Homemade Dinner Rolls

5 from 164 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.

Homemade dinner rollers
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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

  1. Whisk together the flour, salt and yeast.
  2. Combine milk, oil, egg and honey in another bowl and stir them into the dry ingredients. Cover and let rest.
  3. Place the dough onto a floured surface.
  4. Knead for 10 minutes.
  5. Place in an oiled bowl and cover.
  6. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!

More bread recipes:

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Homemade Dinner Rolls recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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Homemade Dinner Rolls

Simple and easy to make, for non bakers, these classic homemade dinner rolls are made from scratch and come out perfectly light and fluffy!
5 from 164 votes
Servings 15 rolls
Course Side Dish
Calories 172
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and instant yeast. Whisk to evenly distribute everything.
  • In a small bowl, combine the milk, olive oil, egg and honey.
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry. Stir with a spoon until all of the flour is incorporated. Cover and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes.
  • Scrape dough onto a smooth, lightly floured surface. Knead for 8-10 minutes or until smooth and stretchy using a folding motion. The dough is a bit wet so constant motion will help prevent it from sticking.
  • Place dough in an oiled bowl or container. Cover with plastic wrap or a tight cover and allow to rise in a warm area until 2.5 times the size, about 90 minutes.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  • Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 15 even pieces.
  • Taking one piece at a time, fold the edges in to the center, pinch them closed, and then roll the ball in your hands. Place the dough seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pieces. Position the dough balls in a rectangle about ½” apart.
  • Cover the dough balls loosely with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
  • While dough is rising the second time, preheat oven to 375° F. Once doubled in size, uncover the dough and place in the oven on a middle rack.
  • Bake for 13-18 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and while still hot, brush with olive oil, if desired. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before enjoying.

Notes

Storage: Store the rolls in an airtight container at room temperature and they will keep well for 4 to 5 days.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
  • Instead of almond milk, any other kind of plant-based milk or regular whole milk will work. I recommend against coconut milk or rice milk.

Nutrition

Calories: 172kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 182mg, Potassium: 38mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 16IU, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Side Dish

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Delar Yumna !
    I Would love to make These dinner rolls but unfortunately the measurements are in CUPS.
    I live in Uk and have ben trynig to convert the cup to mg and ml but there are so Many variation. Andy suggestion ??
    Please advise
    Regards
    Frida

    1. Hi Frida, I am so sorry! I know it can get confusing and since I don’t bake in mg and ml I don’t give out the measurement conversions, because they are so many variations I don’t want to give out the wrong ones. Thank you for understanding!

    2. Holy moly!

      I am from the UK and followed your recipe using the cup scoops we have available here and they came out stunning.

      A firm hit and will be on repeat in my house!

      To all other brits they taste almost like iced finger buns! Yumna if you haven’t tried them like that i highly suggest it lol

  2. These rolls are so easy and so delicious! I was such a fan and very impressed with them! I made some small adjustments, active yeast instead of instant, and dairy milk instead of almond milk. Yum!

  3. This looks great, but I’m a big fan of weighing the ingredients, preferably using the metric system (grams). It is much more accurate than the rather hit and miss cups. Cup measurements actually are not the same size in all countries too!

    1. Thank you for your feedback! I would love to find a way to have both the metric and standard system on my website.

  4. When I mixed wet ingredients with the dry, it didn’t mix well, in fact, the mix only pebbled into small pebbles, not the well mixed version that I viewed ~ what went wrong?

    1. I’ve actually found that you just have to trust it will work! Trust me, I know that kneading crumbly dough is frustrating, but if you let it sit like it says and then work it, you have the BEST recipe for any occasion – I got my grandmother’s approval to make our Thanksgiving rolls!!!

  5. I didn’t have instant yeast…I did have active dry yeast, in the little envelope. I used one envelope = 2 1/2 teaspoons. I’m in the 90 first rise. I hope it rises since I used a different yeast. If it doesn’t I’ll head to the store for the correct yeast and start over.

      1. So…it appears that using the Dry Active Yeast wasn’t a problem. During the 90 minute rise I went to the store for some Instant Yeast just in case. It rose like it was supposed to and they tasted AWESOME. But…I’m worried that I might not get the respect rolls like these deserve…because the recipe is so dang easy. I know…I won’t tell anyone!!! Thank you!!! I have your website now in my favorites!!!

  6. I made these rolls tonight and I’m blown away with how perfect they came out and incredibly delicious. I’m not skilled in bread making but thanks to your you tube video it gave me the confidence to attempt this and help me understand what to do, I’m never buying bread again! (Only changes I made was using whole milk and I weighed out my flour and used 420g)

  7. Hi Yumma, ☺️

    These are absolutely amazing and so so easy to make. They raise beautifully and cook in no time. So, so delicious and fun to make with the children too 😉Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 💗

  8. Hi Yumna,

    I have followed every step of the recipe (the instant yeast bas not expires) but the dough does not rise unfortunately.

    Best wishes,

      1. Thank you for your kind reply. I tried again yesterday and it is much better and I used my stand mixer this time, I’m afraid my kneading isn’t quite on point 🙂

  9. I’m horrible at making bread. Decided to take the risk and give these a shot this thanksgiving. They were a success and the family loved them! I’m so proud and grateful to this recipe.

  10. Made these rolls for Thanksgiving I used a flaxseed egg as my granddaughter is allergic to eggs and diary. Made the pumpkin pie recipe and they both came out perfect!

  11. I seen this recipe from Facebook Reels this morning and decided to give it a shot. I don’t bake EVER! I accidentally used a tablespoon of salt instead of a teaspoon. Is it still edible, or should I just jump ship now? Help!

    1. 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.

  12. First time baking bread/buns/anything of the sort – every other recipe just struck fear into my heart, but this one seemed simple enough and was explained well – and they turned out beautifully! Didn’t have honey so I just used a teaspoon of brown sugar instead, which was perfect for our taste – I would recommend it to someone who isn’t used to bread being particularly sweet (so, South Africans, like us), because I think perhaps the honey would have made it significantly sweeter? Either way – thanks for helping me impress my new husband! I wish you could have seen his face 😀

  13. I have made SO many bread recipes in my life i can’t even guess how many…

    These are the perfect dinner rolls, they are so fluffy and easy to make, and delicious!
    Perfection!

  14. The buns look like and taste like they are made by an experienced baker though it was my first time baking a bread. Even my horrible eater toddler loves them, thank you!

  15. This is one of my favorite recipes of all time. We made it this year for Thanksgiving and since, several members of my family have asked for the link. It is SO good!

  16. I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a while, and finally made them tonight! They were a huge hit – my husband and son loved them! I thought I messed up with the initial dough and kneading (didn’t come out as smooth or stretchy as I wanted) but the rolls still turned out perfect. Will definitely be making these again!

  17. First time ever making rolls! The recipe was very easy to follow, which was very helpful as I’d never made a bread recipe before. They were a great accompaniment to Christmas dinner and very tasty! I will definitely be making this recipe again soon!

  18. I made these rolls on christmas dinner, they were so tasty and ate them with cheese also soo good😋
    Thank you for recipe!

  19. I just made these today as a test for Christmas and they are soooooo good! It is exactly what I imagined when wanting to make a homemade dinner roll. Thanks for the recipe! I will definitely be using it for Christmas day

  20. Made these dinner rolls to go with chilli…..and it was a huge HIT with my family!!! Thanks! Especially loved the soft and fluffy texture

  21. These were delish and so easy! I love to cook but not so much bake so these were perfect to make and enjoy with my family. I’ve tried several of your recipes, ps…they’re all fantastic! Thanks for your hard work helping us all cook and feel good 🤗💕

    1. Thank you Yumna for the lovely recipe I made it today and it was a success loved by everyone who tried it!!! Highly recommended 👍🏽👍🏽

  22. Made these yummy rolls last night in the air fryer!
    Crunchy on the outside, softt on the inside😋 thank you for the recipe! Very easy to make🙌

  23. This was my first time making any kind of bread but it turned out great! Mine weren’t sweet (prob need to add more honey next time) but perfectly soft and fluffy! Thanks for this simple and delicious recipe!

    1. So glad you made it and loved it! Yup, they’re not really sweet, just more of a neutral flavor but you can add more honey!

  24. Hi Yumna my kids and myself tried the dinner rolls
    And omg we are in love, such simple recipe nd amazing results
    Thank you for sharing the recipe

  25. I just made these and they turned out gorgeous! I didn’t change a thing. I was worried I messed up because the mix after kneading was still “loose” but they turned out great. I don’t bake much but these are going to be a staple from here on out. Thank you for this wonderful , easy recipe!

  26. Couldn’t fault this recipe it worked and we all enjoyed it and most importantly it was the first time I’ve made bread rolls successfully.

  27. I was honestly blown away by these! They turned out absolutely beautiful, just like the pictures. I really couldn’t believe that I made them. This was my first time ever kneading dough, and I definitely had my doubts, but this is the perfect recipe for a beginning like myself. I will definitely never be buying store bought rolls ever again! 🙂

  28. Made these rolls for Thanksgiving and they were absolutely loved by all! Recipe was easy to follow and the rolls were top quality! Will definitely be saving this recipe for future use! Thank you so much for sharing it.

  29. Thank you so much for the recipes they are so easy to follow that even my 15 year old can cook and bake👏🏼😄 (he baked these rolls🤗🤭)

  30. I’ve never cooked a day in my life before 2020, and these recipes are the only ones I’ve found online that I love and are so delicious!! The rolls turned out so perfectly for thanksgiving and were a huge hit. 10/10 would recommend and they were a huge hit with everyone from ages 2-80!

    1. Makes me so happy to give you the confidence to cook your first Thanksgiving using my recipes! Thanks for taking the time to give a review!! Means a lot to me!

  31. Hey Yumna, I’ve already made this amazing rolls twice this month! Both times doubled the recipe, it’s so simple and easy to make, not to mention how delicious! Thank you thank you I love your recipes!

  32. Thank you so much for this! I have always wanted to try baking and was scared but this actually worked and I’m confident! Your recipes are amazing

  33. These are amazing! Thanks so much for the recipe. They worked so well, they were perfect. I’m in the UK so I used white bread flour in place of all purpose flour. Taste amazing with butter or even dipped in gravy

  34. Hi! How do I alter recipe if using active fry yeast? And can I make these the day before and leave dough overnight in fridge?
    Thank you!

    1. Just mix with the milk and honey to activate the yeast for 10 minutes and then add in all the other ingredients. And you can make them the day before but it’s best to leave them out on the counter at room temperature.

  35. These turned out so amazing that I decided to make them again but used the dough as a meat pie recipe , and got to say they even went faster than the rolls. I will for sure be saving this recipe and using it over and over. I can’t wait to make these again for Thanksgiving and for sure will double the batch this time.

  36. Absolutely fantastic!!! This recipe was so easy to follow and turned out yummy, moist, and a real hit with everyone. I never need to buy dinner rolls again! Yumna’s recipes never fail me and she explains every step in great detail and adds so many tips and tricks! I made these in a round pan so I could have “pull apart” dinner rolls just for fun! Try this recipe! You’ll never need to buy dinner rolls ever again or any other recipe!

    1. Hello, you would have to active the yeast with the milk and honey first for 10 minutes until it proofs and then you can add the other ingredients and carry on with the recipe.

  37. First time making bread/rolls, and these turned out great! Took a chance at something new because the recipe made it look easy with simple ingredients. Will definitely be making again.

  38. Can i use 1/2 whole weat and half all purpose flour or what ratio should use? They look so yummy!
    My father lately starting using fir his bread recipe “bread flour” can i use it?

  39. I used 1/3 whole grain flour and cow milk! The result is so lovely! Thanks a lot 🙏❤️ So fluffy, light and yummy!

  40. They turned out delicious and soft They were a big hit and already all eaten by husband abs kids loved it thank you so much 😊

  41. They turned out so tasty! If you’ve never made bread before this would be a good recipe to try out. Happy baking!(-:

  42. This recipe is a must ! They come out so soft and fluffy. They even taste great. I Will not be buying dinner rolls at the store anymore. Love how simple and clean this recipe is and how great they come out !

  43. Awesome recipe. They turned out great. I stuffed them with a butter mixture filled with chives, shredded cheddar and garlic seasoning! Super tasty.

  44. They turned out beautifully! I am someone who really can’t bake and this was easy to do and clearly laid out! They were a big hit and already all eaten 🙈 Thank you!

  45. I made these buns after seeing your Instagram story. I didn’t even go to the recipe, just followed instructions on the story. This recipe was easy to make. The result delicious buns, fluffy soft. A winner 😀

  46. Yumna you’re the best and your recipe is resounding in mine and my Papis tummy. Thank you these dinner rolls are absolutely delicious and addictive my Papi really enjoyed them. We had some with just butter and a thin slice of cheese it was divine 😊

  47. Hi Yumna. Thank you for posting and sharing this recipe. I live in the U.K. and we don’t have be allowed like purpose flour. We only have plain flour, self raising flour or bread flour. Which one would you recommend?