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Homemade Yeast Rolls

Two soft golden homemade yeast rolls served on a white plate with butter.
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Soft, fluffy homemade yeast rolls bake up golden and tender with buttery tops, making them an easy classic for holiday dinners and family meals.

Ingredients

Scale

1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/2 cup warm water, about 110°F

1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup whole milk, at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon kosher salt

5-6 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons melted butter, for finishing

Instructions

Stir the yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and warm water together in a small bowl. Let stand for 5–10 minutes, until foamy.

Whisk together the ½ cup melted butter, ½ cup sugar, milk, eggs, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the activated yeast mixture.

Gradually mix in 5 cups flour. Add more only as needed until a soft dough forms and releases from the bowl. Knead by hand 8–10 minutes or with a dough hook on low to medium-low 6–8 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

Place in a lightly greased bowl, turn to coat, cover, and rise in a warm place 1–1½ hours, until approximately doubled.

Gently deflate and divide into 20–24 pieces. Shape into smooth balls and arrange in a greased 9x13-inch dish or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Cover loosely and rise 30–45 minutes, until noticeably puffy. Preheat the oven to 375°F during the final portion of the rise.

Bake 15–18 minutes, until evenly golden and baked through. Immediately brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter and cool several minutes before serving.

Equipment

Notes

Substitutions

  • Instant yeast may replace active dry yeast. It does not need to be dissolved in water first and can be incorporated with the flour. Keep the warm water in the recipe so the dough maintains the proper hydration.
  • Whole milk produces the softest, richest rolls, but 2% milk will also work.
  • Unsalted butter can be substituted for salted butter. Add a small additional pinch of salt to the dough if desired.
  • For a slightly sweeter finish, stir a little honey into the butter used for brushing the baked rolls.
  • Fresh chopped garlic, rosemary, thyme, or parsley can be added to the finishing butter for savory rolls.

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

  • Serve warm alongside roast chicken, turkey, ham, pot roast, fried chicken, or meatloaf.
  • Pair with soups, chili, beef stew, or chicken and dumplings.
  • Serve as part of a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or Sunday dinner.
  • Split leftover rolls for breakfast sandwiches or use them for small ham, turkey, roast beef, or pulled pork sliders.

Storage

  • Allow rolls to cool completely before storing.
  • Keep them in an airtight container or tightly sealed bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • To refresh the rolls, warm them in a 300–325°F oven for several minutes. Cover loosely with foil if they begin browning too quickly.

Freezing

  • Freeze completely cooled rolls in a freezer-safe bag or tightly wrapped container for up to 2 months.
  • Thaw at room temperature while still wrapped to help prevent them from drying out.
  • Reheat thawed rolls in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
  • Individual rolls can also be wrapped separately before freezing for easier portioning.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://jennifercooks.com/homemade-yeast-rolls/