Homemade Dinner Rolls Made Simple
I made these rolls last year for Thanksgiving and my entire family fell in love with them. No really, I was in charge of dinner rolls for our family dinner and I wanted to blow everyone away with homemade rolls vs store bought ones. Not that I have anything against store bought rolls, but I wanted to challenge myself to make the best dinner roll my family had ever tasted.
A few weeks before Thanksgiving I made a handful of test roll recipes and with each one I perfected them. I did this in 2020 when I taught myself how to make pizza dough at home. Making homemade dough can be intimidating, but the truth is, it is fairly simple! And homemade bread of any kind is truly the best!
I wanted these rolls to be fresh for their big Thanksgiving debut so I woke up early that day and baked six batches! I’ve nailed this recipe down and I’m FINALLY sharing it below with you. I first posted a TikTok video of me making it with the recipe steps in the caption and so many of you wanted to try it.
Just look at these! You can also watch me make these on my YouTube channel below. This recipe is a good one to save and have in your back pocket! I dare you to take over dinner rolls at your next family gathering!
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
2 tbs unsalted butter + extra to grease a large bowl and baking dish
2-3 tbs melted butter to brush onto the rolls at the end
2 tbs agave syrup (you can also use honey or white sugar instead)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup water
1 packet of instant yeast
3 + 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
dish towel
9x13 baking dish
Makes 15 Dinner Rolls
Directions
Step 1: Start by warming together; 2 tbs unsalted butter, 2 tbs agave syrup, 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup water just until the butter melts. You don’t want this mixture hot, test it by sticking your finger in the mixture. If you can comfortably keep your finger in the mixture then it is good. Think slightly over lukewarm.
Step 2: Pour the warm melted butter mixture into your stand mixer bowl and attached the dough hook. Note: If you do not have a stand mixer with a dough hook you can do this by hand. It will just take a bit longer and more muscle. If you are doing this by hand you’ll start by mixing the dough together with a wooden spoon and then use your hands to knead it.
Step 3: Sprinkle 1 packet of instant yeast into the warm melted butter mixture and give it a quick stir. Then let it sit for 5 minutes while the yeast blooms and does its thing!
Step 4: While you wait, use unsalted butter to grease a large bowl and your baking dish, Set these aside for later.
Step 5: After the yeast and butter mixture have sat for five minutes add in 3 + 3/4 cups of flour and 1 tsp salt. Mix this until a dough forms and starts pulling away from the sides of the mixing bowl. Now let the mixer knead the dough for 5 minutes.
Step 6: After the dough has been kneaded for 5 minutes (by the mixer or by hand) put it onto a floured surface and gently form it into a ball. Toss the dough ball into the greased bowl and cover with a dish towel. Let the dough sit covered for 15 minutes.
Step 7: Now, make about 15 dough balls and nestle them into the greased baking dish. I just eyeball this and try and make them all the same size. Cover the dough balls with a dish towel and let sit covered for another 15 minutes.
Step 8: Next bake the rolls at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. They should be golden brown and fluffy looking in the end.
Step 9: Brush the baked rolls with melted butter and sprinkle them with flaky sea salt!
Step 10: Enjoy them warm!