Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls
- Dakota Delights
- Date Created:
Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls
- Dakota Delights
- Date Created:
Don’t be threatened by how cute these dinner rolls are! They are super easy to make. You just need some butchers twine to tie around the rolls.
Plus, they are show-stoppers for any fall meal or snack! Try them out this Halloween or Thanksgiving and then thank me later in the comments. 😉
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Even more importantly than being adorable, these dinner rolls are absolutely delicious, and an autumn staple in my home! They’re perfectly dense, rich in flavor, and will compliment your Thanksgiving table beautifully.
If you are an avid baker like myself, you’ll appreciate these dinner rolls on a bread-level. You might make these rolls year round! The ingredients are simple and work together perfectly for flavor balance and cohesiveness. When experimenting with this recipe, I developed a few hacks to make them come out wonderfully.
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PRO TIPS
When I developed this recipe, I knew I wanted soft, yet dense and flavorful rolls. Throughout several taste tests, I discovered 3 key secrets for achieving the perfect pumpkin shaped dinner rolls!
- Soak your butchers twine in a neutral oil like olive oil. this ensures easy removal, and that no twine gets left in your bread.
- Use Milk for activating yeast. Milk contains natural sugars and fat, which make your rolls softer, richer, and slightly sweeter than using water alone.
- Add sugar in yeast mix rather than with the dry ingredients. Sugar acts as a food for yeast, so you’ll get more fermentation and activation. This results in more depth of flavor, so that your dinner rolls have an almost sourdough quality to them. If you wait to add sugar with the dry ingredients, the yeast has to work harder to find accessible food in the flour, so it takes longer to wake up and start fermenting.
KEY INGREDIENTS
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These are the main ingredients you need for making pumpkin shaped dinner rolls. Find the full ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below
Honey adds moisture and depth of flavor. This prevents your rolls from drying out the next day, gives your rolls a slight floral note, and provides a nice golden color.
Milk has natural lactose which feeds the yeast and gives you a more fermented flavor. It also has natural fats that will create a richer bread.
Sugar feeds the yeast for faster activation and gives the right level of sweetness.
Salt balances sweetness and gives perfect depth of flavor.
Egg The proteins in egg help reinforce the dough’s gluten network, making it stronger and more elastic. The fats emulsify the dough for better cohesion, tenderize the dough, and enhance browning through the Maillard reaction- creating that golden, glossy crust we all love.
Butter gives dinner rolls that classic, buttery aroma and taste — it’s what makes them comforting and indulgent. Milk solids in butter caramelize while baking to create a slight nutty complex for better depth of flavor.
VARIATIONS TO TRY
Have more fun with your pumpkin shaped dinner rolls with these variations / additions!
- Brush with garlic and herb butter for a savory side or complex snack.
- Drizzle with honey for a sweet compliment to your meal.
- Top with butter and flaky pretzel salt for an essential side.
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HOW TO MAKE
Below I’ve highlighted proportions with step-by-step process images, along with instructions for making pumpkin shaped dinner rolls. You can find the full set of instructions in the recipe card below.
- Add warm milk to honey, then add sugar, salt, and yeast.
- After 5 minutes of yeast activation: add the rest of your dough ingredients.
3. Once ingredients are mixed, cover with tea towel for 1 hour, dough should double in size.
4. Break dough into 8 sections and roll into a ball. Tie loosely with 4 pieces of butchers twine, placing the twine edges on the bottom of rolls
5. Allow pumpkins to rise for another 15-20 minutes.
6. Bake on 350 for 15-30 minutes (until golden brown) remove string and top with a halved pecan.
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MAKE AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS
Make Ahead or Freeze:
– If you’re making pumpkin shaped dinner rolls ahead of time, you can keep kneaded dough for 24 hours in the refrigerator before baking. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator and allow to thaw for 30-45 minutes (until the dough is room temperature); continue with shaping and baking.
– Freeze shaped pumpkins (as raw dough) for up to one month. To freeze, set on a baking sheet and then transfer to a plastic bag once frozen. Allow to thaw fully before baking.
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Storage:
-After you’ve made pumpkin shaped dinner rolls, store at room temperature for up to 2 days in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
-You can also freeze pumpkin shaped dinner rolls after baking, individually wrapped, for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator; then bake for 20-30 minutes at 300 degrees.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I keep twine from sticking to rolls?
Simply soak your twine in olive oil while portioning dough balls.
How long should I cut my twine?
I cut roughly 1 ft per string so it was easy to tie, and untie later.
(You do not have to use as thick of twine as I used, it’s up to your stylistic preference.)
How do I prevent dough from being too dense?
Do not use a stand mixer, as that can tend to overmix bread – which can result in too dense/chewy of a dough. This recipe is not difficult to mix by hand.
MORE RECIPES TO TRY
Try my brown sugar glazed ham steaks as pictured above.
Level up your basics and make the chef level mashed potatoes pictured above.
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If you’ve tried this _this recipe title_ recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how it went for you in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
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Meet Dakota
Hi I’m Dakota! Welcome to my kitchen. I’m obsessed with the beauty of fresh, whole foods and embracing the best of the season.
I believe the most wonderful recipes in the world shouldn’t be complicated or intimidating. I use reliable methods for delicious, crowd-pleasing dishes that you’ll be proud to make again and again.
My goal is simple: To give you the skills and confidence to explore new cuisines, discover new flavors, and find joy in your own kitchen!
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