Effortless Homemade Rosemary & Spelt Rolls: Your New Favorite Dinner Bread Recipe
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Baking bread at home often sounds like an intimidating task, a complex undertaking reserved for seasoned bakers. However, the truth is far from it! The joy and profound satisfaction that comes from pulling a fresh batch of homemade bread from your oven is truly unparalleled. With the right recipe, like our Rosemary & Spelt Rolls, the process is much simpler than you might anticipate, yielding incredibly rewarding results with minimal effort. Imagine the aroma filling your kitchen – a comforting scent that transforms your home into a cozy haven.
There’s a special kind of pride that comes with serving warm, soft, flavorful rolls you’ve baked yourself. It’s an accomplishment worth sharing, perhaps even a photo on Instagram to showcase your impressive baking skills! Beyond the immediate gratification, this recipe for rosemary spelt rolls is designed for consistent success. It’s not a “one-shot wonder”; rather, it has been meticulously taste-tested and refined through multiple hands to ensure a reliable and delicious outcome every single time.
Our collaborative testing process is quite unique. A recipe often originates with Libby in the Midwest, where it undergoes initial rounds of taste-testing by friends and family. Once it’s approved and perfected, it’s passed on to Amy in Oregon, who then recreates it to capture the stunning photographs you see here. This two-stage testing guarantees that the recipe is robust and adaptable, delivering a consistently delightful product, whether you’re baking in a humid climate or a drier one. We communicate constantly, discussing every detail from flour types to baking temperatures, ensuring the instructions are foolproof. Just look at these gorgeous rolls Amy made from Libby’s recipe—the golden crust, the perfect rise, and that beautiful artwork on top! They truly look wonderful.
These homemade rosemary spelt rolls are an ideal choice for busy households seeking to enjoy the benefits of fresh bread without the extensive time commitment. They are specifically crafted to be a “one-bowl, one-rise” recipe, meaning fewer dishes to wash and significantly less active preparation time. You can easily whip up the dough in the early afternoon, allowing it to complete its single rise while you attend to other tasks or simply enjoy a well-deserved break. Then, just before dinner, you shape the dough into a beautiful, rustic loaf or individual rolls, pop them into the oven, and within minutes, you’ll have warm, fragrant bread ready to grace your table. It’s a remarkably productive feeling to create something so delicious with such little labor, truly making your day happier and more fulfilling.
The Benefits of Baking with Spelt Flour
Spelt is an ancient grain, a distant cousin of modern wheat, that offers a wonderful nutty flavor and a slightly chewy texture to baked goods. Many people find spelt flour easier to digest than traditional wheat flour, making these rosemary spelt rolls a great option for those with mild sensitivities. It’s also packed with nutritional benefits, including a good source of fiber, protein, and essential minerals like iron and magnesium. Using spelt flour in these rolls not only contributes to their unique taste but also adds a wholesome element that you’ll appreciate. The combination of spelt and whole wheat white flour in this recipe creates a perfect balance, ensuring the rolls are both flavorful and light.
The Aromatic Magic of Rosemary
Rosemary is a powerhouse herb that imparts a distinct, aromatic, and slightly peppery flavor. In these spelt rolls, dried rosemary infuses the dough with its fragrant essence, creating a sophisticated taste that elevates a simple dinner roll into something truly special. The warmth of the bread combined with the earthy notes of rosemary is simply irresistible. And don’t forget the beautiful visual appeal of the rosemary sprinkled on top before baking—it adds a professional touch that will impress your guests. This herb is also known for its antioxidant properties, adding another subtle layer of goodness to your homemade bread.
Tips for Perfect Rosemary Spelt Rolls Every Time
- **Warm Water is Key:** Ensure your water is warm, not hot. Too hot will kill the yeast, and too cold won’t activate it properly. Aim for around 105-115°F (40-46°C).
- **A Warm Place for Rising:** For a good rise, place your covered bowl in a warm spot in your kitchen. This could be near a sunny window, on top of the refrigerator, or in a slightly warmed (but turned off) oven.
- **Don’t Overwork the Dough:** Spelt flour can be a bit more delicate than all-purpose flour. Handle the dough gently during shaping to keep the rolls tender. Just enough flour on your surface to prevent sticking is ideal.
- **Customize Your Toppings:** While salt, rosemary, and minced onion are fantastic, feel free to experiment with other additions like flaky sea salt, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, or other dried herbs like thyme or oregano.
- **Check for Doneness:** The hollow sound when tapped is a reliable indicator that your rolls are baked through. A beautiful golden-brown crust is also a good visual cue.
These rosemary spelt rolls are incredibly versatile. Serve them warm alongside a hearty stew, a fresh salad, or with your favorite pasta dish. They’re also perfect for a holiday meal, adding a gourmet touch without the fuss. And, of course, they are absolutely divine slathered with plenty of butter—a simple pleasure that truly highlights their exquisite flavor and soft texture. We can only imagine how much butter Amy devoured with her batch!
Rosemary & Spelt Rolls
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 1/4 tsp yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 3/4 cup spelt flour
- 1 1/4 cup whole wheat white flour
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
Toppings
- salt (flaky sea salt is excellent for added texture)
- minced, dried onion
- dried rosemary (for a stronger flavor and visual appeal)
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water (ensure it’s around 105-115°F or 40-46°C to properly activate the yeast) and yeast. Gently stir them together and let this mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast is foamy, indicating it’s active. Next, add the olive oil and salt to the activated yeast mixture. Carefully measure your spelt flour, whole wheat white flour, dried rosemary, garlic powder, and onion powder, then add all these dry ingredients to the bowl.
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Stir all the ingredients thoroughly until the flours are well combined and a shaggy dough forms. There’s no need for extensive kneading; simply ensure everything is incorporated. Loosely cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and place it in a warm, draft-free spot. Allow the dough to rise for approximately two hours, or until it has noticeably doubled in size. This single rise is where the flavor develops and the rolls gain their airy texture.
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About 20-30 minutes before the end of the rising time, preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Lightly oil a baking sheet or oven-safe pan. A cast-iron skillet works wonderfully for achieving a crisp bottom crust. Place the oiled pan into the preheating oven to get it nice and hot. This step helps create a lovely crust on the rolls when they are added to the hot pan.
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Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a clean, well-floured surface. Gently work the dough just until it picks up enough flour to be manageable and is no longer excessively sticky. Avoid overworking, as this can make the rolls tough. The goal is a soft, pliable dough that’s easy to shape.
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Divide the dough and form your rolls. For reference, I typically make 9 large, substantial rolls from this recipe. If you prefer smaller rolls, you can create more, but be sure to reduce the baking time accordingly. To form each roll, pull a handful of dough from the main ball, gently press it down, fold it into thirds, pinch the ends together to seal, and then place it smooth side up. This technique helps create a nice, even shape and texture.
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Using a sharp serrated knife or a pair of kitchen scissors, carefully cut a few shallow slits into the top of each formed roll. This not only adds a decorative touch but also allows for better expansion during baking. Immediately after scoring, sprinkle each roll generously with a mixture of salt, dried rosemary, and minced dried onions. This creates a beautiful crust and infuses even more flavor.
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Carefully remove the hot, oiled pan from the oven. Arrange your formed and topped rolls inside the hot pan, placing them so their sides are gently touching. This encourages them to rise upwards and creates soft, pull-apart sides while maintaining a crispy bottom.
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Return the pan to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 16 minutes. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven and the size of your rolls, so keep an eye on them. They are perfectly baked when they are beautifully golden brown and crusty on the outside. To confirm doneness, gently tap the bottom of a roll; it should sound hollow inside.
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Once baked to perfection, remove the rolls from the oven. Allow them to cool slightly in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, or serve them warm immediately. These rosemary spelt rolls are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, generously served with plenty of butter to enhance their rich flavor and tender crumb. Enjoy!