There’s nothing quite like warm, homemade dinner rolls fresh out of the oven. These rolls are soft, fluffy, and lightly sweetened with honey, making them perfect for any meal.
Whether you’re serving them for a holiday dinner, a cozy family meal, or just because, these rolls are easy to make and worth the effort. With a simple ingredient list and an easy-to-follow process, you’ll have perfectly golden, buttery rolls that everyone will love.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 cup (240g) water
- ½ cup (120g) milk
- 6 Tbsp (85g) butter
- 2 Tbsp (42g) honey or sugar
- 1 Tbsp (9g) instant yeast *see notes if using active dry yeast
- 2 tsp (10g) kosher salt use 1 tsp (5g) if using table salt
- 4 – 4 ½ cups (530g – 570g) bread flour or all-purpose flour
How to Make Soft Dinner Rolls
1. In a small saucepan, heat the water, milk, butter, and honey over low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture reaches about 100-110°F (38-43°C). Do not overheat.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the warm liquid mixture, yeast, and salt. Add 4 cups (530g) of flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and knead for 6-8 minutes, adding flour 1 tbsp at a time if needed, until the dough is soft, smooth, and slightly tacky. If mixing by hand, stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
4. Punch down the dough and divide it into 15 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath and rolling it on a lightly floured surface. Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, evenly spaced. Cover loosely and let rise again until puffy and nearly doubled in size (30-45 minutes).
5. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on top. Brush immediately with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! After shaping the rolls, cover and refrigerate overnight. Let them come to room temperature and rise before baking.
Can I freeze these rolls?
Yes! Freeze baked rolls in an airtight bag. Reheat in a 325°F (160°C) oven for 10 minutes.
Can I use whole wheat flour?
You can substitute up to 50% of the flour with whole wheat flour, but they may be slightly denser.
Soft Dinner Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240g) water
- ½ cup (120g) milk
- 6 Tbsp (85g) butter
- 2 Tbsp (42g) honey or sugar
- 1 Tbsp (9g) instant yeast *see notes if using active dry yeast
- 2 tsp (10g) kosher salt use 1 tsp (5g) if using table salt
- 4 – 4 ½ cups (530g – 570g) bread flour or all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat the water, milk, butter, and honey over low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture reaches about 100-110°F (38-43°C). Do not overheat.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the warm liquid mixture, yeast, and salt. Add 4 cups (530g) of flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase to medium speed and knead for 6-8 minutes, adding flour 1 tbsp at a time if needed, until the dough is soft, smooth, and slightly tacky. If mixing by hand, stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 15 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath and rolling it on a lightly floured surface. Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, evenly spaced. Cover loosely and let rise again until puffy and nearly doubled in size (~30-45 minutes).
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown on top. Brush immediately with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired.
Notes
- *If using active dry yeast: Use 1 tbsp (12g) of active dry yeast. Dissolve yeast in warm water (100-110°) with 1 tsp sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, then proceed with the recipe.
- Flour Measurement: Start with 4 cups (530g) of flour and add only if needed to avoid dense rolls. Start by adding a few tablespoons at a time until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the stand mixer.
- Warm Environment for Rising: If your kitchen is cool, place the dough in an oven with the light on to help it rise.
- Shaping Rolls: For uniform rolls, weigh each piece of dough. Take the total amount of the dough and divide by the desired number of rolls.
- Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! After shaping the rolls, cover and refrigerate overnight. Let them come to room temperature and rise before baking. - Can I freeze these rolls?
Yes! Freeze baked rolls in an airtight bag. Reheat in a 325°F (160°C) oven for 10 minutes. - Can I use whole wheat flour?
You can substitute up to 50% of the flour with whole wheat flour, but they may be slightly denser.
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