The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe (2024)

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The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe Ever – Light, airy, and kissed with honey! This is an easy yeast roll recipe you’ll make again and again.

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Easy Dinner Roll Recipe

Today we’re serving Honey Yeast Rolls that are light, airy, and kissed with sweetness! This is honestlyThe Best Yeast Rolls RecipeI’ve ever made. A classic you’ll come back to again and again.

People get funny when you call somethingthe best.

Here, shove a honey yeast roll in your mouth… It will make you feel less sensitive. *wink*

To clarify, I want it to be known that this is The Best Yeast Rolls RecipeI’veever made. You can choose to disagree, but you’ll need to make and test them first.

Then you’ll find it tricky to say much about anything, because your face will be packed with one yeast roll right after the other.

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Let me tell you why this is The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe…

First, each little yeast roll is kissed with honey. There is honey in the dough and a honey butter glaze over the top.

Second, to balance the light sweetness, these yeast rolls have a generous dose of sea salt to bring out the best flavor.

Third and most important, the dough is sticky, meaning it will rise and bake into delicate pillows of wheaty goodness.

Convinced?

The Best Yeast Roll Recipe is such a versatile rolls recipe. You can shape the dough any way you want and use them as a side dish, or as buns for sliders.

For sliders, I like to roll the dough into balls for a perfectly round yeast roll you can cut in half.

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What Ingredients You Will Need

  • 4 1/4 – 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter divided
  • 2/3 cup honey divided
  • 1 packet dry active yeast about 2 1/4 teaspoons
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
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How To Make Homemade Yeast Rolls

Instructions…

Pour the milk into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until it comes to a simmer to scald the milk, then immediately remove.

Add 1/4 cup butter to the milk, stirring until the butter melts. (This starts cooling the milk.) Then stir in 1/3 cup honey.

Pour the milk into the bowl of an electric mixer, and test with your finger for temperature. The milk needs to be just lukewarm before proceeding, so it doesn’t kill the yeast.

When the milk mixture is barely over room temperature, sprinkle the yeast over the top.

Swirl the bowl a couple of times, then let the yeast sit and foam for at least 10 minutes.

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Once the yeast looks foamy, add in eggs and salt.

Then place a bread hook on your stand mixer and turn it on low.

Slowly add the flour until the dough comes away from the sides into a ball, but is still sticky.

Only add 4 1/4 cups of flour, unless extra is needed to make the dough pull away from the sides.

Once the dough pulls away from the bowl, stop the mixer – Do not over-mix.

Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and allow it to rise for 1-2 hours, until it is double in size.

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Everyday and Holiday Rolls

These rolls are perfect for everyday dinners or Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. I like to make bread basket rolls for these occasions, I like to tie them in knots as you see above.

Just roll a piece of dough into a short rope, cross one end over the other, then push one end through the hole.

And for Easter, I like to make The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe into bunnies!

Simply roll the dough into ovals.

Then poke “eyes” in one end with a chopstick, and usekitchen sheersto snip ears and tail. Fold the tail down to make it round.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Long To Knead The Dough By Hand?

If kneading by hand, instead of with an electric mixer, it can take about 10 minutes for the right amount of gluten fibers to form. The dough should be tacky, but not sticky, smooth and slightly firm.

Can This Dough be Made and Frozen in Ball Form?

Yes, absolutely! Freeze them flat on a foil-lined baking sheet. Once the rolls are hard, put the balls in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months.

Is There A Reason Why You Don’t Use Bread Flour In This Recipe?

Bread flour is best for recipes where you want a strong gluten stretch… Like pizza dough or sourdough bread. However, with “delicate” baked goods and breads it’s better to use a lighter flour.

Can I Use Quick Rise Instant Yeast instead of Active Dry Yeast?

Yes, you can and it should work the same.

What Can I Use Instead Of Honey?

Maple syrup or brown rice syrup are good substitutions in this dinner rolls recipe!

Can These Be Made Ahead of Time?

You can definitely make the dough early and refrigerate or freeze it, but I would definitely bake right before serving. When making them the night before, I would shape them, brush with butter to protect the exterior, and then chill them overnight. However, you could wrap the whole dough ball with plastic and shape the rolls in the morning.

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Whether you make round rolls, knots, or bunnies, you will soon discover this roll recipe is The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe after all.

It’s one to tuck in yourkitchen journaland use for years to come!

Looking for a gluten-free variation? Try theseGluten Free Dinner Rolls.

We also love thesePotato Rolls.

Check the printable recipe card for the prep time, total time, and nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin, and calcium percentages.

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The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe Ever – Light, airy, and kissed with honey! An easy yeast roll recipe you’ll make again and again.

Servings: 32 rolls

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Pour the milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until itcomes to a simmer to scald the milk, then immediately remove. Add1/4 cup butter to the milk, stirring until the butter melts. (This starts cooling the milk.) Then stir in 1/3 cuphoney. Pour the milk into the bowl of an electric mixer, test with your finger for temperature. The milk needs to be just luke-warm before proceeding, so it doesn't kill the yeast. When the milk mixture is barely over room temperature, sprinkle the yeast over the top. Swirl the bowl a couple times, then let the yeast sit and foam for at least 10 minutes.

  • Once the yeast looks foamy, add in eggs and salt. Then place abread hook on your mixer and turn on low. Slowly add the flour until the dough comes away from the sides into a ball, but is still sticky. Only add 4 1/4 cups of flour, unless extra is needed to make the dough pull away from the sides. Once the dough pulls away from the bowl, stop the mixer – Do not over-mix. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and allow it to rise for 1-2 hours, until it is double in size.

  • Punch the dough down and cut into 32 equal pieces with a floured knife. Then gently roll into balls, or roll into short ropes and tie into knots. (Or make bunnies! See photos above.) Place the yeast rolls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart, and cover with lightly dampened tea towels or paper towels. Allow the rolls to rise a second time for 30-45 minutes.

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the remaining 1/2 cup butter and whisk with 1/3 cup honey. Once the rolls have risen the second time, remove the towels and gently brush each rollwith honey butter. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Wait five minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pc, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 120mg, Potassium: 65mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1.7mg

Course: Biscuits, Bread

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

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The Best Yeast Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes yeast rolls hard? ›

Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.

Can you use too much yeast in rolls? ›

Too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand. If you let the dough rise too long, it will start having a yeast or beer smell and taste and ultimately deflate or rise poorly in the oven and have a light crust.

Why did my yeast rolls turn out heavy? ›

The dough was under or over proofed. This is the most common reason for dense bread because it can be hard at first to determine when dough is ready to bake. But both under and over fermenting can cause dense bread.

How do I make my rolls more airy? ›

Tips for Making Fluffy Dinner Rolls
  1. Don't get the milk too hot. The optimal temperature for milk is around 100 degrees F. ...
  2. Make sure your yeast isn't old. ...
  3. Use a combination of all-purpose and bread flour. ...
  4. Mix your dough long enough. ...
  5. Don't rush the rising time. ...
  6. Don't over-bake.

How to make homemade bread less dense or more light & fluffy? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Is butter or shortening better for yeast rolls? ›

The shortening makes it easier to roll out, while the butter adds both flavor and flakiness. But shortening doesn't behave like butter in recipes. It has a different melting point and it changes the texture of things like tea bread and cookies. It also doesn't have the delicious creamy flavor of real butter.

What makes yeast bread light and fluffy? ›

Sugar: When yeast is mixed with sugar it consumes the sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas, which causes the bread dough to rise and become light and airy. Instant Yeast: Instant dry yeast can be added directly to the flour mixture without needing to be activated first.

Is milk better than water for yeast rolls? ›

Consequently, dough made with milk should come softer from the mixer than dough made with water. Other aspects of milk in yeast doughs include: Dough may be mixed more intensively. Milk yields dough with a higher pH compared to water dough, and the fermentation will be slower.

How much yeast do I need for 2 cups of flour? ›

For each cup of flour (125 g), that is 1.5 g of instant yeast, or 1/2 teaspoon. For salt, I add 2% of the flour weight or 2.5 g per cup or about 0.4 teaspoons of table salt if all else is unsalted.

How much yeast do I use for 4 cups of flour? ›

Depending on the recipe and rising time, you may use as little as 1 teaspoon, or up to 2 1/4 teaspoons (sometimes more) of instant yeast per pound (about 4 cups) of flour.

What is the best flour for bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Why do my yeast rolls taste bland? ›

Salt adds flavor to bread. If none or too little is used in a recipe, the bread will lack the right flavor and taste "bland." If you reduce the amount of salt, try adding some dried herbs to increase the flavor. Too much yeast in bread will give bread an off-taste.

What does Overproofed yeast look like? ›

Overproofed is when the dough has rested too long and the yeast has continued making carbon dioxide while the strength of the dough (gluten bonds) have begun to wear out. The dough will look very puffy, but when you touch it or move it you may notice it deflate or sag.

Why is my bread doughy and not fluffy? ›

Your Bread Doesn't Have Enough Gluten

Once these proteins become moist, they create stretchy molecules that give bread dough its elasticity. Gluten helps bread maintain its shape and produces the "crumb" (or texture). If your bread does not have enough gluten, the crumb will not come out as expected.

Why are my homemade rolls so dense? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

Why is my bread heavy not fluffy? ›

The usual reason why bread becomes too dense is due to using flour with low protein content. When your loaf is spongy and heavy, you might have also put too much flour into it or made the dough in a cooler or too warm setting.

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