What’s more festive on your holiday table than this tree-shaped cluster of dinner rolls? This Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree recipe is not only festive but so simple to make. However, there is an hour and a half rise time to consider. But the rest of the steps are easy and fun to create.
This recipe is also a wonderful way to clean out your pantry. I used up lots of little baggies I saved full of seeds and nuts. I had leftover pepitas, sunflower seeds, pistachio dust, everything spice mix, fennel seeds, sunflower seeds, and applewood smoked salt that all became toppings for this Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree.
To be honest, I started out with a specific topping idea. I originally wanted to use up some homemade everything mix. However, when I started pulling ingredients out of my cabinets, I suddenly lost my dang mind and found myself creating a crazy quilt of toppings for this Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree. Sometimes losing one’s mind in kitchen creativity produces the best results.
You don’t have to top this Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree with anything at all. Just brush the tops with milk or a beaten egg before baking and serve the bread naked. It will also be beautiful.
To further decorate the Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree, I added a sparkly bow to the base of the bread. I used a neutral color. However, use a bright green, roed or holiday patterned one to create an additional festive touch to the presentation.
Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree is definitely a beautiful way to bring holiday spirit and deliciousness to your Christmas dinner table.
Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 3+1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm
- 1 cup plus two tablespoons lukewarm milk
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 eggs
- poppy seeds, sesame seeds, chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
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Whisk together the flour and yeast in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the bread hook attachment.
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Combine the melted butter and milk and add to the dry ingredients.
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Add the sugar, salt, 1 egg and knead into a smooth dough.
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Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let stand in a warm place for 30 minutes.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough for a few turns.
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Place it back in the bowl, recover the bowl with the dishcloth and place it back in a warm place for 30 minutes.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Divide the dough into 16 equal portions (use a kitchen scale if you want to be precise.)
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Lay the dough balls out on the baking sheet in a tree form. Starting at the top, place them in rows of 1, 2, 3,4 and 5. Use the last ball to form the stem, gently pulling it out into a longer shape.
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Cover the baking sheet with the dishcloth and let it stand in a warm place for another 30 minutes.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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Brush the dough with the tablespoon of milk. Sprinkle poppy seeds, sesame seeds, nuts, etc. over the tops of the rolls if desired.
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Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Like this Dinner Rolls Christmas Tree? Try these other rolls recipes:
