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Best Basic Sweet Bread

This easy, basic yeasted sweet bread recipe uses only eight ingredients and can be made into dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, or sticky buns.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 3198.1 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Small Saucepan
  • 1 Stand Mixer with dough hook, or large mixing bowl for hand kneading
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl for dough proofing
  • 1 Baking Pan cookie sheet or 9x13-inch pan
  • 1 Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 cup milk
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided, or as needed

Instructions
 

  • Combine milk and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until slightly warm to the touch then remove from heat and stir in yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Stir together flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add softened butter, eggs, and the yeast mixture and mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface and continue to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon oil. Place the dough into the bowl and turn once to coat. Cover and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Grease a cookie sheet or 9x13-inch pan with remaining oil.
  • For plain rolls, punch down dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll the pieces into balls and place them into the greased pan side by side. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Cover and let dough rise again until almost doubled in size, 20 to 25 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Bake in the preheated oven until rolls are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

Yeast Activation: Ensure milk is comfortably warm (105-115°F or 40-46°C) for optimal yeast activity; too hot will kill it, too cold will hinder it. Kneading: Proper kneading develops gluten, essential for a soft, elastic crumb. The dough should pass the windowpane test. Proofing: A warm, draft-free environment is crucial for both rises. For an extra golden and soft crust, brush the baked rolls immediately with melted butter. This versatile dough can also be shaped into cinnamon rolls or sticky buns.