Heavenly Soft Fluffy Dinner Rolls Recipe to Amaze Your Family

Warm, golden dinner rolls with a heavenly soft homemade dinner rolls recipe have the power to turn any ordinary meal into a comforting feast.

Fresh baking aromas will drift through your kitchen, promising pure deliciousness.

These pillowy bread treasures melt in your mouth with each tender bite.

No store-bought roll can compare to the satisfaction of pulling apart a freshly baked batch.

The simple ingredients come together like magic, creating something truly special.

Perfectly browned and brushed with melted butter, these rolls will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 600 kcal

Servings: 12

The Basics Behind Tender Dinner Rolls

• Active Dry Yeast: Magical microorganism that helps dough rise and develop incredible fluffy texture, choose fresh packets with recent expiration date.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds yeast and kickstarts fermentation process, enhances golden color and subtle sweetness.
• Warm Milk: Creates perfect environment for yeast to bloom, use temperature around 110°F for optimal activation.

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundational ingredient providing structure and texture, select unbleached variety for better taste.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and tender crumb, ensure softened for easy mixing.
• Large Egg: Binds ingredients and contributes to soft, pillowy texture, room temperature works best.
• Salt: Balances flavors and controls yeast growth, enhances overall taste profile.

• Extra Unsalted Butter: Creates golden, shiny crust and adds luxurious mouthfeel, melted for brushing before and after baking.
• Optional Flaky Sea Salt: Sprinkle on top for gourmet touch and enhanced flavor complexity.

How to Serve Dinner Rolls at Any Table

• Bread Basket Bliss: Create a rustic wooden basket lined with a checkered cloth, nestling the warm rolls for a charming farmhouse presentation.
• Dip and Spread Station: Arrange small ramekins filled with garlic herb butter, honey, and olive oil for guests to customize their roll experience with delightful flavor combinations.
• Dinner Party Companion: Pair these rolls perfectly with roasted chicken, hearty stews, or creamy pasta dishes to complement the main course and elevate the entire meal's enjoyment.
• Side Dish Transformation: Slice rolls in half and use them as mini sandwich bases for leftover meats or create delicious sliders with fresh ingredients for a next-day lunch treat.

Keeping Rolls Fresh for Next Time

• Keep dinner rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, maintaining their soft texture.
• Wrap rolls tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes before serving.
• Freeze baked rolls in a sealed freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm in the oven for best results.
• Prepare dough in advance and refrigerate overnight before the second rise. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking to allow natural warming and optimal rising.

Tools to Make Soft Dinner Rolls at Home

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining and mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for perfect roll texture.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing dough ingredients.
• Kitchen towel or plastic wrap: Covers dough during rising periods.
• Baking dish or sheet pan: Provides surface for shaping and baking rolls.
• Pastry brush: Used for applying melted butter before and after baking.
• Clean work surface: Needed for kneading dough with a light flour dusting.
• Oven: Bakes rolls to golden brown perfection.

How to Shape and Bake Fluffy Dinner Rolls

• Wake Up the Yeast

Get your kitchen buddy (yeast) bubbling by mixing warm milk, a touch of sugar, and yeast in a cozy bowl. Let it hang out for a few minutes until it gets frothy and excited.

• Create the Dough Magic

Stir in melted butter, a cracked egg, a pinch of salt, and flour. Mix until you’ve got a soft, cuddly dough that’s ready to transform.

• Massage the Dough

Spread some flour on your counter and give the dough some love. Knead it gently for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and stretchy like a yoga master.

• First Dough Nap

Tuck your dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a soft towel, and let it relax and grow for an hour or so until it doubles in size.

• Roll and Shape

Gently deflate the puffy dough and divide it into cute little balls. Nestle them close together in a buttered baking dish.

• Final Dough Rest

Cover the rolls and let them puff up again for about 40 minutes until they look plump and happy.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Crank up the oven to 375°F. Brush the rolls with melted butter and bake until they turn a gorgeous golden brown.

• Serve with Love

Pull them out and give them another butter massage for an ultra-soft, irresistible finish.

Extra Touches to Make Rolls Stand Out

• Expert Roll-Making Secrets
• Use milk between 110-115°F to activate yeast without killing it. Cold milk slows fermentation, while hot milk destroys yeast enzymes.
• Stretch and fold dough instead of aggressive punching. This develops gluten structure for softer, more tender rolls with better texture.
• Cover rising dough with damp kitchen towel to prevent surface from drying out. This ensures even rising and prevents crusty exterior.
• Replace wheat flour with gluten-free blend containing xanthan gum. Add extra egg for binding and moisture retention in alternative version.
• Prepare dough night before, refrigerate for slow fermentation. Remove from fridge 1 hour before baking to reach room temperature and complete rising process.

Fluffy Dinner Rolls Recipe

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4.5 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Pillowy golden Dinner Rolls emerge as a comforting companion to any meal, promising warm bakery-style indulgence straight from your kitchen. Buttery, light, and irresistibly tender, you’ll savor each delectable bite of these homemade rolls that elevate simple gatherings into memorable culinary moments.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 ¾ cups (470 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 ¼ tsp (7 g or 1 packet) active dry yeast or instant yeast
• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup (180 ml) warm milk (110F / 45C)
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) melted butter
• Flaky sea salt (optional)

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Merge warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a bowl, allowing the mixture to bloom and become frothy for 5–10 minutes.
2. Dough Preparation: Incorporate melted butter, egg, salt, and flour into the yeast mixture, blending until a cohesive, soft dough emerges.
3. Dough Development: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 8–10 minutes, creating a smooth, elastic texture that springs back when touched.
4. Primary Fermentation: Nestle the dough in a greased bowl, drape with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest in a warm environment for 1–1.5 hours until it doubles in volume.
5. Roll Shaping and Proofing: Deflate the dough, portion into uniform rounds, and arrange in a buttered baking vessel. Allow a second rise for 30–45 minutes until the rolls become puffy and slightly expanded.
6. Baking Process: Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Gently brush the rolls with melted butter and bake for 18–22 minutes, achieving a golden-brown exterior with a tender crumb.
7. Finishing Touch: After removing from the oven, lavish the rolls with an additional layer of melted butter to enhance their softness and create a glossy sheen.

Notes

• Ensure yeast is active and not expired by observing foam formation during activation; fresh yeast creates a bubbly, frothy surface.
• Use warm milk (110-115°F) to activate yeast perfectly; too hot kills yeast, too cold prevents proper activation.
• Develop gluten by kneading consistently until dough becomes smooth and stretchy; proper kneading ensures soft, fluffy rolls.
• Allow rolls to rise in a warm, draft-free area; cover with a damp cloth to maintain moisture and prevent dough from drying out.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 21 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg