Dinner Roll Dough

Our answer

NIgella's Soft White Dinner Rolls (from FEAST) are white bread rolls that are slightly enriched with milk and butter. They are fairly straightforward to make and can be kneaded either by hand or by using a mixer fitted with a dough hook. If kneading by hand then it usually takes around 10 minutes of vigorous kneading to get the dough to a smooth and springy texture (when the glutens in the flour will have developed enough).

If using a stand mixer with a dough hook the length of time will depend what speed you use to knead the dough. We would suggest using a low speed as this enables you to keep a better eye on how the dough is developing. On a low speed it should take 8-10 minutes for the dough to get to the correct texture, though flours vary so the kneading time can vary and you may like to start checking after 5 minutes of kneading. The dough should feel smooth and silky but also if you form it into a ball and prod the ball with your finger then the dough should spring back quickly and easily.