Easy Soft Dinner Rolls with Garlic Butter
Pillowy soft dinner rolls brushed with garlic butter are the perfect sidekick for soups, stews and even holiday spreads!
While making your own bread might seem daunting, there are no special techniques to whip up these easy dinner rolls so they’re the perfect project for beginner bakers!
For more breads and biscuits, make sure to check out our Pampushky (Ukrainian Garlic Rolls) and Cheddar Chive Drop Biscuits.
Key ingredients
- Bread flour: The higher protein content in bread flour makes for a chewier texture. All-purpose flour can be used in the same quantity in a pinch.
- Instant yeast: Instant yeast is super convenient, just add it directly to the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. No proofing necessary!
- Whole milk: Whole milk adds richness to the dough and contributes to the soft texture.
- Butter: You’ll need unsalted butter for the dough and also for that glorious garlic butter topping.
- Fresh garlic and parsley: Minced garlic adds bold flavor to the rolls, while parsley contributes herby freshness and a nice pop of color.
Step by step photos
Step 1: Mix the dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment until smooth and elastic.
Step 2: Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover and let sit until the dough has doubled in size.
Step 3: Punch down the dough, divide into 15 portions and place in a greased pan. Cover and let sit another 30 minutes.
Step 4: Bake the buns until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, garlic and parsley. Enjoy!
Make ahead and storage
To make soft dinner rolls ahead of time, prepare the dough through the shaping step. Place in a greased pan, cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, let them rise on the counter for 1-2 hours before baking. Here are more tips on refrigerating dough before baking.
To store leftovers, skip brushing all the rolls with garlic butter right away. Plain rolls can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
If the rolls are brushed with garlic butter, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat frozen rolls, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Warm individual rolls in the microwave for 20–30 seconds, or reheat a whole pan covered in foil at 325°F until heated through.
Expert tips and tricks
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour. For the most accurate results, measure your flour with a kitchen scale. This prevents over-measuring flour, which can make the dough dense. If you don’t have a scale, lightly spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level off the excess with the back of a knife.
- Make sure your yeast isn’t expired. Expired yeast may not rise as effectively.
- Knead the dough properly. Whether you’re using a stand mixer or kneading by hand, be sure to knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This helps develop the gluten and ensures a soft, airy texture once baked.
- Give the dough enough time to rise. How long it takes dough to rise will vary. Patience is key! If your house is cold, you may need to place the dough in a warm spot. In the winter, I often turn my oven on for a minute or two, then let it cool for 5 minutes. I then let my dough rise in the turned off oven.
FAQs
Bread flour makes for chewier rolls, but all-purpose flour will also work well for this recipe. No adjustments to quantity are needed to make this switch.
Yes, you can substitute instant yeast for equal amounts of active dry yeast. If using active dry yeast, you’ll first need to dissolve it and the sugar in the warm milk. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. Once activated, mix it into your dry ingredients. Keep in mind that the dough will likely take more time to rise with active dry yeast.
It might take a bit of muscle, but you can definitely knead the dough by hand. Knead for about 10-15 minutes, or until the dough is soft and slightly tacky but doesn’t stick to your hands.
More side dish recipes
Easy Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 15
Description
Pillowy soft dinner rolls brushed with garlic butter are the perfect addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Dinner Rolls
- 3.5–4 cups (450–500 grams) bread flour*, spooned and leveled*
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 ounce (7 grams) instant yeast* (1 packet)
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, warm, plus additional for brushing
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Garlic Butter Topping
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the flour, sugar, salt and instant yeast.
- Add the warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Mix until the dough comes together, then continue mixing until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes more.
- Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Once risen, punch down the dough and divide it into 15 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and arrange them in a greased 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brush the rolls with milk and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make the topping. Melt butter and mix it with minced garlic, chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt.
- Spoon the garlic butter topping over the warm rolls as soon as they come out of the oven. Cover the dish with a kitchen towel until ready to serve to allow the flavors to soak in.
Notes
Measuring flour: I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to measure flour. If measuring by volume, use the spoon and level method to avoid over-measuring the flour. Lightly spoon flour into the measuring cup until it’s completely full. Then run the back of a knife over the cup to gently scrape off any excess.
Flour: All-purpose flour can be used in place of bread flour with no changes to the recipe. The rolls will be slightly less chewy, but still delicious!
Yeast: To substitute active dry yeast, stir the sugar into the warm milk and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes or until frothy. Then add to the dry ingredients with the butter and eggs.
Storage: For the best texture, store the baked rolls plain and brush with garlic butter before serving. They can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend storing leftover rolls with garlic butter in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Rise Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Global
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