Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

grandma lee's party rolls

(47 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
JoEllen Fortenberry Ford
Vallejo, CA

I thought for months about what the first recipe I would share would be. It had to be the right one to honor my mom. This was my mother's best recipe and we love it beyond description, now that we can make it as well! These rolls are soft, tender, high, and luscious. It is worth the overnight rise, as it must rise slowly to be so light. Grandma Lee would be happy to share it.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

There's only one thing difficult about this recipe... being patient enough to let them rise! It's no wonder there's a party every time these rolls make an appearance.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(47 ratings)
yield 2 -4 dozen rolls, depending on size
prep time 10 Hr
cook time 20 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For grandma lee's party rolls

  • 2 Tbsp
    active dry yeast or yeast cake
  • 1/4 c
    warm (to the wrist) water
  • 1/4 c
    shortening
  • 1-1/4 tsp
    salt
  • 2 Tbsp
    sugar
  • 1 c
    boiling water
  • 2 lg
    eggs, beaten
  • 3 c
    white all purpose flour (not bread flour)
  • melted butter, for brushing on top

How To Make grandma lee's party rolls

  • 1
    In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, put the yeast into the warm water. Add the shortening, salt, and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Pour the boiling water over these and let stand until lukewarm (not hot!). Add the yeast/water mix. Beat in the eggs. Stir in the flour gradually, using only enough to make a soft dough. It should be barely past the sticky stage to smooth. It will be very light dough! Beware of adding too much flour.
  • 2
    Place the dough in a large greased bowl. Cover with a plate. Refrigerate overnight (4 to 12 hours) until the dough triples in bulk.
  • 3
    Remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Gently punch down the dough. With buttered hands, pinch off small pieces of dough and shape them into balls. For four dozen small rolls, the balls will be about three inches. For large rolls, place about two inches apart in a greased or sprayed oblong baking pan. Semi-flatten for biscuit shape. Brush tops lightly with melted butter.
  • 4
    Let the rolls rise two hours in a warm place without drafts. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake 20 minutes, until very lightly browned on top. These rise very high and are seamless in the pan. They do not last on the table for more than an hour for a large family.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT