Easy Yeast Rolls
Learn how surprisingly simple it is to make easy yeast rolls! These homemade yeast rolls are the perfect addition to holiday feasts like Christmas and Thanksgiving and everyday meals alike.
Suitable for vegetarian diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Mouthwatering easy yeast rolls are a fuss-free, homemade bread recipe that will instantly elevate your meals! These delightful dinner rolls are a breeze to make, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Whether you’re preparing a special holiday feast or simply craving a warm, buttery roll to complement your everyday meals, these versatile bread rolls are the perfect choice. With their fluffy texture and irresistible aroma, they’re guaranteed to become a staple at your dinner table.
The holiday season calls for delectable dishes, and what better way to impress your guests than with freshly baked, easy yeast rolls? Imagine the joy of serving these golden beauties at your Christmas or Thanksgiving feast, enticing everyone with their softness and irresistible taste.
Just like my Instant Pot Dinner Rolls and these Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls, they’ll soon become an annual holiday tradition.
Along with this delish Christmas Chicken, and easy Air Fryer Stuffing, they’ll soon become an annual holiday tradition.
But don’t reserve these bread rolls solely for special occasions! These versatile delights are equally suited for everyday meals, effortlessly turning a simple dinner into a memorable experience.
So, whether you’re celebrating or simply indulging in a cozy home-cooked meal, these homemade yeast rolls add warmth and comfort to every bite.
Why Make This Recipe
- Hot and Fresh – Homemade yeast rolls offer unparalleled freshness compared to store-bought options. There’s nothing quite like the aroma and taste of warm bread straight from the oven. And they great alongside a Green Bean Casserole Recipe, or these delicious Smothered Potatoes.
- Made with Simple Ingredients – Homemade dinner rolls require basic pantry staples like flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and butter. You can easily find these ingredients in your kitchen, eliminating the need for any specialized or hard-to-find items.
- They’re Versatile – Bread rolls are incredibly versatile. They can be served as dinner rolls for holiday feasts, as burger buns, or as a side with soups, stews, or salads. They complement many dishes, adding a delightful touch to any meal.
Ingredient Notes
- Milk – Milk adds moisture and richness to the yeast rolls, and warm milk helps activate the yeast. You can substitute warm water for milk if you prefer a dairy-free version.
- Sugar – Sugar provides food for the yeast to activate and helps add a subtle sweetness to the rolls. You can use honey or maple syrup as a natural alternative to granulated sugar.
- Yeast – Yeast is the key ingredient that helps the dough rise and gives the rolls their airy texture. It’s important to use active dry yeast or instant yeast for this recipe.
- Butter – Butter adds flavor, richness, and moisture to the yeast rolls. It also helps create a tender crumb. You can use margarine or a dairy-free butter substitute if you need a non-dairy option.
- Egg – The egg acts as a binder, providing structure and tenderness to the rolls. It also contributes to a golden color when baked.
- Salt – Salt enhances the flavor of the rolls and helps control yeast activity. It’s an essential ingredient for balancing the overall taste.
- Flour – Flour is the main ingredient that forms the structure of the yeast rolls. It provides gluten, which gives the rolls their elasticity and chewiness. Bread flour is best but all-purpose flour will work. You can also use a gluten-free flour blend if you need to make the rolls gluten-free. Keep in mind that the texture may differ slightly.
Ready to make this recipe for homemade yeast rolls? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Make Homemade Yeast Rolls
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Pour warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir in sugar and yeast, then let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
- Attach the dough hook and add softened butter, egg, salt, and ½ cup flour. Mix on medium speed until everything is well incorporated.
- Slowly add the remaining flour and continue mixing on medium speed until a soft dough forms. Increase the speed and knead for 3 more minutes until the dough is sticky but soft.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a cloth. Let rise for 1 ½ hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, shape into dinner rolls and transfer to a greased baking sheet. Leave space between the rolls to allow them to rise. Cover with a cloth and let the dough rise a second time for around 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C and bake the bread rolls for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and brush with a tablespoon of butter before serving.
Pro Tips
- Old or expired yeast may not activate. Test the yeast first or purchase a new package.
- Be sure to use warm milk to activate the yeast. The temperature should be between 105-110 degrees F / 40-43 degrees C. Use an instant read thermometer to check the temperature.
- Use bread flour for the best gluten development.
- Knead the dough well. I prefer to use a mixer which takes 3-4 minutes. If mixing by hand, you will want to knead for 8-10 minutes.
- If the dough is too sticky, you can add a bit more flour, but adding too much flour will make the rolls dense.
- Don’t skip or shorten the rise times. This is essential to getting the proper texture.
- You can roll the dough into balls or shape them into knots or even longer rolls.
- Leave space between the rolls during the second rise so they have room to rise without sticking together.
- Brush the delicious rolls with melted butter before serving. So much yum.
Delicious Variations
- Bake a Gluten Free Version – Replace the flour with a one-to-one gluten free flour. Note that the texture may change slightly.
- Make them Vegan/Vegetarian – Use water instead of milk, replace the butter with a plant-based substitute and use a flax egg as a binder.
Prep And Storage
- Prep Ahead – Plan for enough time for the dough to rise twice.
- Store – Completely cool leftover rolls and store them in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for several days, up to a week.
- Freeze – Freeze the dough after the first rise. Form the rolls, flash freeze them on a baking sheet, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. Place frozen rolls on a baking sheet and cover with a cloth. Allow to defrost and rise for 5-6 hours before baking as directed.
FAQs
The rising time for yeast rolls can vary depending on factors such as room temperature and the recipe used.
Generally, the first rise takes about 1-2 hours until the dough doubles in size. After shaping the rolls, the second rise usually takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour. It’s essential to give the dough enough time to rise until it has visibly expanded.
Yes! It’s easy to make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. After the first rise, punch down the dough, shape it into rolls, and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, remove the rolls from the refrigerator, let them come to room temperature for about 30 minutes, then allow them to complete the second rise before baking as directed in the recipe.
You can also freeze the dough balls after the first rise. Place the frozen rolls on a baking sheet and cover with a cloth. Allow the dough to defrost and rise for 4-5 hours, then bake as directed.
Several factors can prevent dough from rising properly. The most common issues include using expired yeast, using water or milk that is too hot or too cold for yeast activation, insufficient kneading, or not giving the dough enough time to rise in a warm environment.
Ensure that your yeast is fresh, follow the recommended liquid temperature in the recipe, knead the dough thoroughly, and provide enough rising time in a draft-free, warm area.
More Recipes You May Like
I got more delicious side dishes for you to check out.
- White Cheddar Mac And Cheese. Great Thanksgiving or Christmas combo.
- Easy Baked Mac and Cheese. Another family favorite
- Instant Pot No Knead Rolls. Really easy to make,
- Easy Air Fryer Flatbread. Love this with grilled foods.
- No Yeast Bread – Irish Soda Bread. A pantry staple favorite.
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls. A great festive breakfast.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer Ham. Really perfect combination.
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast with garlic butter gravy.
- Smothered Pork Chops. So easy and delish.
- White Cheddar Mac and Cheese. A family favorite.
Recommended Tools
- A really awesome stand mixer makes all the difference.
- A handy baking tray or baking dish with sides.
- Best ever sea salt flakes.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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Easy Yeast Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup (236ml) milk warm
- 2 ½ tablespoons sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons yeast
- ¼ cup (113g) butter plus 1 tablespoon for brushing the hot rolls
- 1 egg
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
- 3 cups (360g) flour bread flour
Instructions
- Pour warm milk into the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir insugar and yeast then let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
- Attach the dough hook and add softened butter, egg, salt, and ½ cup flour. Mix on medium speed until everything is well incorporated.
- Slowly add the remaining flour and continue mixing, on medium speed until a soft dough forms. Increase the speed and knead for 3 more minutes until the dough is sticky but soft.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a cloth. Let rise for 1 ½ hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape into dinner rolls and transfer to a greased baking sheet. Leave space between the rolls to allow them to rise. Cover with a cloth and let the dough rise a second time for around 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C and bake the bread rolls for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and brush with a tablespoon of butter before serving.
Video
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Notes
- Old or expired yeast may not activate. Test the yeast first or purchase a new package.
- Be sure to use warm milk to activate the yeast. The temperature should be 105-110 degrees F/ 40-43 degrees C.
- Knead the dough well. I prefer to use a mixer which takes 3-4 minutes. If mixing by hand, you will want to knead for 8-10 minutes.
- If the dough is too sticky, you can add a bit more flour, but adding too much flour will make the rolls dense.
- Don’t skip or shorten the rise times. This is essential to getting the proper texture.
- You can roll the dough into balls or shape them into knots or even longer rolls.
- Leave space between the rolls during the second rise so they have room to rise without sticking together.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container for several days, up to a week. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- There are 6 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
