Description
This recipe for Dinner Rolls yields soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet rolls, perfect for any dinner table. Made with warm milk, honey, and butter, these rolls have a tender crumb and golden-brown crust. The dough is easy to work with and requires two risings to achieve the perfect texture. Finished with a honey butter glaze, these rolls are irresistible served warm.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk (110-115° F, any fat content)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast (or 1 packet; instant yeast may also be used)
- 2 tablespoons honey (can substitute sugar)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature, cut into 4 cubes)
- 3 ¼ cups (390 grams) all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
Glaze
- 2 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Combine warm milk and yeast in the stand mixer bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon honey. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foam forms on top, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix the dough: Add remaining honey, cornstarch, salt, egg, butter cubes, and 1/3 of the flour. Mix on low speed with paddle attachment. Gradually add the remaining flour while mixing for 30 seconds.
- Knead with dough hook: Switch to dough hook and knead on medium-low speed for 2 minutes. If dough is too sticky, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time until workable but still sticky (typically 5-6 tablespoons more).
- Hand kneading: Dust hands with flour and knead the dough in the bowl for 3 minutes to develop gluten fully.
- First rise: Scrape dough into a large, lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1-2 hours depending on temperature.
- Shape rolls: Punch down risen dough to release air. Divide and shape into 15 tight, smooth balls of equal size. Place them in a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Second rise: Cover rolls with plastic wrap and let rise again in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven: Heat oven to 375° F (190° C).
- Bake rolls: Bake rolls uncovered for 18 minutes.
- Glaze and finish baking: Mix melted butter and honey. Remove rolls from oven and brush tops generously with honey butter. Return to oven and bake for another 3-5 minutes, watching carefully until tops turn golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Allow rolls to cool for a few minutes, then serve warm for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Using warm milk is crucial for activating the yeast without killing it. Milk should be between 110-115°F.
- You can substitute honey with sugar if preferred.
- Do not add too much flour; the dough should remain a bit sticky for best softness.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place to ensure proper fermentation and texture development.
- Brush the rolls with honey butter while hot for a glossy, sweet finish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Reheat rolls briefly before serving to restore softness.
