HELP! can I freeze already risen bread dough?

16 years ago

I made Sol's honey rolls today (YUM!)- and went through all the steps and formed them into rolls to rise for the final hour when I took Will to his orthodontist appt.

While there we got a call begging us to meet a friend out for a quick dinner to celebrate another friend's birthday -- and we just got home.

The rolls are formed - in pans - but I would love to save them for "fresh baked" another time - can I?

My house was very cool while we were gone.

Sol's Honey Rolls

1 cup milk

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup butter [1 stick]

2 teaspoons salt

1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar*

2 pkges. dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water [110Âº-115ÂºF]

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

6 - 6 1/2 cups All Purpose flour

Heat the milk, add butter and salt. Set aside while butter melts. Stir in the honey.

In another bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let it sit until yeast is completely dissolved, about 6-7 minutes.

Combine milk mixture with yeast mixture. And stir in the beaten eggs. Beat in 4 cups flour. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft, but not sticky dough.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to coat both sides. Cover and allow dough to rise 1 hour. Punch dough down, and allow to rise another hour.

Punch down again, and shape dough into rolls. Let it rise again 45 minutes to an hour or until doubled in volume. Preheat your oven to 375ÂºF and bake rolls for 25 minutes or until a deep golden brown. For a very soft crust, brush rolls with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.

Note: You could omit the sugar from this recipe altogether. I sometimes use about a teaspoon of the honey called for in the recipe to feed the yeast instead of the sugar.

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Comments (9)

lindac
16 years ago
They will flatten if they have already risen...I would bake and freeze and plan on re heating wrapped in foil in the oven.
If they haven't risen at all, quick get them into the freezer!

Linda C
stacy3
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks, Linda.
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Cloud Swift
16 years ago
What about baking part way and then freezing (like brown and serve rolls)? I've wondered whether that can be done with some of the breads I make.
annie1992
16 years ago
Cloudswift, I've done that, just baked them for about 10 minutes, froze them, then put them back in the oven to finish for another 10 minutes or so. They were good, but not appreciably better than when I baked them completely then simply thawed and rewarmed the rolls in the pan.

Of course, that's my opinion, others may like them better (or worse).

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stacy3
Original Author
16 years ago
OK - I baked and froze.

Other question for future reference. Is there any point that they can be frozen unbaked? Seems like there must be, as you can buy frozen bread dough or frozen rolls. Maybe before that last rise? Or does it have to be before the first rise?

Sorry, I'm pretty ignorant about bread.

They were beautiful and we had to have one before bed...warm and brushed with butter.

{{gwi:1481268}}
lindac
16 years ago
You can form the rolls and freeze....but they will continue to rise as they chill down in the freezer, and when they thaw, they will have to come to room temp and continue the rise before you can bake.
Commercial frozen dough places have access to super cold flash freezers that will arrest the dough in mid rise.
As for baking partly, unless you get the centers of the roll cooked, they will fall and be mushy on the inside of the pan.
By far, the best way I have found is just what you did...bake and freeze....but it's nice to have a whole pan....and not one with a sample missing! LOL!
Linda C
stacy3
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Linda. That helps alot.
annie1992
16 years ago
Stacy, I freeze dough regularly, I let it go through the first rise, punch it down and shape it, then put it into the freezer. When I want it I take it out, let it sit on the counter to rise that second time, and bake just like I would fresh. Those Cinnabon cinnamon rolls I made for the Michigan Run worked great that way and we had fresh rolls in the morning, hot from the oven.

I have found that I can keep dough in the freezer for a couple of months, but after that the yeast seems to be compromised and it doesn't rise well (or sometimes it doesn't rise at all!)

Annie
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Gorgeous rolls Stacy...and great tips from everyone else!

HELP! can I freeze already risen bread dough?

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lindac

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HELP! can I freeze already risen bread dough?

Comments (9)

lindac

stacy3Original Author

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annie1992

stacy3Original Author

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Terri_PacNW

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stacy3
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stacy3
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