Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls

These homemade soft dinner rolls are fluffy, buttery, and incredibly soft, with a tender interior and golden tops brushed with melted butter. Made with just seven simple ingredients, these rolls are perfect for Thanksgiving dinner, holiday gatherings, or serving alongside your favorite homemade meals.

They’re made completely from scratch and are well worth the time it takes for the dough to rise. Whether you’re serving them warm alongside dinner or saving a few for sandwiches the next day, these homemade dinner rolls are sure to become a favorite.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls

• Soft and fluffy: These rolls have a tender, pillowy interior with lightly golden tops.
• Made with simple ingredients: You only need seven everyday ingredients to make them from scratch.
• Perfect for any occasion: Serve them with weeknight dinners, Sunday suppers, Thanksgiving, or holiday meals.
• Great for making ahead: Prepare the dough in advance so you can have freshly baked rolls ready when you need them.
• Delicious the next day: Leftover rolls are perfect for sandwiches or simply warmed up with a little butter.

Soft Dinner Rolls Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure for the rolls while keeping the texture soft and tender.
• Whole milk: Adds richness and moisture to the dough. Warm the milk before adding it to help activate the yeast.
• Active dry yeast: Helps the dough rise and gives the rolls their light, fluffy texture.
• Granulated sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps feed the yeast.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and tenderness to the dough. Melt and allow it to cool slightly before using.
• Egg: Adds structure, richness, and helps create a soft texture.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor of the rolls.
• Melted butter: Brushed over the warm rolls after baking for a buttery finish. Particularly delicious when mixed with some honey, too!

How to Make Soft Dinner Rolls

Here’s how to make these delicious rolls:

Step 1: Make your dough

Add the warm milk, melted butter, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let sit for 5 minutes.

With the mixer on low, add the egg yolks, salt, remaining sugar, and about one-third of the flour. Mix until incorporated. Add the remaining flour and gradually increase the mixer speed to medium. Continue mixing for 3–5 minutes, or until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should feel slightly tacky but not sticky. If it feels too sticky, add a little flour, one tablespoon at a time.

Step 2: Let the dough rise.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead by hand for about a minute, just until you can form it into a ball. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2–3 hours. It should look like this:

A note about rising: This is an enriched dough, meaning it contains eggs, butter, and milk. Because of that, it takes longer to rise than a basic bread dough. I like to use my oven with the light turned on and cover the bowl with a few kitchen towels to help keep it warm.

Step 4: Shape the rolls.

Make sure to have a 9×13 pan lined with parchment paper ready to go.

Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to release the air. Transfer it to your work surface and divide into approximately 1.5-ounce portions. To shape each roll, flatten the piece of dough slightly and fold the opposite sides toward the center. Pinch the seams together, then rotate the dough in your hand as you continue pinching to form a smooth ball. Place each roll seam side down in the prepared baking dish. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, divide the dough into approximately 20 equal portions.

Step 5: Let the rolls rise again.

Cover the baking dish loosely with plastic wrap and a couple of kitchen towels. Let rise at room temperature for another 1–2 hours, or until the rolls are puffy and touching. Toward the end of the rise, preheat the oven to 375°F.

Step 6: Bake.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the tops are nicely golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush with your favorite topping, such as honey and melted butter, melted butter alone, or melted butter with chopped herbs. Serve warm.

How to Make These Dinner Rolls Ahead of Time

To prepare the rolls ahead of time, follow the recipe through shaping and the second rise. After placing the shaped rolls in the baking dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, remove the rolls from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 3 hours, or until puffy and touching. Bake as directed.

This keeps the overnight option clear and gives readers a realistic reminder that the rolls need time to come back to room temperature and finish rising.

How to Store Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls

Store leftover dinner rolls in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.

To freeze, allow the rolls to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm briefly in the oven before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my dinner roll dough taking so long to rise?

This recipe uses an enriched dough made with milk, butter, and egg yolks. These ingredients make the dough richer and heavier, so it naturally takes longer to rise than a basic bread dough. Give it enough time to double in size rather than relying strictly on the clock.

Can I make these dinner rolls ahead of time?

Yes! You can shape the rolls, arrange them in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, allow them to sit at room temperature until puffy and touching before baking.

Can I freeze homemade dinner rolls?

Absolutely. Once baked and completely cooled, store the rolls in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before reheating.

How do I know when the dinner rolls are done baking?

The tops should be golden brown, and the rolls should be baked through. If you’re unsure, you can check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer.