PISTOLETTE ROLLS

Pistolette Rolls

Homemade Pistolette French Rolls

From the Kitchen of Deep South Dish

For the 2 Hour Sponge:

1 cup of warm water (100 to 110 degrees)

2-1/2 teaspoons of rapid-rise yeast

Pinch of granulated sugar

1-1/2 cups of bread flour*

For the Dough:

1 cup of warm water (100 to 110 degrees)

1 tablespoon of honey

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2-1/2 teaspoons of salt

4 cups of bread flour

Proof the yeast by combining with the warm water and a pinch of sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes. Put the bread flour in your mixer bowl and stir in the water and yeast mixture. Cover the entire mixer bowl with a thick towel and let sponge bubble up for 2 hours. Okay to stir down if it begins to bubble up out of the bowl.

To the sponge, add the water, honey, olive oil, salt and flour; stir to combine. Using dough hook, knead on low speed for 8 to 10 minutes until you have a good, elastic dough. Remove dough hook, spray top of dough with non-stick spray and cover entire mixer with a large, clear plastic bag and allow to rise 45 to 90 minutes or until about doubled.

Cover a baking pan with quick spritz of non stick spray and place a sheet of parchment paper in the pan. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and pull off 12 equal pieces of dough. Shape into oval rolls and place on parchment paper about an inch or so apart. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place on top of rolls to keep them from drying out and set in a draft free spot to allow to rise about 20 to 30 minutes until they puff up.

Preheat oven in the meantime to 400 degrees F. If a crusty bottom is desired, place a baking stone in the lowest part of the oven when you preheat. You may also score rolls across the top or snip with scissors for a decorative effect if desired.

Before placing the rolls in the oven, spritz them very lightly with water, place in oven and spritz inside of oven also to create a more crispy crust. For softer and shiny rolls, brush tops with melted butter or oil before baking.

Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes until rolls are brown.

Cook's Note: Do use bread flour. I accidentally grabbed the wrong canister once and use regular all purpose and while the rolls were good, they were more dense and not as light and fluffy. The right flour does make a difference!