Pumpkin and Turkey Buns

Fun-shaped dinner rolls for Thanksgiving.

Shape the rolls and let them rise.

Remove the cooking twine from the pumpkins and serve the rolls.

Ingredients

Turkey Buns

• 100g sourdough starter

• 120g soy milk

• 75g margarine

• 50g sugar

• 120g mashed potatoes

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1 tsp salt

• 400g all-purpose flour

• Paprika, for garnish

Pumpkin Buns

• 160g (3/4 cup) pumpkin puree

• 115g (1/2 cup) sourdough starter

• 50g (1/4 cup) oil

• 50g (1/4 cup) sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 240-300g (2 - 2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour

• Cooking twine and canola oil, for shaping

Instructions

Doughs

1. Add all the bun ingredients to a large bowl or stand mixer for each dough.

2. Knead by hand or mix until a smooth dough forms. Add additional flour if the dough is too sticky.

3. Transfer the dough to a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let stand for 4 hours.

4. Let the dough rest for 4 more hours to bake on the same day. To bake the next day, refrigerate it, then allow the dough to come to room temperature before moving to the next step.

Shaping the Buns

Turkey Buns

1. Split the dough into 50g balls. Shape each ball into an oval.

2. Cut triangles out of each "corner" of the oval to yield 4 triangles and a hexagon.

3. Shape two of the triangles into the wings of the turkey by twisting the thinner ends. Attach the thicker end to the remaining dough and wind the ends together.

4. To make the legs, flip the remaining 2 triangles so that the thickest part is at the sides of the turkey, and shape the legs by tapering the bottom.

5. Repeat for all of the balls.

Pumpkin Buns

1. Cut 36 pieces of cooking twine to around 8 inches each. Soak the twine in oil.

2. Split the dough into 12 equal-sized balls.

3. Place 3 strands of cooking twine so that they cross each other in the middle.

4. Place a ball of dough on top of the crossing point and tie each piece of twine on top of the ball. Make the knot tight enough that the string stays but not so tight that it is cutting into the dough.

5. Repeat for all of the balls.

Baking

1. Cover the baking sheet with a towel and let the rolls rise for approximately 2 hours or until puffy.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Bake the buns for 15 minutes until lightly browned on top.

3. Unwrap the pumpkin rolls from the twine and serve.