Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter

Introduction

There’s something undeniably comforting about the smell of freshly baked dinner rolls wafting through the kitchen. Soft, pillowy, golden-brown rolls fresh from the oven are the very definition of homestyle comfort food. Pair them with a pat of sweet, creamy honey butter, and you’ve got a side dish that can turn any meal into a special occasion.

Dinner rolls are a staple in many cuisines — from festive holiday dinners to simple weeknight meals — because they’re versatile, crowd-pleasing, and timeless. They’re the perfect accompaniment to soups, stews, roasted meats, and holiday spreads, or even enjoyed on their own with that irresistible honey butter.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love this recipe because it delivers bakery-quality rolls right from your home oven. The rolls are light and fluffy inside with a slightly crisp golden crust. The honey butter is what elevates them — it adds just the right balance of sweetness and creaminess, making each bite melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Another reason I adore this recipe is its simplicity and flexibility. With just a few pantry staples — flour, yeast, butter, and milk — you can make something extraordinary. The process of kneading the dough and watching it rise is therapeutic, and the payoff is huge.

Lastly, I love how these rolls are universally loved. Whether you’re serving kids, adults, or guests with picky palates, fresh dinner rolls never disappoint.

Why It’s a Must-Try Dish

This recipe is a must-try because:

• Fresh, homemade bread is so much better than store-bought.
• The rolls are soft, fluffy, and buttery.
• Honey butter makes them addictive — a little sweet, a little savory.
• They’re versatile: perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks.
• Great for beginners wanting to try baking bread.

Recipe Details

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hr 30 mins rising time)
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: About 2 hours 10 minutes
• Servings: 12 rolls
• Calories (per roll with honey butter, approx.): ~200 kcal
• Course: Side Dish / Bread
• Cuisine: American / European

Ingredients

For the Dinner Rolls:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (plus more for brushing)

For the Honey Butter:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp salt

Cooking Directions

1. Activate the Yeast:
   • In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. Make the Dough:
   • Add egg, melted butter, and salt to yeast mixture. Gradually mix in flour until dough forms.
3. Knead the Dough:
   • On a floured surface (or using a stand mixer with a dough hook), knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. First Rise:
   • Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
5. Shape the Rolls:
   • Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each into a smooth ball and place on a greased baking dish (slightly apart).
6. Second Rise:
   • Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
7. Bake:
   • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake rolls for 18–20 minutes until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter.
8. Make Honey Butter:
   • Beat softened butter, honey, and salt until smooth and fluffy.
9. Serve:
   • Enjoy warm rolls with a generous smear of honey butter.

Step-by-Step Preparation Method

1. Warm milk, sugar, and yeast → proof until foamy.
2. Mix with egg, melted butter, salt → stir in flour.
3. Knead dough until elastic.
4. Let rise 1 hour → double in size.
5. Punch down, shape into 12 rolls.
6. Let rise again 30–40 minutes.
7. Bake until golden, brush with butter.
8. Whip honey butter → serve with warm rolls.

How to Serve

• Serve rolls warm with honey butter on the side.
• Perfect for holiday meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter).
• Pair with soups, stews, or roasted meats.
• Slice leftovers for mini sandwiches or sliders.

Recipe Tips

• Make sure your milk is warm, not hot (too hot kills yeast).
• Use a kitchen scale for equal-sized rolls.
• For extra softness, brush with melted butter immediately after baking.
• To save time, prepare dough ahead and refrigerate overnight for slow rise.

Variations

1. Garlic Herb Rolls: Add minced garlic and herbs to dough, serve with garlic butter.
2. Cheesy Rolls: Mix shredded cheddar or parmesan into dough.
3. Whole Wheat Rolls: Replace half of flour with whole wheat flour.
4. Cinnamon Honey Butter: Add cinnamon to honey butter for a cozy twist.
5. Pull-Apart Rolls: Place dough balls closer together so they bake into a pull-apart loaf.

Freezing and Storage

• Room Temperature: Store rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezing Baked Rolls: Freeze cooled rolls for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat before serving.
• Freezing Dough: Freeze shaped (unbaked) rolls on a tray, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw overnight in fridge and bake fresh.
• Honey Butter: Store in fridge up to 2 weeks; bring to room temp before serving.

Special Equipment Needed

• Large mixing bowl
• Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
• Kitchen scale (for even rolls)
• 9×13 baking dish or sheet pan
• Pastry brush

Conclusion

Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter are a warm, comforting classic that everyone should master. With their soft, pillowy centers, golden crusts, and a smear of sweet honey butter, these rolls elevate any meal — from a weeknight dinner to a festive holiday feast.

They’re surprisingly simple to make, fun to customize, and always a hit at the table. Once you taste homemade rolls fresh from the oven, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought.

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Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter

Author: admin Cuisine: American Courses: Dinner

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 40 mins

Servings: 12 Calories: 200kcal

Description

There’s something undeniably comforting about the smell of freshly baked dinner rolls wafting through the kitchen. Soft, pillowy, golden-brown rolls fresh from the oven are the very definition of homestyle comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the Dinner Rolls:

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (plus more for brushing)

For the Honey Butter:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

1. Activate the Yeast: In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
2. Make the Dough: Add egg, melted butter, and salt to yeast mixture. Gradually mix in flour until dough forms.
3. Knead the Dough: On a floured surface (or using a stand mixer with a dough hook), knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
5. Shape the Rolls: Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal portions. Roll each into a smooth ball and place on a greased baking dish (slightly apart).
6. Second Rise: Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
7. Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake rolls for 18–20 minutes until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter.
8. Make Honey Butter: Beat softened butter, honey, and salt until smooth and fluffy.
9. Serve: Enjoy warm rolls with a generous smear of honey butter.

Keywords: Freshly Baked Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter