oven with water. Then IMMEDIATELY close the oven door to trap in the steam.
Bake 10 minutes, then turn pan around, and spray the rolls again with water. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Rolls should be lightly browned and crusty. YUMMM!