Fluffiest Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe You’ll Ever Try

Golden, pillowy dinner rolls have been my culinary obsession since childhood.

Grandma’s kitchen always smelled incredible when she pulled these soft beauties from the oven.

Warm bread straight from baking creates pure comfort and connection.

My version brings those nostalgic memories to life with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques.

Perfectly risen and delicately brushed with melted butter, these rolls melt in your mouth.

Soft, fluffy, and irresistible, they’ll become the star of any meal you serve.

Let’s bake something magical that brings everyone to the table.

Ingredients to Make Fluffy Dinner Rolls

• Active Dry Yeast: Crucial for making the dough rise and creating fluffy texture, choose fresh and unexpired yeast for best results.
• Warm Milk: Helps activate the yeast and provides moisture, use whole milk for richer flavor.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast and helps with browning, use regular granulated sugar.

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundation of the rolls, provides structure and texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast growth, use fine table salt.
• Egg: Adds richness and helps bind ingredients, use large room temperature egg.
• Unsalted Butter (Melted): Adds flavor and softness, ensures smooth dough consistency.

• Unsalted Butter (Melted): Used for brushing before and after baking, creates golden crust and soft exterior, ensures even browning.

Bake These Dinner Rolls Like a Pro

Step 1: Awaken the Yeast

• Warm milk
• Sugar
• Active dry yeast

Gently combine and let sit until the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly, about 5-10 minutes.

Step 2: Create Dough Magic

• Melted butter
• Egg
• Salt
• All-purpose flour

Stir until a soft, slightly sticky dough emerges.

Step 3: Develop Dough Texture

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead with strong, rhythmic motions for 8-10 minutes. The dough should transform into a smooth, elastic ball that springs back when touched.

Step 4: First Rising Adventure

Place dough in a generously greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest in a warm, draft-free spot. Wait patiently as the dough doubles in size, around 1-1.5 hours.

Step 5: Shape Rolling Delights

Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles. Divide into equal portions and roll each into a round ball. Arrange rolls in a buttered baking dish, leaving slight space between them.

Step 6: Second Rising Crescendo

Drape a kitchen towel over the rolls. Allow them to puff up and become pillowy soft, approximately 30-45 minutes.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush rolls with melted butter. Bake until tops turn a gorgeous golden brown, about 18-22 minutes.

Step 8: Final Butter Flourish

Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush with additional melted butter for an irresistibly soft crust. Serve warm and watch everyone swoon.

Smart Tips for Perfectly Soft Dinner Rolls

• Master Yeast Activation: Ensure milk is warm (110-115°F) to perfectly activate yeast without killing it – too hot will destroy the microorganisms.
• Dough Kneading Technique: Develop gluten by kneading consistently; stop when dough becomes smooth, elastic, and springs back when gently pressed.
• Rise in Warm Spot: Place dough in a draft-free, warm area like near a preheated oven to help it rise evenly and quickly.
• Butter Brush Trick: Use melted butter before and after baking to create a soft, golden-brown crust with rich flavor.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Prepare rolls ahead, freeze after shaping, and thaw overnight in refrigerator before final rise and baking.

How to Keep Dinner Rolls Fresh After Baking

• Store leftover rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping them fresh and soft.
• Wrap rolls individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for storage up to 1 month.
• Wrap rolls in foil and warm at 300°F for 10-15 minutes, restoring their just-baked texture.
• Heat rolls for 10-15 seconds, then brush with butter to prevent dryness and revive softness.

Meals That Pair Well with Dinner Rolls

• Pair these golden, fluffy dinner rolls with rich, creamy European-style butter for an indulgent spread that melts perfectly into every warm crevice.
• Select a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio to complement the rolls' buttery texture and enhance the overall dining experience.
• Match these rolls with hearty soups like creamy tomato bisque or classic French onion soup, allowing the bread to soak up delicious broth and add comforting warmth to your meal.
• Create a quick olive oil dip blended with fresh rosemary, thyme, and cracked black pepper to elevate the rolls' simple yet elegant flavor profile.

New Twists on Classic Dinner Rolls

• Whole Wheat Wonder: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nutty, hearty flavor and added fiber boost.
• Herb-Infused Rolls: Mix dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano into the dough for a fragrant, savory version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap wheat flour with a gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum to help with texture and rise.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Use plant-based milk and coconut oil instead of dairy butter to create a vegan-friendly roll that's just as soft and delicious.

Questions About Dinner Rolls? Find Answers Here

• Why do I need to activate the yeast first?

Activating the yeast ensures it’s alive and ready to help the dough rise. The warm milk and sugar create the perfect environment for yeast to become foamy and active, which is crucial for soft, fluffy rolls.

• How can I tell if I've kneaded the dough enough?

The dough should feel smooth and elastic, not sticky or rough. When you stretch a small piece, it should form a thin, translucent “windowpane” without breaking, indicating the gluten has developed properly.

• What if my dough isn't rising?

Make sure your yeast is fresh and not expired. Keep the dough in a warm, draft-free area around 80-90°F. Covering the bowl with a clean kitchen towel helps create the right environment for rising.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough, let it do the first rise, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, shape the rolls, let them do the second rise, and bake as directed.

Why These Dinner Rolls Steal the Spotlight

• Mastering soft, warm dinner rolls becomes a breeze with this foolproof recipe.
• Requiring just a few basic pantry staples like milk, flour, and butter, these rolls deliver incredible taste without complex shopping lists.
• Perfect for bonding time, this recipe takes less than 3 hours from start to finish, making it an ideal shared cooking experience that kids and adults will enjoy together.
• Complementing almost any main dish from roasted chicken to holiday feasts, these dinner rolls ensure everyone at the table will be asking for seconds.

The BEST Dinner Rolls Recipe

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4.6 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Warm, pillowy Dinner Rolls bring comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, promising golden-brown perfection with each tender bite. Homemade goodness awaits when you pull these delectable rolls fresh from the oven, ready to elevate any meal with pure, simple deliciousness.

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Ingredients

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Flour and Dry Ingredients:

• 3.75 cups (945 ml) all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup (60 ml) granulated sugar
• 2.25 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast or instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup (180 ml) warm milk (110°F / 45°C)
• 0.25 cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg

Finishing Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• Flaky sea salt (optional)

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Instructions

1. Awaken the yeast by whisking it with warm milk and sugar in a capacious mixing vessel, allowing the mixture to bloom and become frothy over 5-10 minutes.
2. Incorporate melted butter, a lightly beaten egg, and a pinch of salt into the yeast mixture, gradually folding in flour until a cohesive, supple dough emerges.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly dusted work surface and rhythmically knead for 8-10 minutes, developing gluten and creating a smooth, elastic texture that springs back when touched.
4. Nestle the dough into a generously greased bowl, drape with a clean kitchen towel, and permit it to rise in a draft-free environment until it doubles in volume, approximately 1-1.5 hours.
5. Gently deflate the risen dough, dividing it into uniform portions and rolling each segment into perfect spherical shapes with gentle palm pressure.
6. Arrange the dough balls in a buttered baking vessel, ensuring slight separation to allow expansion, and cover for a secondary proofing period of 30-45 minutes.
7. Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and delicately brush the risen rolls with melted butter before sliding them into the heated oven.
8. Bake until the rolls transform into a radiant golden-amber hue, approximately 18-22 minutes, then lavish with an additional layer of melted butter for an irresistibly tender crust.

Notes

• Activate yeast precisely by using milk at the right temperature between 105-110°F to ensure proper fermentation without killing the yeast.
• Knead dough thoroughly but gently to develop gluten structure without overworking, creating soft and tender dinner rolls with perfect texture.
• Customize rolls by adding herbs like rosemary or thyme to the dough for a flavor twist, or sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on top before baking for extra crunch.
• Make rolls gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend, ensuring you add xanthan gum for better binding and texture.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg