Name: Crusty French Rolls Recipe
Prep time: 65 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups warm water ((may need 2 cups)); 2 packages active dry yeast ((about 5 teaspoons)); 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 4 cups unbleached white flour; 1 tablespoon cornmeal; 1 egg white; 1 tablespoon cold water

It takes about an hour and 20 minutes to make these Single Rise Crusty French Rolls, but they are so worth it. Hard on the outside, soft on the inside.

These single rise rolls are delicious. Spread them liberally with butter while hot, and you will be in Heaven.

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I have been looking for a good hard roll recipe for years. Hard rolls aren't readily available in the south where I'm from. I recently found this recipe (I'm not sure where), and it was amazing. It's easy to make, too! They are single rise so less time.

How To Make Single Rise Crusty Hard French Rolls

Ingredients

1 ¾ cups warm water (may need 2 cups)
2 packages active dry yeast (about 5 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups unbleached white flour
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cold water

Instructions

Dissolve the yeast and sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Make sure the water is not too hot or it will kill the yeast. Make it about the temperature of bathwater.
Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook and start mixing on low speed.
Slowly add the water/yeast mixture, then add enough additional water until the dough forms an elastic ball.
Continue mixing for 5 minutes more.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Divide it into 12 to 18 portions.
Shape each portion into a ball and place it on a greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
Let the dough balls rise (covered with a clean cloth) in a warm, draft-free area until they are doubled in size (about 45 minutes).
Brush the tops with egg white mixed with the cold water.
Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Brush the tops again with the egg white/water mixture, then bake for another 10 minutes, until golden brown.
The medium-sized rolls will take a bit longer than the small-sized ones.
Bake the medium-sized rolls at 375°F for about 10 minutes, for a total baking time of about 10 minutes.
Let the rolls cool on racks or place them in a warm bread basket to serve immediately. (Of course, the cook should always take one immediately, butter, and eat it to check the quality.)