Homemade Buns

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
• 3 large eggs
• 8 cups all purpose flour
• (Makes about 32 buns)

Directions

1. Pour the milk into a medium sized saucepan and heat to scalding over medium heat. Do not boil.
2. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter,salt and sugar until dissolved.
3. Let sit until it is just lukewarm (110-115 degrees F)
4. Stir in the yeast.
5. Let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes until the yeast has expanded and is foamy.
6. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and beat in the eggs using a dough hook attachment on an electric mixer.
7. Mix in 5 cups of the flour, adding one cup at a time and mixing it in.
8. Add the remaining 3 cups of flour and beat in.
9. Knead a few times by hand in the bowl, then turn out onto a floured flat surface and continue kneading the dough until it feels soft and pliable. Form it into a big ball.
10. Grease the mixing bowl sides with butter and return the dough ball to the bowl.
11. Cover with plastic wrap so it does not form a hard crust while it is rising. Leave to double in size, it will take about 2 hours.
12. Punch down the dough.
13. You will need 2 baking sheets, greased with butter.
14. Divide the ball of dough in half.
15. Cut and shape 16 dinner rolls from each dough ball.
16. Place the buns onto the prepared baking sheets, (16 buns on each)
17. Cover the buns with plastic wrap and let rise again until big and puffy and doubled in size.
18. Once they have risen preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
19. Bake them one batch at a time for 15 minutes or until the buns are golden brown and done.