Description
These Best Homemade Dinner Rolls are irresistibly soft, fluffy, and packed with rich buttery flavor. Perfect for any meal or special occasion, this easy-to-follow recipe yields bakery-quality rolls right from your own kitchen. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, these versatile rolls can be customized to suit various tastes and diets, promising a warm, fresh, and tender bread experience every time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (plus extra for brushing)
- 1 large egg, beaten
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C), ensuring it’s warm but not hot. Stir in the sugar, then sprinkle the active dry yeast over the surface. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, softened butter, and beaten egg. Stir with a wooden spoon or dough hook until the ingredients begin to come together into a soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic, developing the gluten for a high rise and good shape.
- First rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.
- Shape the rolls: Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide it into 12 to 15 equal pieces, rolling each into a smooth ball. Arrange evenly in a greased baking dish or on a lined baking sheet with space between them.
- Second rise: Cover the rolls with a clean towel and let rise again for 30 to 45 minutes until puffed and nearly doubled.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the tops lightly with melted butter, then bake the rolls for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush again with butter while warm for a tender, shiny finish.
Notes
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour accurately for consistent results.
- Keep milk warm but not hot to protect yeast viability.
- Don’t skip kneading; gluten development is crucial for fluffy rolls.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free environment for best results.
- Brush butter on rolls before and after baking for added softness and shine.
- Leftover rolls stay fresh up to 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container.
- Freeze rolls tightly wrapped up to 3 months without losing softness.
- Reheat by warming in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes or microwaving briefly with a damp paper towel.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: dinner rolls, homemade rolls, soft bread, fluffy rolls, bakery style rolls, easy bread recipe