Impress your guests with this recipe for Cheesy Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls. These rolls are not only delicious but are beautifully crafted and represent the essence of Fall, making them the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for Halloween and Thanksgiving events.   Start off by preheating your oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast, salt and garlic powder. Whisk the dry ingredients together.

In a small bowl, mix together the milk, water and 2 tablespoons of butter. Heat this mixture in 15-second intervals in the microwave until it reaches a temperature between 120°F and 130°F.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry mixture until they are well incorporated, which should take about 2 minutes. Add ¼ cup of flour and gruyere cheese to the wet mixture and stir to incorporate them.

Gradually add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour until a soft dough ball forms. Transfer this dough to a surface that has been lightly dusted with flour.

Knead the dough ball for 6-8 minutes or until it becomes springy to the touch. Place the kneaded dough back into the bowl, cover it with a towel and allow it to proof in a warm place for 10 minutes. During this time, you can begin cutting twine into 8–10-inch strands; you'll need a total of 48 strands.

After the dough has proofed, transfer it back to the dusted surface and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Place 4 pieces of twine in an overlapping star shape and position one dough ball in the center. Bring the twine up snugly around the dough ball and tie it at the top. Repeat this for all 4 pieces of twine, trimming any excess. Place a sage leaf under the knots. Repeat this process for the remaining 11 rolls.

Cover the rolls with a towel and allow them to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place. Cheesy Pumpkin Shaped Dinner Rolls are a delicious side dish for dinner parties, potlucks and more. Buttery and soft, these rolls compliment any meal as a side dish or appetizer. Try this recipe today, you won’t be disappointed.  

Prep Time:  10  minutes  (plus 40 minutes to proof)   |    Cook Time:  25 minutes   |    Total Time:  35 minutes (plus 40 minutes to proof)   |    Yields:  12  

Ingredients:

• 2 cups  Baker's Corner  All Purpose Flour, divided plus additional for dusting
• 2 tablespoons  Baker's Corner  Granulated Sugar
• 1 packet  Baker's Corner  Fast Rising Yeast                                                
• ½ teaspoon ground  Stonemill  Sea Salt Grinder
• 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Garlic Powder
• ½ cup  Friendly Farms  Whole Milk
• 1/4 cup water    
• 4 tablespoons  Countryside Creamery  Unsalted Butter, divided                        
• 1 cup  Emporium Selection  Imported Gruyere, shredded                                                    
• fresh sage
• Food Safe Twine

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In a large bowl combine 1 cup flour, sugar, yeast, salt and garlic powder. Whisk.
3. In a small bowl, combine milk, water and 2 tablespoons butter.   Microwave in 15 second intervals until temperature reaches 120-130°.                        
4. Stir wet ingredients into dry until well incorporated, about 2 minutes.
5. Add ¼ cup flour and gruyere cheese to wet mix. Stir to incorporate.
6. Add remaining 3/4 cup flour until soft dough ball forms. Transfer to a flour dusted surface.
7. Knead dough ball for 6-8 minutes, or until springy to the touch.
8. Transfer to bowl, and cover with a towel to proof the dough. Allow bowl to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes. During this time, begin to cut twine into 8-10 inch strands, 48 will be needed.                              
9. Transfer proofed dough back to dusted surface and cut into 12 even pieces. Place 4 pieces of twine overlapping in shape of a star, and place 1 ball on the center. Bring twine up snugly around the dough ball and tie at the top. Do this for all 4 pieces of twine, trim excess. Place a tear of a sage leaf under the knots. Repeat process for remaining 11 rolls.
10. Cover with towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes in a warm place.
11. Transfer to baking tray and bake for 15 minutes. Lightly brush with melted butter and bake for additional 5-10 minutes or until golden brown on top.
12. Allow to cool, remove strings and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Trevor, ALDI Test Kitchen