In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle with yeast and stir to combine. Let stand 3 minutes. Stir in melted butter.

In a large bowl, combine 1-½ cups of flour and salt using a hand whisk.

Add yeast mixture to flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Turn roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 4 minutes).

Knead in remaining flour as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, kneading into a smooth ball and dough is no longer sticky.

Coat a large bowl with cooking spray or olive oil. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm place for 1 hour for the first rise, until dough has doubled in size.

Deflate dough, then cover with towel and let rest 5 minutes.

Remove dough from Divide dough into 12 equal pieces, shaping into dough balls. Place 1 dough ball in each of 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 20 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 13 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm.