Potato Rolls

Once you’ve had homemade potato rolls, there’s no going back. These rolls cook up light and fluffy, with a crispy, golden exterior, making them the perfect vehicle for mini-sandwiches and burgers. Or, brush them with butter and serve them as dinner rolls alongside a full meal. You’ll love their fresh taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients for Potato Rolls

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• Active dry yeast: An essential ingredient, active dry yeast is what makes the rolls rise.
• Warm water: Before using active dry yeast, you’ll have to proof it with warm water.
• Mashed potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes work well for this recipe because of how creamy and starchy they are.
• Sugar: Sugar adds a welcome (but subtle) touch of sweetness.
• Shortening: Shortening helps potato rolls achieve their fluffiness and softness.
• Eggs: Ensure the eggs are at room temperature before using so they blend more easily.
• Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor profile of these rolls.
• All-purpose flour: Too much or too little flour can give these rolls the wrong texture; learn how to properly measure flour here.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

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In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in 2/3 cup of warm water. In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, sugar, shortening, eggs, salt, remaining 2/3 cup of water, the yeast mixture and two cups of flour; beat until smooth. Stir in the remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Step 2: Cover the dough and let rise

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Do not knead the dough. Shape it into a ball and place it in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about one hour.

Step 3: Divide the dough

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Punch down the dough and divide into thirds. Divide and shape one portion into 15 balls; place in a greased 9-inch round baking pan. Cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°.

Step 4: Bake the rolls

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Bake the rolls until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the pans to wire racks. Serve warm.

Potato Roll Recipe Variations

• Add fresh herbs: Finely chopped basil, rosemary or chives would be delicious in this recipe.
• Sweeten them up: We like adding about a 1/4 cup of honey to these rolls if we want to make them sweeter.

How to Store Potato Rolls

Store leftover potato rolls in an airtight container at room temperature. The rolls will stay good for at least four to five days, although they’re best within the first couple of days.

Can I make potato rolls in advance?

You can mash the potatoes in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Potato Roll Recipe Tips

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What should I serve on potato rolls?

Potato rolls are great for mini-sandwiches, with just about any filling you can imagine. For breakfast, make an egg sandwich with crispy bacon, cheese and a fried egg; make a blackened fish or chicken sandwich; or use the rolls to make hamburger sliders.

Can I double this potato roll recipe?

Yes, you can double this recipe. Just treat it as two separate batches rather than trying to double the ingredients in one batch.

Can I use leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe?

We wouldn’t recommend using leftover mashed potatoes since the cream and butter (or whatever other ingredients you used) will affect this recipe. However, you can use a leftover baked potato to make potato rolls.