Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Step 1: Pour hot milk in a mixing bowl, add butter and stir to melt.

Step 2: Add sugars, pumpkin puree, salt to the milk and combine well.

Step 3: In a small bowl proof yeast in a lukewarm water with a teaspoon sugar. Let sit about 10 min, or until foamy

Step 4: Add yeast mixture to the pumpkin mixture, and add the egg, mix well.

Step 5: Add in flour gradually and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.

Step 6: Dust wooden surface with a little flour. Turn out the dough onto wooden surface and knead 1 minute.

Step 7: Form the dough into a ball shape, place in a greased bowl and cover with a cloth.

Step 8: Let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume, about 1 hr.

Step 9: Punch the dough to deflate and knead it for a few seconds on a wooden board.

Step 10: Cut the dough in half. Cut each half into about 15 pieces.

Method 1

Step 11: Roll each piece into a ball shape with your hand. Flatten the piece with palm of your hand a little.

Step 12: Using a knife or clean scissors, make 8 small cuts around the edge (it will look a little like a flower). Be sure not to cut through the center

Step 13: Make an indentation with your finger in the center of the dough.

Step 14: Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 15: Place them, 2" apart, on a baking pan lined with parchment paper or baking mat, and let them rise again to be doubled, about 45 minutes.

Step 16: Preheat oven 350ºF for 20 minutes.

Step 17: Brush with an egg wash (optional) and bake for 10-15 minutes until the top gets slightly golden.

Step 18: Insert pecan slices on top to mimic pumpkin stem (optional).

Method 2

Step 19: Roll each piece into a ball shape with your hand

Step 20: Take a long piece of kitchen/baking string and find the halfway point. Place the half way point on top of the ball of dough and flip the whole thing over.

Step 21: Pull the two pieces of string together and cross them over to create a cross on the bottom of the ball.

Step 22: Flip it over again and do the same thing until the ball is divided into 8 equal pieces. Tie the string at the top and cut off any excess.

Step 23: Be careful to leave a little slack in the string as the dough will expand a fair bit while rising

Step 24: Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 25: Place them, 2" apart, on a baking pan lined with parchment paper or baking mat, and let them rise again to be doubled, about 45 minutes.

Step 26: Preheat oven 350ºF for 20 minutes.

Step 27: Brush with an egg wash (optional) and bake for 10-15 minutes until the top gets slightly golden.

Step 28: Insert pecan slices on top to mimic pumpkin stem (optional).