If you like Texas Roadhouse rolls, these taste a lot like them.
2 c. whole milk (if you're in a pinch, you can use 2%, but whole is best. Don't use 1% or skim.)
½ c. sugar
1/3 c. butter
2 tsp. salt
2 pkgs. Active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.)
1/3 c. warm water
8-9 c. flour (I only needed 7 cups)
3 beaten eggs
Combine milk, sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts.
Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. This takes quite awhile. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until bubbly.
In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes.
Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft; it will stick to your finger when you touch it, but it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they're so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Spray a glass or metal bowl with cooking spray and scrape dough into sprayed bowl. Place in a warm place, cover with a clean towel, and allow to rise 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half. (Only do this if you want half orange rolls. Otherwise make into 24 rolls instead of just 12).
Spray a 9x13 glass pan with cooking spray. (I just used a cookie sheet and put about 24 on it) Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. A pizza cutter works great for this. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like play dough. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise.
When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Rub butter on tops of rolls.
