If you're a beginner baker, yeast rolls don't have to be intimidating. With just a few simple steps and the right ingredients, you can make delicious soft dinner rolls in no time.
Whether you're hosting a small dinner party or just enjoying a family meal, homemade dinner rolls are a great way to add some extra warmth to the table. The fresh-baked buns smell delightful and taste amazing when slathered in butter.
While it may seem intimidating at first, baking your own homemade dinner rolls is actually quite simple. With just a few ingredients and some easy-to-follow steps, you can make delicious homemade rolls with ease.
This easy yeast rolls recipe will help even the most novice baker create dinner rolls that everyone can enjoy!
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Ingredients
You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make these tender rolls. Once you give them a try, you'll want to make a double or triple batch the next time.
Here's what you'll need for the recipe:
- Dry active yeast
- Extra virgin olive oil
- All-purpose wheat flour
- Sugar
- Salt
- Egg
- Warm water
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
These step-by-step directions show you how easy the process of making light and fluffy yeast rolls is from start to finish. The dough comes together quickly and easily with minimal kneading, so anyone can master this recipe in no time at all.
Pour warm water into a small bowl and add the sugar and yeast. Quickly stir and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Combine the flour, salt, egg, olive oil, and yeast mixture. Knead with a dough hook for 5 minutes or until smooth.
At this point you should have a slightly sticky dough.
On a lightly floured surface, divide into 4 pieces.
Shape into dough balls and place into greased baking dish. Cover with a cloth and place in a warm place. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes until almost doubled in size.
Bake in a preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
Brush with melted butter.
Serve while still hot.
Once done baking, your delicious dinner rolls will be golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside - ready to be served with butter or jam!
Variations
There are many ways to vary a simple yeast rolls recipe. Here are just a few ideas:
- Experiment with different types of flour. For example, you can use whole wheat or rye flour instead of all-purpose flour for a more flavorful roll.
- Add herbs and spices to the dough for extra flavor. Try adding rosemary, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning for an herbed roll.
- Top the rolls with something before baking them. Try brushing melted honey butter on the tops of the rolls before baking them for a richer flavor and texture. You could also top them with grated cheese or chopped nuts for added crunch and flavor.
- Change up the shape of your rolls when forming them into buns. Instead of traditional round buns, try shaping them into knots or braids for a unique look and texture. Or, roll the dough out, top it with cinnamon sugar, then roll it into a log and cut it into cinnamon rolls.
Tips
When it comes to baking, yeast rolls can be intimidating for the novice cook. But with a few tips and tricks, you can make delicious rolls that are fluffy and tender. To help you master the basics of yeast roll baking, here are some helpful tips for success.
- Always use active dry yeast when making your dough. This ensures that your yeasted dough will rise properly, resulting in light and airy rolls.
- Measure the temperature of the water. To proof yeast, the liquid should be between 105 and 115°F (41-46°C).
- Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This strengthens the gluten proteins in the flour which helps give structure to your finished product.
- Allow enough time for your dough to rise properly before baking. This will ensure even cooking throughout without any raw spots or underdone centers.
- Use a dough hook. A stand mixer or hand mixer with dough hooks is the easiest way to knead the dough.
Serving suggestions
Once your homemade yeast rolls are ready, what do you serve them with? Here are some serving suggestions that will take your yeast rolls to the next level of tastiness!
Try adding sweet honey butter as a topping - it pairs wonderfully with the subtle sweetness of the roll itself. Or, if you want something savory, melted butter mixed with garlic powder and parsley flakes creates a flavorful side dish that complements most entrees.
Homemade dinner rolls are the perfect addition to any meal. Whether they’re served alongside a hearty stew, as a side to your favorite comfort food, or simply on their own, soft dinner rolls have the power to bring warmth and comfort to the table.
Storage
Make sure the rolls are completely cooled before storing them. Once cooled, place the rolls in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag. This will help keep the rolls from drying out and becoming stale.
You can also freeze leftover yeast rolls for up to 3 months. To do this, wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw at room temperature before reheating in the oven or microwave.
FAQ
If your rolls are dense and heavy, it could be because you didn't give the dough enough time to rise. Yeast needs moisture and warmth to activate, so make sure that you are using warm water or milk at 105 to 115°F (41-46°C) in your recipe. Also, ensure that you are giving the dough plenty of time to rise - at least an hour for a basic recipe.
If you're still having trouble with dense rolls, try adding more yeast or increasing the rising time. Additionally, check that you're not overworking the dough - too much kneading can make the rolls tough and dense. With these tips in mind, your yeast rolls should turn out light and fluffy!
It depends on the type of roll you're baking. If you're making a sweet, enriched dough like cinnamon rolls, then brushing the dough with butter before baking will create a softer, richer texture and flavor. If you're making a savory roll like dinner rolls or crescent rolls, then brushing with butter after baking will give them a nice glossy finish and an extra layer of flavor.
In general, it's best to brush your rolls with melted butter just before baking so that the butter melts into the dough as it bakes. This will help keep your rolls moist and flavorful. If you brush them with cold butter before baking, it can slow down the rising process and make your rolls dense.
No matter which method you use, always be sure to use unsalted butter for best results. Salted butter can make your rolls too salty if used in excess.
Related Recipes
Interested in more small-batch bread recipes? If so, you may like the following ones too.
- Buttermilk biscuits are a classic, comforting treat that can make any meal special.
- Cornbread is an incredibly versatile dish that is perfect for any occasion, including intimate dinners for two.
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Recipe
Small Batch Yeast Rolls
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons dry active yeast
- 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 3 tablespoons sifted
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 egg beaten
Instructions
- Pour warm water (temperature of 105 to 115 degrees F) into a small bowl and add the sugar and yeast. Quickly stir and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is activated and foamy.
- Grease a small square or rectangular baking dish.
- Into a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, egg, olive oil, and yeast mixture. Knead with a dough hook for about 5 minutes or until smooth.
- Divide the dough and shape it into 4 balls.
- Place balls in the prepared baking dish and cover with a cloth. Allow rising for 30 minutes until almost doubled the size in a warm place.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Brush with melted butter while still hot and serve.
Jennifer
These are fabulous rolls, and again you saved my bacon with a scaled-down recipe. I hate having so many leftovers. Great recipe! I am going to make more for sandwiches!
Gen
Fantastic recipe! I’ve been looking for something that just makes a small batch of rolls. With only 2 in the house we don’t need a whole tray full! I’ll be bookmarking this to make again - thanks!
Bella B
It was the perfect portion just for the 2 of us. I will be making these tasty homemade buns again.
Sara
First time making yeast rolls and I was so surprised by how well these came together. I had to dig through my drawers for the dough hooks for my electric mixer, but am so glad I found them because the dough came together perfectly with them. Will absolutely make this recipe again.
Shelby
I love all your tips to make these yeast rolls! It was my first time giving rolls a go and they turned out so soft!
Bobbi
hi,
just wondering...would these rolls turn out just as fluffy and tender if i used sourdough starter? if so, do you know how i would adjust this recipe? i actually havent even made my starter yet but im starting it today. i dont like keeping packaged yeast as it always goes bad on me...i just dont bake often enough...although if this recipe turns out as good as it sounds lol...that may change!!! thank you, i look forward to your reply.
Also, as another commenter stated, this is a perfect recipe for a single person, i live alone so 4 rolls at a time is perfect, if i need a larger batch that shouldnt be a problem...i really look forward to trying this recipe!!! 🙂
Bobbi
Lisa MarcAurele
You should be able to use a sourdough starter as the dough does have plenty of liquid. However, I haven't tested that myself.
Estrellita
Thank you for recipe . I will make this on my Birthday. God Bless Have a great day❤️❤️❤️