Honey Yeast Rolls

Recipe From: Southern Living Magazine
Makes: 28 rolls

• 1/4 cup warm water, 110 to 110 degrees
• 1 envelope active dry yeast, 1/4-ounce package
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 tsps. salt
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup honey

1. Combine warm water, yeast, and 1 tsp. honey in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes or until mixture bubbles.
2. Meanwhile, heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes or until 100 to 110 degrees.
3. Stir together warm milk, eggs, melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt in a bowl of a heavy duty electric stand mixer, blending well. Add yeast mixture, stirring to combine. Gradually add 5 cups flour, beating at medium speed, using paddle attachment. Beat 3 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand for 1 hour.
4. Uncover dough, and add remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, beating at medium speed 5 minutes. Dough will be sticky. Transfer to a lightly greased large mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place, approx. 85 degrees, free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
5. Punch down dough. Turn dough out on a well-floured surface, and roll into 28 2 1/2-inch balls, about 1/4 cup dough per ball. Place balls in 4 lightly greased 9-inch pans, 7 balls per pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place, approx. 85 degrees, free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
6. Stir together 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/4 cup honey.
7. Bake rolls at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops with honey butter. Serve with remaining honey butter.

NOTE:
− To freeze, place baked rolls in zip-top plastic freezer bags, and freeze up to two months. Let thaw at room temperature. Reheat if desired.