Homemade Dinner Rolls

Name: Homemade Dinner Rolls
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 165 min
Ingredients: 3 ½ cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon instant yeast; 1 cup almond milk (warm); 4 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for brushing); 1 large egg; 2 tablespoon honey

Yumna Jawad
November 14, 2020 Updated December 5, 2022

5 from 167 votes

Simple and easy to make, for non bakers, these classic homemade dinner rolls are made from scratch and come out perfectly light and fluffy!

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So easy to make, these are seriously the best homemade dinner rolls! Made from scratch with a few simple ingredients, they are slightly sweet and wonderfully soft and fluffy. They make a great addition to any meal and are great to serve up for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Ingredients to make dinner rolls

Flour: I used all purpose flour which helps to create the super fluffy texture. You can use whole wheat flour for half the amount if you’d like.
Instant yeast: Although you still need to allow time for the dough to rest and rise, using instant yeast quickens this process.
Salt: For seasoning. I used sea salt.
Milk: I used almond milk, but you can use dairy if you prefer. The milk should be slightly warm and it helps to activate the yeast.
Oil: I used olive oil, it’s a great way to add moistness to the dinner rolls. You can also use vegetable or canola.
Egg: To bind the ingredients together and add incredibly moisture.
Honey: To naturally sweeten the rolls.

Ingredients to make the recipe all laid out on white board

RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to make homemade rolls

Whisk together the flour, salt and yeast.
Combine milk, oil, egg and honey in another bowl and stir them into the dry ingredients. Cover and let rest.
Place the dough onto a floured surface.
Knead for 10 minutes.
Place in an oiled bowl and cover.
Allow to rise for about an an hour and 30 minutes.

6 image collage showing the steps to make the dough from mixing the flour to kneading dough and letting it rise

Cut the dough into 15 even pieces.

Cutting the dough into 15 equal parts on floured cutting board

Roll the dough into balls and place on a prepared baking sheet, cover and let rise.
Bake your homemade dinner rolls until golden brown and brush with olive oil as soon as they come out of the oven. It will stick on the buns and give them a golden glow.

2 image collage showing the rolls before and after baking

Tips for making rolls from scratch

Don’t skip the resting time after mixing the wet and dry ingredients together. This will make the bread easier to knead and give the flour time to absorb the liquid.
Use any kind of plant-based milk or regular whole milk will work. However, I recommend against coconut milk or rice milk. Make sure the milk is not too hot (above 115°F) or it will kill the yeast.
Use a stand mixer if you have one. You can mix and knead the dough in that with a dough hook. You may have to add an additional tbsp of flour and work the dough for up to 15 minutes to get the right consistency with a dough hook.
Pay attention to the temperature of your kitchen. It will drastically impact the rising time of your dough. When it is warmer, the dough rises faster.

Frequently asked questions

Can you freeze them?

Yes, these rolls freeze well and will keep for up to three months. Let the rolls cool completely and then wrap them individually in foil before placing in a freezer bag. Wrapping them securely like this will prevent freezer burn.

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast?

Just mix with the milk and honey to activate the yeast for 10 minutes and then add in all the other ingredients.

How do you reheat frozen dinner rolls?

Frozen dinner rolls can be thawed at room temperature, but if you need them in a hurry, you can reheat them in the oven. Loosen the foil around each roll and then place in an oven at 300F until hot to the touch and warmed all the way through.

Why are my dinner rolls hard?

There a few main reasons why your homemade dinner rolls come out of the oven hard instead of light and fluffy:
If your yeast is old or expired, the dough won’t rise. If you are in doubt, buy some new.

The dough isn’t given enough time to rise. This is essential for a light textured bread. Once the dough has proofed, poke it with your finger, if the indentation remains the dough is ready.

Don’t overcook the rolls, they should come out of the oven once they are a light golden brown.

Hand opening one dinner roll to show the texture on the inside

These fresh dinner rolls are seriously so moist, fluffy and delicious. They are perfect to enjoy warm when they come out of the oven, and can be easily reheated, stored and frozen. Make a big batch for a special dinner or just to have around and enjoy with butter!

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