When you think of panini, what immediately comes to mind is likely the popular grilled/pressed sandwiches stuffed with meats, cheeses and vegetables. But in reality, panini is the plural of panino, which means “little bread rolls” in Italian. I myself did not realize this until I came across a recipe in my Betty Crocker Italian Cooking for Little Bread Rolls.
AKA, Panini. I’ve made this recipe several times since Jay got me this cookbook a couple years ago, and I love it because it’s simple, easy, and compared with a lot of bread recipes, it doesn’t seem to take too long.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all the ingredients except the water. Mixing on low speed, slowly stream in the water until the dough forms. Continue kneading for about 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth without feeling sticky. Shape the dough into a ball, and place it on a lightly floured surface. Cover, and rise for an hour, or until doubled in size (the dough will be ready if you press 2 fingers into it, and the indentations remain). Grease a baking sheet and set aside. Deflate the dough, then divide into 6 equal pieces. Roll each part into a 2 1/2-inch ball, tapering the sides slightly. Dust the tops and bottoms of each roll before placing on the baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. During the second rise, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the rolls for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with butter or olive oil and dipping spices, or cool on a wire rack.
And fresh from the oven, they are divine. Crusty on the outside, warm and soft on the inside. They’re big enough that as much as I love my bread, I usually split one with the bambino. Unless a delicious red pasta sauce is a component of the main meal–Then I have a tendency to go overboard with sopping up any leftover sauce with the bread. But it’s worth slipping into a carb-coma at the end of dinner.
Italian Bread Rolls
Ingredients
Instructions
I’ve made these both in the stand mixer (which is much easier) as well as the more traditional way, but I think what I love most about this recipe is just how easy it is. There’s no rolling or patting out of the dough or making fancy shapes. If you can make a ball from a piece of bread dough, you can make these rolls. And I highly recommend that you do.
Buon appetito!
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WoW! They look like they were made in a professional bakery and I’m so jealous because I am terrible at making bread!
Thank you! :) I think these are a LOT easier to make than regular bread. And they’re SO good!
I’m a South Dakota girl who lives in Los Angeles, and I’ve followed your blog for quite some time. It’s a touch of home (the photographs of your snowy yard and commentaries about life in a small SD town take me down memory lane); but, I also look forward to checking out your recipes and beautiful photography! I’m hopeless with baking bread, but you’ve inspired me with your Italian bread rolls; I’m dying to give this recipe a whirl this weekend. Thanks, Rachel!
Thank you so much for your kind words. :) I hope you do try the rolls–Let me know how they turn out for you!
I love this! It has been forever since I have made homemade bread, but you have inspired me! Nothing like fresh baked bread!! Yum :)
OMG I miss slipping into a carb come but I do LOVE slipping into smaller jeans so I’ll keep passing on the carbs. I might make these for my family though, they look like they’d go great with any kind of pasta sauce….ok might be a little sad about missing carbs… : )
I absolutely love them with a good red sauce – They’re perfect for sopping up all the extra. Not that I’m trying to twist your arm into making them or anything. :)