Fall Bread Centerpiece with Challah-Style Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 kg flour
• 2 tbsp dry yeast
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup oil
• 2¼–2½ cups warm water
• 1 tbsp salt

For brushing

• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla paste

For the centerpiece

• 1 small pumpkin, hollowed out
• Cinnamon sticks, one per roll
• Honey, dip, or melted cheese, to fill the pumpkin

Instructions

1. Mix the yeast and sugar with 1 cup warm water and let it foam.

2. Place the salt in the bottom of the bowl, add the flour, oil, yeast mixture, and remaining water. Knead until smooth, adding a little more water if needed.

3. Cover and let rise 30–40 minutes, or until doubled.

4. Punch down the dough, divide into balls, and arrange in a greased baking dish.

5. Hollow out a small pumpkin and place it in the center. Let the rolls rise again, then insert a cinnamon stick into each roll.

6. Brush with egg mixed with vanilla paste and bake at 190°C until golden.

7. After baking, fill the pumpkin with honey, dip, or melted cheese and serve.