Pumpkin Knot Rolls

It's that time of year for all things pumpkin.  These Pumpkin Knot Rolls would be the perfect addition to your holiday meal.  They are very soft and moist (thanks to the pumpkin).  I love the yellow-orange color of these rolls.  Perfect for Fall.  Don't let the fanciness of these rolls scare you.  They are actually very easy to make.  Just follow the step-by-step photos below if you need help.

Pumpkin Knot Rolls

2 cups warm milk

2 tablespoons active dry yeast

1/3 cup butter, room temp

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

5-1/2 to 6 cups flour

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk.  Add the butter, sugar, pumpkin, eggs, salt and 3 cups of flour.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.  Knead until smooth and elastic (6-+8 minutes).  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise until doubled.  Punch down.  Divide in half.  Shape each half into 12 balls for a total of 24.  Roll each ball into a 10-in rope.  Tie into a knot and tuck ends under.  Place on a greased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until doubled (30 minutes).  Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes.

STEP-BY-STEP

 Pour warm milk ( I warmed mine in the microwave for about 45 seconds- just check it to make sure its not too hot or cold) into a bowl.  (I'm using my Bosch to mix these).

 Dissolve yeast and sugar in the milk.

 Add the butter

1 cup pumpkin puree.

 salt 

 eggs and 3 cups of flour.  Beat until smooth.

 Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough,

Knead until smooth and elastic (about 6 minutes in a mixer, about 8 minutes if you're kneading this by hand) 

 Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.

Cover with a cloth and let rise until doubled. (about 1 hour)

 Uncover and punch down.

 Divide dough in half.  Shape each half into 12 balls (for a total of 24).

 Roll each ball into a 10 inch rope.

 Tie into a knot

 then tuck the ends under.

 Place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).  Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes.

ENJOY!