Quick and Easy Recipe For Soft Homemade Dinner Rolls

The Best Dinner Rolls Recipe

Have a special dinner coming soon where you need a quick, easy recipe for soft homemade dinner rolls? Whether for Thanksgiving dinner, Sunday dinner, or any other special occasion or holiday meal, this easy, soft roll recipe is exactly what you need.  When it comes to comfort food, nothing beats these freshly baked, buttery dinner rolls.

Why Homemade Dinner Rolls

First off homemade bread to me is the best bread you can eat, in my humble opinion. But, it’s also a plus that you know exactly what’s going into your fluffy rolls. In addition, this great recipe is simple and easy to make even for a beginner. You can for sure make grandma proud. Let’s get into the steps of how you make these awesome rolls.

Simple Ingredients you will need for these delicious rolls

• 1 cup warm milk 105-110 degrees
• 1/2 cup warm water 105-110 degrees
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or avocado oil if you want to go healthier)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of honey (or sugar)
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 5 cups of bread flour
• 2 tablespoons of instant yeast (or active dry yeast)

Tools you will need to make your fluffy dinner rolls

• bread machine 
• nonstick cooking spray
• (two) 9×13 glass baking dish (or two metal baking pans)
• silicone non-stick pastry mat
• metal dough scraper
• clean kitchen towel
• food thermometer
• basting brush
• small bowl for melting butter
• measuring cups and spoons

NOTE: If you do not have a bread machine use a stand mixer and dough hook. I will walk you through those steps after the steps for the bread machine.

​Steps For Making Rolls With A Bread Machine

• Step 1: Spray the bread machine pan and the lid with non-stick spray.
• Step 2: Add 1 cup of warm milk (105-110 degrees) to the bread machine pan. I usually warm my 1/2 cup of water from the sink because our sink gives nice hot water. But make sure your water is 105-110 degrees as well. TIP: Don’t make the milk or water too hot or it will kill the yeast.
• Step 3: Next, place 1/4 cup of oil on top of the water and milk mixture, then crack your 2 eggs and lightly beat them before putting them in the pan.
• Step 4: Add in 1/2 cup of honey or sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt
• Step 5: Finally add 5 cups of flour to your pan and make a little pond on the top so it will hold the 2 tablespoons of active dry yeast or instant yeast whichever you choose.

• Step 6: Put down the lid, place the bread machine on the dough setting, and push the start button. This will take 1.5 hours for my machine.

Second Rise

• Step 7: Spray your glass dishes or baking pans with non-stick spray.
• Step 8: When the timer goes off punch the dough down into the pan. Then, remove the bread dough and place it on your silicone mat. If you do not have a mat you will have to flour your clean counter or work surface and turn your dough out onto that. Roll the yeast dough into a log and cut it in half.

• Step 9: Cut approximately 14-16 pieces on each log. As you cut, roll your pieces up into a dough ball and place the shaped rolls in your baking dish for the second rise. Once your baking dish is full, put it on your stovetop or in a warm spot in your house to let the dough rise until doubled. It should take 1 hour if your house is warm.

• TIP: If your house is really cold it will affect the rising process of your homemade rolls. The rising time will all depend on your room temperature. You could always place your baking pan on the stovetop if the oven is on and this will help. Or place it on a heating pad. The bottom line is they need a warm place to rise.
• Step 10: Once they have risen close to the top of the baking pan, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and when the oven is ready, place the rolls in and bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. 
• Step 11: In a small bowl melt butter and brush the melted butter over the tops of the rolls with a basting brush once you have pulled them from the oven. Your soft dinner rolls are ready to serve.

​Steps For Making It With A Stand Mixer

1. TIP: If you use active dry yeast you need to proof it first. Meaning add it to your warm milk and water and allow it to activate or get “bubbly” which takes around 10-15 minutes.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add your warm water, warm milk, instant yeast, honey, sea salt, oil, eggs, and 3.5-4 cups of bread flour. With the dough hook attachment, run the mixer at a low speed until everything is mixed. Scrape the sides of the bowl if necessary.
3. Add in the remaining flour a little bit at a time, approximately 1/2 cup of flour each time. Eventually, the dough will become smooth and will start pulling away from the sides. Allow the mixer to knead the dough for 5 minutes.
4. Put the dough in a well-oiled bowl for the 1st rise. This should take around 1 -1.5 hours
5. Then follow steps 7-11 from the bread machine steps above.

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Variations And Additional Thoughts:

• Use sugar instead of honey.
• If you can’t have milk substitute the milk with water, but use the same amount.
• If you feel there is too much flour reduce it to 4.5 cups.
• If your dough is too sticky from the bread machine, use 1/4 of a cup of bread flour and knead it into the dough.
• You can roll the dough logs out in 12-14″ circles cut them into 16 triangles and make crescent rolls.

The Best Way To Eat These Dinner Rolls

• These rolls are a perfect addition to a family dinner, party, or get-together. 
• You can make them to have with a main dish or have them by themselves they are just so good!
• My kids will eat them the next day warmed up with peanut butter. YUM!! They also like to use them as slider buns for turkey lunch meat.
• You can also eat them with regular butter, cinnamon butter, or honey butter. These are the best homemade dinner rolls out there. Enjoy!!

If you want more homemade bread recipes from Mamas Front Porch Swing click here.

Leave a comment below and let me know if you enjoyed this quick, easy recipe for soft homemade dinner rolls.