Yeast Breads: Slashed Dinner Rolls

Dinner rolls are a fun thing to serve at a dinner. These ones are slashed with a bread lame. You can use a sharp knife to achieve the same effect.


Ingredients


1 recipe for Basic White Bread
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tbsp water
sesame or poppy seeds (optional)


Preparation


Follow the directions for the Basic White Bread until you have punched down the dough for the first time. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a slightly oblong shape. Don't worry about getting it perfect. They'll taste great even if your shapes are a little off.  Place them on a clean baking sheet and let them rise in a warm place. They need to double in size, which will take around 45 minutes, but be patient as they may take as much as 90 minutes.


Once risen, heat your oven to 350°F. Take your bread lame (or sharp knife) and make a slash down the center of each roll. Don't go too deep. About ¼ inch is more than deep enough. Combine the egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush the wash over the rolls using a pastry brush. Sprinkle the rolls with sesame or poppy seeds, if desired. You can even use caraway seeds if you like. Or you can leave the rolls plain.


Bake for 20 minutes, until the rolls are golden in color and sound hollow when tapped. Cool on wire rack. Store in an airtight container for p to 3 days.