The Best Homemade Dinner Rolls Ever!

These dinner rolls are soft and practically melt in your mouth. They are truly the most amazing dinner rolls ever. Just read all the rave reviews!

This recipe has been in development for over 5 years. Not joking. I have been attempting to master the dinner roll for over 5 years. I have made dozens upon dozens upon dozens of batches, slowly developing the perfect roll. I’ve had the recipe solid for about a year now and I am finally ready to share it.

Can I use this recipe to make cinnamon rolls?

Yes! I’ve made these into a fantastic cinnamon roll recipe too! Best cinnamon rolls ever!

What if I don’t have a stand mixer?

You can knead it by hand! Start out by stirring with a spoon until you can’t do it anymore and then knead it with your hands. Just keep on kneading until all the flour is incorporated and/or the dough is soft to the touch and only slightly sticky. It’s a bit of a workout, but it’s worth it!

Can this recipe be made gluten free? Can I substitute gluten free flour?

This recipe was not designed to be gluten free. Gluten free baking involves completely different chemistry. In general, you cannot substitute gluten free flour in baking recipes and expect it to work, however, several people have reported that a blend like Cup for Cup will work.

Can I use another kind of yeast besides instant dry yeast?

Yes, all yeasts will work in this recipe, it’s simply a matter of understanding how each kind of yeast works and differs. Instant dry yeast can be added straight to dry ingredients and doesn’t require any sitting or proofing. It also rises a bit quicker. Active dry yeast is a bigger size of granule and generally needs to be dissolved in a liquid before adding to a recipe. It activates a bit slower so expect 10-15 minutes extra in rise time.

Can I freeze these?

You can freeze these after you shape them into rolls. When ready to eat, remove them from the freezer and allow to thaw and rise until double in size before baking. This can take anywhere between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the temperature in your home.

Can I make these ahead and put them in the fridge?

Yes! You can make your dough, shape them into rolls, cover them and place them into the fridge up to 24 hours before you bake. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge and let sit 30 minutes before baking.

How should I measure the flour?

The flour you buy at the store these days is generally pre-sifted. There is no need to sift your flour. I prefer the scoop and sweep method as it is ultra-convenient. Simply use your measuring cup to scoop out the flour and level off the top. Weighing your flour using a kitchen scale is the only way to ensure complete accuracy. Even then, bread making is a both fickle and forgiving and the actual amount of flour you add can change just due to the humidity in the air. When making this roll recipe, it is best to go by the touch and feel of the dough.

1 cup of flour is approximately 125 grams.

What should the dough feel like?

The dough should be slightly sticky, but still very soft and pliable. It should just barely not be sticking to the bowl. If you add too much flour and the dough stiffens, your rolls will also get a little stiff. I like to say you can feel a soft roll just by touching the dough.

Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.