Vegan Week: Soft Honey Wheat Rolls

This may be a bit of a cop out for an actual vegan recipe, but it's more to prove my point that even everyday recipes can easily be turned vegan.  Besides adding the the whole grains, this recipe uses honey (for those vegans that use honey) instead of sugar, and vegan butter (such as Earth Balance).  I was pleasantly surprised how easy these rolls were to make and how great they tasted with the whole wheat flour added in. I've mentioned before that I have an issue with yeast, but I'm determined to overcome that fear and this recipe moved me one step closer to that goal.  They rose, they were light and airy, and they tasted a great - a trifecta in the baked goods world!

Soft Honey Wheat Rolls

source:  unknown

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons honey, divided
1 pkg. (1/4 oz or 2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
2 tablespoon vegan butter, melted + additional 1 tablespoon to brush on rolls

In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose flour, 2 tablespoons honey, yeast and salt. Add water and 2 tablespoons melted butter; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes or until smooth. Add additional 1/2 cup all purpose flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes. Shape into a ball, cover dough and let rest about 10 minutes. Divide dough into 12 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Place in a greased 9-inch round baking pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake at 375 degrees for 11 - 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine 1 - tablespoon honey with 1 - tablespoons melted butter and brush on warm rolls before serving.

This concludes Vegan Week.  I hope you've gotten some ideas and if nothing else, I hope you've learned that eating a plant-based diet is not all that scary!  Just think how much your body would thank you for all those extra nutrients (:
Linking up to Keep It Real Thursday at Beyond the Peel.