Dinner Rolls

This easy dinner rolls recipe makes soft, fluffy homemade rolls fit for any holiday table. Top the baked rolls with creamy honey butter for a truly irresistible side dish!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe

There’s nothing like a warm sweet dinner roll, fresh from the oven and brushed with honey butter. Don’t be surprised if these homemade dinner rolls kickstart a new holiday tradition in your house! Here’s why they’re the best:

• Quick. This recipe uses rapid-rise yeast, which speeds up the rising time. Have these rolls ready for the oven in an hour or less.
• Soft, fluffy bread rolls. If you’re new to baking yeasted rolls from scratch, let this recipe be your guide. Bread-baking doesn’t have to be complicated. One bite of these soft dinner rolls, and you’ll be hooked.
• Sweetened with honey. A touch of honey goes a long way in this roll recipe. Honey gives the dough a hint of sweetness and chew. Paired with savory sides, it’s seriously irresistible.

What You’ll Need

Soft dinner rolls call for a richer, fattier dough than the kind needed for crusty bread (like French bread, for example). Below is what you’ll need to make the rich dough for these dinner rolls. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and instructions.

• All-Purpose Flour
• Yeast – I always have Fleischmann’s RapidRise® Yeast on hand for dinner roll recipes like this one and my Parker House rolls. Instant yeast makes the rising time so much quicker.
• Salt
• Milk – You can use whole milk (my first choice for the best texture), 2% milk, or skim milk.
• Butter – I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted if you prefer.
• Honey – The sugars in honey sweeten the dough and feed the yeast. Don’t forget to set some aside for the honey butter topping!

How to Make Dinner Rolls

I’m a firm believer that soft homemade dinner rolls shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions. With recipes as easy as this one, you’ll want to bake them all the time. Let’s get started: 

• Combine the ingredients. First, combine flour with yeast and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer. In a separate bowl, warm milk, water, butter, and honey in the microwave, then add the warmed ingredients to your flour mixture. Mix to combine.
• Form the dough. One half-cup at a time, add in the remaining flour and continue to beat until the dough forms a ball.
• Knead the dough. You can do this using your hands or the dough hook attachment on your mixer. Knead the dough for 6-8 minutes until it’s elastic and smooth. Afterward, cover the dough and leave it to rest for a few minutes.

• Divide the dough. Next, divide and shape the dough into 12 even-sized balls. Tuck these into a greased baking pan.
• Rise. Cover the dough again and leave the rolls to rise in a warm spot. After about 30 minutes, the rolls should be doubled in size.
• Bake. Bake your dinner rolls at 375ºF for 20 minutes, until browned. When they come out of the oven, brush the tops with a combination of melted butter and honey. 
• Serve! Serve your rolls warm with your favorite mains. See below for ideas.

Tips for The Best Homemade Dinner Rolls

I hope you’re inspired to give these from-scratch dinner rolls a try. If you’re new to baking with yeast, here are some final tips to keep in mind for the best results:

• Check expiration dates. Make note of the dates on the package to ensure that the yeast you’re using hasn’t expired.
• Measure the flour correctly. This is key to avoiding a dense dinner roll! Don’t scoop the flour straight from the bag. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, use the spoon and level method to measure your flour instead. 
• Don’t over-proof. Your rolls are ready for the oven once they’ve doubled in size. Be careful to not let the dough rise too much, as it can deflate.
• If you don’t have a stand mixer, no problem. You can make these rolls by hand with a bit of elbow grease. I recommend mixing the dough using a wooden spoon or spatula.
• Keep your rolls warm after baking. Move your dinner rolls to a bowl or basket and cover them with a dish towel to trap the warmth.

Easy Variations 

Feel like jazzing things up? Here are some easy add-ins that you can mix into your dough when adding the flour:

• Herb Dinner Rolls – Add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh or dried rosemary, basil, thyme, or Italian seasoning.
• Garlic Dinner Rolls – Add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the dough, and brush the tops with garlic butter.
• Cheddar Dinner Rolls – Sprinkle in grated cheddar cheese (no more than 1 cup). Any hard cheese variety will work.
• Parmesan Garlic Rolls – Borrow the garlicky parmesan and herb topping from my parmesan garlic biscuit rolls.

Serving Suggestions

Warm, oven-fresh dinner rolls are welcome at our table with any meal, any time. They’re perfect for dunking into a bowl of creamy chicken gnocchi soup or Sloppy Joe stew or serving alongside saucy short ribs with a side of green salad. These rolls also make the perfect holiday side dish next to a juicy roast turkey with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. You can even turn these rolls into sliders and serve them with turkey chili for Super Bowl Sunday. The possibilities are endless!

Proper Storage

These rolls are at their best when they’re served warm, but you can store any leftovers for up to 2 days at room temperature. Make sure that the rolls are cooled completely before storing them airtight. I always like to re-warm these rolls in the microwave or oven before serving.

Can I Freeze Homemade Dinner Rolls?

Yes! Dinner rolls are very freezer-friendly, which always comes in handy during the holidays. Once the baked rolls have cooled, place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and keep them frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost the rolls at room temperature before warming them up and serving.

More Holiday Sides

• Cranberry Focaccia Bread
• Crock Pot Corn Bread
• Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Fluffy Homemade Popovers
• Pumpkin Sage Drop Biscuits

Print