Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Yeast Rolls with Honey Butter

Ingredients

1 package        Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup            Warm Water

3/4 cup            Milk, scalded

1/4 cup            Unsalted Butter, softened

1/4 cup            Sugar

1 1/2 tsp          Salt

1 egg + 1         Egg Yolk, beaten

4 cups              All Purpose Flour, divided

 

Honey Butter

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp kosher salt

 

Instructions

Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Mix together the hot milk, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm. Beat in the egg and egg yolk.  Stir the dissolved yeast into the milk mixture.

Place two cups of the flour and soft butter in a mixing bowl and using the dough hook attachment on an electric mixer, blend the butter together with the flour. Add the milk mixture and knead until smooth. Gradually add in more flour and knead until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl. Continue to knead, for 8-10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Place the dough in a large buttered mixing bowl and turn it once or twice to butter the entire surface of the dough. Cover and place in a warm place. Allow dough to rise until doubled in size. Press the dough down into the bowl to remove air bubbles. Put a little butter or shortening on your hands and divide the dough into small pieces, about 2 ounces in size. Roll into balls and place on a shallow greased baking pan with the sides touching. Cover loosely with a cloth and place the rolls in a warm place. Allow rolls to rise until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Makes 18-24 rolls

 

Honey Butter

Using and electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add in the remaining blend well. Refrigerate until needed, but allow the honey butter to come to room temperature before serving.

Recent Recipes

Potato Gratin

Potatoes are the one vegetable I could never give up. Fried, roasted, mashed, or scalloped—doesn’t matter, they’re always on the table in one form or another. This gratin is my favorite way to make them feel a little more special. It’s rich, creamy, and just decadent enough to make it feel like you’re putting in some extra effort. There’s a good bit of cheese in this recipe, but that’s exactly how it should be. The combination of sharp white Cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan gives it the perfect balance of nuttiness, creaminess, and tang. And using Yukon gold potatoes instead of russets makes a big difference. They have just the right amount of starch to get creamy without getting mushy. This dish is a showstopper on the holiday table, but I’d eat it on a random Tuesday without hesitation.

Read more

Orange Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are like Christmas morning in a bite—bright, citrusy orange paired with tart, bursting cranberries. The combination feels like something you'd find in a festive basket dropped off by a thoughtful neighbor. Perfect for Christmas gift giving or to have on hand for guests throughout the holiday.

Read more

Chocolate Christmas Cheesecake

Chef Linda Roderick has been by my side through these cookbooks for over two decades, and there’s no one I’d rather have guiding me through a cheesecake recipe. She’s a master of the craft—steady, exacting, and always aiming for perfection. This rich, decadent chocolate cheesecake is no exception. It's all about balance. The deep, smooth chocolate filling meets a crisp, slightly salty crust for a perfect bite every time. Ensure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing—otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps. And when you melt the chocolate, give it time to cool slightly before mixing it into the batter, so you don’t end up with curdled filling. It’s worth the patience, every time. A few techniques can elevate this recipe to another level: chilling the dough overnight for a richer flavor, using a water bath to ensure an ultra-smooth texture, and letting the cheesecake rest for at least 24 hours before serving for the best flavor.

Read more