4 to 4 ¼cupsunbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
1 ½teaspoonssalt
17tablespoonsunsalted butter, softened
Instructions
Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Once oven reaches 200 degrees, maintain oven temperature for 10 minutes, then turn off heat.
In small saucepan, heat milk and sugar until mixture is lukewarm (about 100 degrees). Whisk in yeast and egg; set aside.
In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, combine 4 cups of flour and salt and mix to blend, about 15 seconds. With mixer on low speed, add liquid mixture in steady stream; mix until flour is moistened, about 1 minute. With mixer still running, slowly begin to add 8 tablespoons softened butter, 1 piece at a time, until incorporated into dough. Increase speed to medium and beat until dough is thoroughly combined and scrappy, about 2 minutes longer.
Replace paddle with dough hook and knead dough at medium speed until smooth but still sticky, about 6 minutes, adding more flour in 1-tablespoon increments, if necessary for dough to clear sides of bowl. Scrape dough out of mixing bowl and onto lightly floured work surface; knead by hand until very smooth and soft, but no longer sticky, about 1 minute. Transfer dough to very lightly oiled large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in warmed oven until dough doubles in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Once dough has doubled, press down, replace plastic wrap, and allow dough to rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter. With a pastry brush, liberally butter bottom and sides of large rimmed baking sheet with 3 tablespoons of melted butter.
After dividing dough in half, roll each half into a thick cylinder. Cut each cylinder into eight equal pieces. Round each piece by rotating your handover it while gently pressing to form a sphere.
Form each sphere into a 3-inch disk about 1⁄2-inch thick. Brush lightly with remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter and fold over so top half covers bottom half.
Lightly brush tops of rolls and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Set rolls in warm place and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
When rolls are almost fully risen, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake rolls until tops are dark golden brown, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer rolls to wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm.