Soft Homemade Dinner Rolls (Bread Machine or By Hand)
These soft homemade dinner rolls turn out fluffy, buttery, and perfectly pull-apart every time. Includes both bread machine and hand-mixed methods for easy everyday baking, holiday dinners, and cozy family meals.
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup warm milk, (240 ml)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled (60 g)
- ¼ cup sugar, (50 g)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups plain, all-purpose flour (480 g)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast, 1 packet
- Extra melted butter for brushing, optional
INSTRUCTIONS
Bread Machine Method
- Add ingredients: Add the ingredients to the bread machine pan in this exact order: milk, egg, melted butter, sugar, salt, flour, and finally the yeast. Make sure the yeast sits on top of the flour and does not touch the liquid.1 cup warm milk, 1 large egg, ¼ cup butter, ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 cups plain, 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- Start dough cycle: Select the Dough cycle and let the machine complete the full kneading and first rise. The dough should look soft, smooth, and slightly tacky when finished.
- Divide the dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces.
- Shape the rolls: Flatten each piece slightly, pull the edges into the center, flip seam-side down, and gently roll under your palm until smooth on top. This helps create surface tension so the rolls rise taller and bake evenly.
- Arrange in pan: Place the rolls into a buttered 9x9-inch baking dish or similar-sized pan so they lightly touch each other.
- Second rise: Cover loosely and let rise for 30–45 minutes, or until the rolls look very puffy and lightly touching.
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Bake: Bake for 20–22 minutes until the tops are deeply golden brown and the rolls sound lightly hollow when tapped.
- Brush with butter: Brush the warm rolls immediately with melted butter for extra softness and shine.Extra melted butter for brushing
- Cool slightly: Let cool for 10–15 minutes before serving warm.
Non-Bread Machine Method (Hand or Stand Mixer)
- Warm the milk: Warm the milk gently until just warm to the touch, not hot.
- Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until slightly foamy on top.
- Add wet ingredients: Stir in the egg, melted butter, and salt until combined.
- Add flour: Gradually mix in the flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough: Knead by hand for 8–10 minutes, or 5–6 minutes in a stand mixer, until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky but not sticky.
- First rise: Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Divide and shape: Gently deflate the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape the rolls the same way as above by flattening slightly, pulling the edges inward, flipping seam-side down, and rolling gently under your palm.
- Arrange in pan: Place the shaped rolls into a buttered baking dish so they lightly touch.
- Second rise: Cover loosely and let rise again for 30–45 minutes until very puffy.
- Bake: Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20–22 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Brush with butter: Brush the warm rolls with melted butter immediately after baking.
- Cool slightly: Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
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NOTES
Storage
- Room temperature - Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 days.
- Freezer - Freeze fully cooled rolls for up to 2 months.
- Reheat - Warm in a 160°C (325°F) oven for 5–7 minutes until soft and warm again.
FAQs
- Can I use active dry yeast? Yes. Proof it first in the warm milk before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Can I make these ahead? Yes. Shape the rolls, refrigerate overnight, then let them come to room temperature and become puffy before baking.
- Why are my rolls dense? Usually the dough was under-kneaded, under-proofed, or too much flour was added.
- Can I double the recipe? Yes, as long as your bread machine or mixer can safely handle the dough volume.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 277mgPotassium: 186mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 254IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 0.2mg
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