This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Our dinner rolls recipe delivers a soft, fluffy, impossible to resist, best-loved recipe, perfect for holidays or any occasion.
favorite homemade rolls!
Other than the Mashed Potatoes, the recipe we all look forward to most on holidays (especially Thanksgiving) is our mom’s Homemade Dinner Rolls.
No joke – all the grandkids come running for them, and we have yet to find a more yummy or delicious roll recipe than this one (and we are not exaggerating).
We love these dinner rolls especially for holidays, with other sides like Creamed Corn Recipe, Green Bean Casserole Recipe, and Roasted Brussel Sprouts – but love to make them for Sunday Dinners too.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Holiday must-have. These homemade rolls are a perfect side for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter!
- On-hand ingredients. This recipe uses pantry staples, which means they can be made any time (and my kids are grateful for that!)
- Simple. Surprisingly, this recipe is easy. We’ve made it fail-proof so even begginers can easily master this roll recipe.
Ingredients
- PREP TIME: 20 minutes
- RISE TIME: 2 hours
- BAKE TIME: 20 minutes
- 1 tablespoon rapid rise yeast – Even though we activate it in water we always use the rapid rise yeast/instant yeast for these rolls, but active dry yeast works too.
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar – this will help the yeast activate.
- ¼ cup warm water – The ideal temperature is between 105°F and 110°F.
- 1 cup warm whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4½-5 cups all-purpose flour – We use all-purpose flour but you can also use bread flour.
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- salted butter (for brushing on tops).
How to make OUr Dinner Rolls Recipe
- YEAST. In a small bowl, stir 1 tablespoon yeast with ¼ cup warm water and ½ teaspoon sugar. Let stand until bubbly.
- DOUGH. In a large bowl, mix 1 cup warm milk, ½ cup oil, ½ cup sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt with a wooden spoon.
- Add 1 cup of flour to the mixture and mix well. Add 2 eggs and mix vigorously until smooth. Add yeast mixture and continue to mix until smooth.
- Add remaining flour to the yeast mixture 1 cup at a time and continue to mix with a wooden spoon until the dough is combined. The dough should be soft and sticky.
- FIRST RISE. Pour the dough into a large bowl (oiling the sides of the bowl can help keep the dough from sticking). Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let rise for a few hours, until it has doubled in size.
- ROLL. Once the dough has doubled in size punch down, and divide in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece out into a 12-inch circle. The dough circles should be about ⅜ inch thick.
- SHAPE. Brush dough with melted butter. Cut circles with a pizza cutter into 12 pieces (like a pizza). Roll from the rounded edge to the point, to make a crescent roll. Place into a greased baking pan (we use an 11×16 metal pan and do 3 across and 8 rows down).
- SECOND RISE. Cover with a tea towel and let the dough rise, until it doubles about 1-2 hours.
- BAKE + ENJOY! Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake for 16–20 minutes, until lightly golden brown. (Touch rolls to see if they bounce back—if they do not, bake a little longer). Brush with melted salted butter while warm. Serve warm.
Serve these rolls with Homemade Strawberry Jam, Honey Butter or Cinnamon Butter.
PRO TIP: BOUNCE BACK?
Touch rolls to see if they bounce back – if they do not, bake a little longer. Brush with melted butter while warm.
Complete the Meal
Main Dishes
Desserts
More roll Recipes
More Collections
Dinner Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon rapid rise yeast
- ½ cup + ½ teaspoon sugar, divided
- ¼ cup warm water (110-115 degrees F)
- 1 cup warm milk (110-115 degrees F)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4½-5 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- salted butter, melted, for brushing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix yeast and ½ teaspoon sugar with warm water. Let stand until bubbly.
- In a large bowl, mix warm milk, oil, ½ sugar, and salt with a wooden spoon.
- Add 1 cup of flour to the mixture and mix well. Add eggs and mix vigorously until smooth. Add yeast mixture and continue to mix until smooth.
- Add remaining flour to the yeast mixture 1 cup at a time and continue to mix with a wooden spoon until the dough is combined. The dough should be soft and sticky.
- Pour the dough into a large bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, punch down and divide it in half. On a floured surface, roll each piece out into a 12-inch circle. The dough circles should be about ⅜ inch thick.
- Brush both dough circles with melted unsalted butter. Cut each circle with a pizza cutter into 12 pieces (like a pizza). Roll each piece from the rounded edge to the point to make a crescent roll.
- Place rolls on a greased baking sheet with the pointed tips down (we use an 11×16-inch metal pan and do 3 rows across and 8 rows down).
- Cover rolls with a tea towel and let rise until they have doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes, until lightly browned. (Touch rolls to see if they bounce back-if they do not, bake a little longer). Brush with melted salted butter while warm. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Use a stand mixer. You can mix this dough in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook; just be careful not to overmix the dough because it will make it tougher and not as soft.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
– Be sure the yeast isn’t expired and that it is activated properly.
– Ensure that the proofing environment is warm and moist and give it enough time.
Many yeast bread recipes must be kneaded before shaping. However, this dough doesn’t. Because of how sticky the dough is, kneading in a little flour when rolling and shaping it may be required – so it is easier to work with. However, you won’t knead it like other breads. Adding too much flour, and over kneading this recipe can result in a less fluffy, more dense dough.
Make this recipe in the Kitchen-Aid or stand mixer, with a dough hook attachment. Be careful not to over-mix the dough, because it will make it tougher, and not as soft.
There are a few ways that you can keep dinner rolls warm. My top choices are to place them in a warm crock pot and another is to use a warm bread basket.
During the first rise, the yeast emits gasses that create air bubbles and the rising dough will produce a chewy, light, and flavorful roll. However, as the dough rises the yeast slows down, thus a second rise is recommended. Punch the dough down, shape it, and give the yeast one more chance to create chewy, flavorful, and fluffy dinner rolls.
> Increase the amount of yeast used by 50%. We suggest freezing the rolls right after they are formed. Line them up on a cookie sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer Ziploc. They are best stored between 4-6 weeks but can last up to 3 months.
> To bake: Line the frozen rolls up on a baking sheet, spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray, and place it oil-side down, over the rolls. They will need several hours to thaw and rise to double in size. Remove the plastic before baking.
To maximize the shelf life of dinner rolls, place them in a freezer bag, or wrap them in foil. Store in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for 2-3 days. Baked rolls can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
I’ve been making these rolls (this recipe) for more than a year now. They are always a big hit. I made 8 dozen for Thanksgiving and froze them. I have used A-P and high-gluten flours but use only high gluten now, the difference is very noticeable. The rolls are great if formed and immediately frozen. I take them out a couple hours early to let them proof/rise to about double in size. I bake them only at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. This is a very soft , rich dough and is best mixed by hand. An electric mixer or bread maker can be used but it really doesn’t need to be worked that much. Once all 3 cups of flour are incorporated (no flour is visible) it can be put in a bowl, covered and left to rise.
I’m curious how others make the 12 triangles consistent. I found a 18″x24″ plastic at a kitchen store, made to roll out pie dough, etc. it has several concentric circles, one is 12″ in diameter. A You-tube video for dividing a circle into 12 triangles, helped me lay it out on the plastic. Using a Sharpie I made 12 dots on the circle. Now I roll out the dough, brush on the butter, and use a pizza cutter to make all 12 pieces identical. Sorry to be long-winded, but I’ve had a LOT of fun with it.
Thanks so much for sharing that!! I hope it helps some interested in making this recipe!! I’m so glad they’re a hit 🙂
Jason, did you only use a total of 3 cups of flour or are you implying that “once the additional 3 cups are incorporated,” after the first cup is stirred with the wet ingredients?
Hi, I have a question. Can I make the dough the night before and just bake in the morning? At what step do I stop and resume the next day? Thank you so much. I’d like to make these for Thanksgiving.
I personally haven’t tried, so I wish I knew for sure. If I were to freeze them, I’d probably freeze them once you have formed them into the crescent rolls, before you bake them. Hope that helps! Good luck!
Hi! I can not wait to try these! Do you use regular yeast or rapid/quick rise? I was wondering if I I need to adapt the recipe if I use rapid rise yeast? Thanks so much!
I always use the rapid/quick rise yeast. You could use what you like or what you’re used to, that’s just what I like. Hope that helps!! Thanks!
I have made these several times now, and they are AMAZING! Heavenly is the perfect description. 🙂 Thank you for a fantastic recipe!!
Yay!! Thank you so much for telling me!
Can the heavenly roll be refrigerated then last rise before baking?
I honestly haven’t done that, so I’m not sure. I make them and go from start to finish. Has anyone done that??
can you freeze the dough and bake later.
I haven’t tried, but I bet you could? Most things freeze well and bake well, so I’d love to know if you try it!
Hello, this is going to be my attempt ever at making bread just wondering what type of flour I use, is it self raising it all purpose plain flour?
Could this recipe be made using the “dough” cycle on a bread machine? I’ve had pretty good success with other bread, bun recipes with making the dough in my machine and wondering if this one would turn out good results.
I haven’t tried it using a bread machine. I know my mom does the old fashioned way-her hands:) You could give it a try in there…I’d love to know how they turn out!
Couldn’t wait to try some – so did, they turned out fantastic and can see these will be hard to leave alone!! I used yeast for bread machine plus bread machine flour. Mine takes all the “wet” ingredients first (I combined the warm milk, oil, sugar, eggs first and put in – also the salt since I’ve been told don’t let the salt and yeast “touch”!) I used 4c. flour and the yeast but skipped adding the 1st 1/4c. water with sugar, as you don’t have to dissolve the yeast when using the bread machine and this dough is wet enough without it. I use my dough cycle which is 1 1/2 hrs for my machine. The dough turned out great and easy to work with. After shaping rolls I let rise covered in my “barely warmed” oven for 1 1/2 hrs. then baked for 15 min in my oven. We love them! This dough would probably work well “shaped” for other things too…will have to experiment!
That is so great to know!! Thank you so much for sharing that information! They are very hard to resist!! Let the experimenting begin:)
can i make these with bread machine? My rolls came out hard on bottom how do i correct? Thanks
What is TB yeast?
It’s just a tablespoon of yeast:) I hope you try these and love them as much as we do!!
I already made this rolls several times and the whole family love it. Thank you.
Aren’t they the best!! Glad your family loves them, like we do!
Oh yum! thanks