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These homemade dinner rolls have been a favorite in our family for generations. We serve them with dinner, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner!
Featured with this recipe
- Ingredients in Homemade Dinner Rolls
- How to Make Dinner Rolls from Scratch
- Making Dinner Rolls Without a Stand Mixer
- How to Store Homemade Dinner Rolls
- Freezing Dinner Rolls
- How Thaw and Bake Frozen Dinner Rolls
- Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Dinner Rolls
- What to Eat With Homemade Rolls
- How to Make Dinner Rolls
- Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
Our mom has made these homemade dinner rolls as far back as I can remember for Sunday dinners and special occasions. They are definitely a favorite of our family and always get devoured. The texture and flavor of these rolls are perfect. They are so soft, fluffy, buttery, and go perfectly with ANY meal!
Ingredients in Homemade Dinner Rolls
- Active Dry Yeast
- Sugar
- Warm Water
- Warm Milk
- Butter
- Sea Salt
- Egg
- Flour
How to Make Dinner Rolls from Scratch
Homemade dinner rolls are SO easy to make. The hardest thing about this recipe is just having a little patience while the dough rises.
- First you combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Then in a large bowl or mixing bowl, combine scalded milk, softened butter, sugar, salt, and egg. Stir to combine and then add your yeast mixture.
- Add all-purpose flour (bread flour will work as well) a half cup of flour at a time and mix at medium speed.
- Let dough rise
- Use a bench scraper or dough knife to cut smaller pieces and form into rolls on a lightly floured surface. Grease a 9×13 baking pan and place rolls in rows and let rise again, covered with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray or a clean kitchen towel.
- Bake, butter, and serve!
Making Dinner Rolls Without a Stand Mixer
No stand mixer? No problem. After you add the flour, turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead the dough by hand until it is soft and smooth. Add a flour a little at a time as needed and continue kneading for about 10 minutes—just make sure not to add too much flour. You want the dough to be soft but not too dense or the rolls won’t be as fluffy as you would probably like.
How to Store Homemade Dinner Rolls
We have found the best way to store homemade dinner rolls is to first allow them to cool, and then place them in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze out all the air, then seal the bag tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you would like to reheat them in the microwave, then you can wrap them one at a time in a paper towel and heat for 7-8 seconds.
Freezing Dinner Rolls
If you want to save yourself some time in the future, or just want to make it easy to bake up a few rolls at a time, try freezing the rolls before baking! It’s like making your own homemade Rhode’s Rolls recipe. Here’s what to do:
- Prepare the Dough: Prepare the dough as directed in the recipe below, through step 6. Do not allow the dough to rise a second time.
- Place on a Tray: Put the shaped rolls on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper, making sure they don’t touch each other. You can put a bunch of the roll balls on to one tray, just give them a little space so they don’t accidentally stick together.
- Freeze: Place the baking sheet with the rolls into the freezer and leave them there for about 3-4 hours. This will help the rolls harden.
- Wrap for Storage: After the rolls have frozen for a few hours, remove them from the freezer and wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Make sure they are tightly wrapped to prevent air from getting in.
- Put in a Bag or Container: After wrapping each roll, you can place them all in a large freezer-safe plastic bag or airtight container. This will help keep them organized and protected in the freezer.
- Freeze: Put the bag or container in the freezer, and make sure your freezer is set at a very cold temperature to keep the rolls fresh.
How Thaw and Bake Frozen Dinner Rolls
You would make these much like you would frozen dinner rolls you buy in the store. Place them in a greased 9×13 baking dish at room temperature, cover, and allow them to thaw and rise for anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on how warm it is where they are thawing. Once they have risen, bake them as you normally would per the instructions below. Don’t forget to butter them when they come out of the oven!
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Dinner Rolls
If you follow this dinner roll recipe as outlined, you will get soft, fluffy dinner rolls every time. The best way you can tell if you are going to get soft rolls is by how the dough rises. If your dough isn’t rising well, your rolls are going to be denser.
The key is to make sure your yeast is activated in the warm water and sugar mixture before you add it to the bowl of other ingredients. Visually, it should look foamy, not like a liquid.
Always check the labels on your yeast packages or packet to make sure they aren’t expired and that you are using it within 4-6 months from the first use. Also, be sure to keep yeast refrigerated or frozen after breaking the original seal.
Absolutely! When you prepare the rolls, use COLD milk. Make them as you normally would but form them before they rise. Remove them from the mixer and knead the dough by hand on a floured surface until you can form the balls. Place them on a greased baking sheet and freeze them right away. You don’t want them to rise at all. Once frozen, place them in a plastic sealed bag and store for up to 6 months.
Add some flavor to your melted butter before spreading it on the rolls. Make honey butter or add herbs like garlic or rosemary.
What to Eat With Homemade Rolls
There are so many possibilities with these rolls! They literally go with everything. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Butter and honey – this is how we always served these growing up!
- Butter and jam (this raspberry peach freezer jam or this fresh and easy strawberry jam recipe would be great!)
- Turn them into sliders: White Castle sliders copycat, mushroom swiss roast beef sliders, or mini grilled pork loin and apple burgers
- Enjoy them as a side with dinner – they would go great with this lemon pepper chicken
- Eat with soup like loaded baked potato soup, crock pot white chicken chili, slow cooker chicken and rice soup, or Mulligatawny soup
- Add a roll to your salad plate when you make berries salad, ramen noodle salad, or cold pasta salad
How to Make Dinner Rolls
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Video
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons yeast active, dry
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 cup whole milk scalded (microwave for 1.5 min)
- 1/2 cup butter softened (you can use salted or unsalted butter)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 large egg
- 5-6 cups flour
- 2-3 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Combine yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, and warm water in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a large stand-mixer bowl with a dough hook attachment combine scalded milk, softened butter, ½ cup sugar, salt, and egg. Stir until well combined.Stir in yeast mixture.
- Add 4 cups flour, adding ½ cup flour at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, it should still be slightly sticky. You may need more flour or even a little less than the full amount- it is best to eyeball this and go by feel than exact amounts.
- Slightly oil a large mixing bowl. Place dough in bowl and turn once to lightly cover dough in oil. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or light kitchen cloth.
- Allow dough to rise for 1 hour. Punch down dough. Lightly knead on a floured surface if dough is too sticky.
- Break off sections to form into small rolls. They should be roughly the size of a ping-pong ball (or approximately 2 oz.). Pinch the bottom of the rolls (so you have a smooth, round top) and place seam-side down in a greased 9×13 glass baking dish. You should be able to get 6 rows of 4 rolls (24 rolls total) and possibly a few extra.
- Cover lightly with plastic wrap (greased so dough doesn't stick to it) or light kitchen towel and allow to rise 30-45 minutes or until rolls have at least doubled in size.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops of the rolls become light golden brown. Tip: This recipe may vary by elevation, if the middle of the rolls seem too doughy, lightly cover with foil and bake another 3-5 minutes or until centers are light and fluffy.Remove from oven and brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter. Cool slightly and serve.
Notes
- We have found the best way to store homemade dinner rolls is to first allow them to cool, and then place them in a Ziploc bag. Squeeze out all the air, then seal the bag tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- If you would like to reheat them in the microwave, then you can wrap them one at a time in a paper towel and heat for 7-8 seconds.
- No stand mixer? No problem. After you add the flour, turn the dough onto a floured work surface and knead the dough by hand until it is soft and smooth. Add a flour a little at a time as needed and continue kneading for about 10 minutes—just make sure not to add too much flour. You want the dough to be soft but not too dense or the rolls won’t be as fluffy as you would probably like.
Easy and delicious. Perfect way to make this Thanksgiving special.
These are so wonderful. Old memories come back when I eat these. Thanksgiving was a time that Grandma made these. They taste just like Grandma’s.
I make bread all the time. This recipe looks incredible
Homemade rolls do seem a little intimidating but you thought of everything to make the process easy peasy! Excellent step-by-step instructions and recommendations. I love all of your tips and suggestions and even the recipe ideas to try with your rolls. Absolutely delicious! Nothing quite as comforting as a warm, fluffy, buttered roll!
Thank you, Caryn! Happy Thanksgiving!
Look super good can’t wait to make them Thanks for the recipe
Rate 5 if it turns out – my wife has trouble making these things
These are absolutely delicious. A must for any family get together ❤
I cannot wait to try these for Thanksgiving. I could make a whole meal on good hot rolls and lots of butter. YUM!
I give these rolls five stars. So easy in preparing & absolutely delicious.
Thank you.
Love the fact I can make ahead and freeze them before baking to save time.
Nothing better than homemade rolls! These are delicious. We all love them.
Great instructions on how to make the rolls. And how to make ahead.
Thank you, Leslie!
These are the best! My family devoured them. Will be making these again. The recipe was easy to follow and came out perfect.
I’m so happy this recipe was a success for you!
It’s not Thanksgiving if we don’t have these rolls! The great thing is we can freeze them and prepare them the day of so it cuts out a lot of work on the busy holiday. We also love them with soups!
I’m definitely making these for Thanksgiving! Thanks for the great easy to follow instructions and pictures.
These dinner rolls are awesome. Great taste, texture, and so easy to make. I never buy store-bought rolls any longer. Even though I’m a senior and the only one who eats rolls, I still make my own and freeze so I can have them when I desire.
I think this is a tremendous recipe, but scalding milk always makes me just a bit nervous.
Can’t wait to try these. They sound easy enough and delicious. Thank you.
This recipe is like one that I made when I was living at home. Will have to try this and see how they compare. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes.