Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls

This very Instagram-friendly roll is the perfect thing to bring to that holiday gathering, and can be made using your favorite dinner roll recipe. Sure, these take longer to make than your already perfectly fine dinner rolls, but that’s nothing when you consider all the compliments that will be coming your way.

Step: 1

Combine warm milk, yeast, honey, and butter in a bowl; stir. Add salt and most of the flour, reserving the rest for dusting. Stir using a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms.

Step: 2

Dust a work surface with the leftover flour. Knead the dough until smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky, adding more flour as needed. Form dough into a ball that springs back lightly when pressed.

Step: 3

Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover with greased foil, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

Step: 4

Meanwhile, cut kitchen string into 4 dozen 8- to 10-inch strands. Place strings in a bowl and toss with oil to coat; set aside.

Step: 5

Press risen dough down on a work surface; reserve 3 to 4 tablespoons for forming “stems.” Cut remaining dough in half and cut each half into 6 wedges. Roll each into a round ball by cupping your hand over the dough and pressing and rolling lightly in a circular motion for 10 to 15 seconds. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Step: 6

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone liners.

Step: 7

Place 4 pieces of string on your work surface. Crisscross strings over a center point into a star formation. Place a dough ball, smooth side-down, onto the center point. Firmly tie each string into a knot over the center of the roll. Snip off excess string using scissors.

Step: 8

Place tied roll onto a prepared baking sheet, knot side-down. Repeat with remaining strings and dough balls.

Step: 9

Let rolls rise for about 30 minutes.

Step: 10

Sift a little flour on top of rolls. Shape reserved dough into “stems” and place them on the sheet next to the rolls.

Step: 11

Bake in the center of the preheated oven until lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step: 12

Remove from the oven and let cool until safe to handle, about 15 minutes. Cut strings off of each roll at the tops and peel down carefully and slowly to remove. Cut a small hole in the tops of each roll and press “stems” into each hole. Transfer pumpkin rolls to a serving platter.

Per Serving: 175 calories; protein 4.2g; carbohydrates 26.5g; fat 5.7g; cholesterol 11.8mg; sodium 230.4mg.

The best flavour of the flour could make a real difference to your bread. Different brands do vary. Great taste or Canadian flours, which are naturally higher in gluten, may give you a best rise than standard dough flours – especially if you’re make wholemeal bread , which not always getting bigger as well as clear bread.

To made this in a breadmaker , add all the ingredients to your breadmaker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

A bread first rising can be done in the fridge overnight . This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It’s also a great timesaver , as you can work it yesterday , then finish it off the next day.