Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup whole milk, scalded
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 ounce active dry yeast, 2 packs (plus 1 teaspoon sugar)
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 15 -20 pecan halves, sliced into 3 vertical sections
• 1/4 cup melted butter (optional)

Recipe

• 1 pour hot milk in a mixing bowl, add butter and stir to melt. add sugars, pumpkin puree, salt to the milk and combine well.
• 2 in a small bowl proof yeast in a lukewarm water with a teaspoon sugar. when it gets foamy add to the pumpkin mixture, and add the egg, mix well.
• 3 add in flour gradually and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. the dough will be sticky.
• 4 if using electric mixer, attach a dough hook and beat the mixture until the dough itself pulls from the side of the bowl.
• 5 turn the dough out to a wooden board dusted with a little flour. knead with hand for 1 minute. form the dough into a ball shape, place in a greased bowl and cover with a cloth. let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, about 1 hours.
• 6 punch the dough to deflate and knead it for a few seconds on a wooden board. cut the dough in half. cut each half into about 15 pieces.
• 7 roll each piece into a ball shape with your hand. flatten the piece with palm of your hand a little. using a knife, give 8 cuts on the edge to mimic flower pedals but the leave center uncut.
• 8 poke the center with your finger to give a deep indentation, and repeat the same procedure to all the other pieces.
• 9 place them, 2" apart, on a baking pan lined with parchment paper or baking mat, and let them rise again to be doubled, about 45 minutes.
• 10 preheat oven 350ºf for 20 minutes.
• 11 if the center indentation is not obvious on the rolls, poke them again with your finger.
• 12 brush with egg wash, if you wish, and bake for 9-12 minutes until the top gets slightly golden.
• 13 brush the rolls with melted butter or a little honey diluted with water to make it shine if you wish.
• 14 insert pecan slices on top to mimic pumpkin stem.