Classically soft potato rolls rise high and very light. They are lightly sweet, mild in flavor, and are exactly right for any dinner. Double up -- they disappear fast.
½cupinstant potatoes flakesJust the dry flakes - don't make mashed potatoes. Make sure they're the plain kind and not the flavored kind.
Instructions
Add the yeast, sugar, and ginger to the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add ¼ cup of lukewarm water and let stand until frothy, about 5 minutes.
Add the remaining water, salt, and 1 cup of the flour and mix until blended.
Mix in the milk, potato flakes, and ¼ cup melted butter.
Add the additional flour a little at a time until the a soft dough is formed and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Knead for 5 minutes with the dough hook attachment on medium speed - or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Form the dough into a ball, grease the top with some melted butter, and place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise until dough doubles -- about 1 ½ hours.
Punch down, form into equal size rolls, and place in a pan with sides touching.
Brush with butter, cover rolls with a kitchen towel, and let rise until the rolls are puffy, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Preheat the oven to 375F.
Gently brush the rolls with butter, again.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or just until lightly golden.
Do not over bake.
Remove from the oven and brush with remaining butter.
Notes
To Make Ahead:
You can mix and knead the dough and then put the it in the fridge overnight (oil the dough and cover with plastic wrap) for the first rise
You can also let the dough rise, then shape it, then put the shaped rolls in the fridge to rise overnight. Be sure to brush with oil and cover with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.
To Freeze:
make them, let them rise, shape them, and freeze unbaked OR
bake them and freeze them... OR
bake them just until they are done but not browned and finish them the day you plan to serve them like brown and serve rolls.