Elevate Your Holiday Meals with These Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls

Are you looking to take your holiday meals to the next level? Look no further than these delectable homemade dinner rolls. With their soft, fluffy texture and irresistible aroma, these rolls will surely be the star of your holiday table.

The best part? This recipe is surprisingly easy to make, even for novice bakers. With just a few simple ingredients and basic techniques, you can create restaurant-quality rolls right in your kitchen.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Elevate Your Holiday Meals with These Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls - Homemade Dinner Rolls Pin
Image Credit: Davin Eberhardt

To get started, you’ll need a handful of common ingredients. The recipe calls for whole milk, which lends richness and moisture to the rolls. However, if you don’t have whole milk on hand, you can easily substitute 1%, 2%, or even skim milk without sacrificing too much flavor or texture.

The recipe also uses active dry yeast, which is readily available at most grocery stores. If you happen to have instant yeast instead, feel free to use that – just keep in mind that you won’t need to proof it first. Other key ingredients include sugar, shortening, flour, salt, and eggs.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making these dinner rolls is a straightforward process that can be broken down into simple steps. First, you must proof the yeast by mixing it with warm milk and a bit of sugar. Once the yeast is foamy and activated, add the remaining ingredients and mix until a smooth dough forms.

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Next, you’ll let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This step is crucial for achieving that light, airy texture that makes these rolls irresistible. After the first rise, you’ll punch down the dough, shape it into individual rolls, and let them rise again before baking until golden brown.

Serving Suggestions

These homemade dinner rolls are incredibly versatile and pair well with various dishes. Of course, they’re a natural fit for holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Serve them alongside roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and all your favorite fixings for a truly memorable feast.

But don’t limit yourself to just the holidays! These rolls are delicious year-round and make a great addition to any meal. Try them with a hearty soup or stew, or use them to make mini sandwiches for a fun and easy lunch option. You can freeze the baked rolls and reheat them later for a quick and satisfying side dish.

Variations & Customization

Elevate Your Holiday Meals with These Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls - Homemade Dinner Rolls Ingredients
Image Credit: Nature of Home

One of the best things about this dinner roll recipe is how easily it can be customized to suit your tastes. Want to add a bit of extra flavor? Mix in some shredded cheese, chopped herbs, or roasted garlic before shaping the rolls.

You can also experiment with different toppings to give your rolls a unique twist. Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle on some sea salt for a classic finish, or try a sweet glaze made with honey and cinnamon. The possibilities are endless!

Elevate Your Holiday Meals with These Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls - Homemade Dinner Rolls

Homemade Dinner Rolls

There's nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked dinner rolls wafting through the kitchen, especially during the holidays. Soft, fluffy, and irresistibly delicious, these Homemade Dinner Rolls are sure to become a family favorite.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 203 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water test temperature with wrist
  • 1 1/2 cups warm milk – microwave 30 sec test temperature with wrist
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 6-8 cups flour

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, dissolve 3 tablespoons of active dry yeast in 1 cup of warm water. To ensure the water is at the right temperature, test it with your wrist – it should feel comfortably warm, not hot.
  • Warm 1 1/2 cups of milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Again, test the temperature with your wrist to make sure it's not too hot. Add the warm milk, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of shortening, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 4 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir everything together until well combined.
  • Gradually add the remaining flour to the bowl, stirring gently. Only add as much flour as needed to create a soft dough – this could be anywhere from 2 to 4 more cups. Be careful not to add too much, as this can make your rolls dense and heavy.
  • Once the dough has come together, turn it out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This step helps to develop the gluten in the flour, which gives your rolls their delightful texture.
  • Place the kneaded dough into a clean bowl and cover it with a tea towel. Find a warm, draft-free spot in your kitchen and let the dough rise there for about 30 minutes. During this time, the dough should roughly double in size.
  • After the first rise, gently punch down the dough to deflate it slightly. Divide the dough into 24 equal-sized pieces and shape each one into a ball. Arrange the balls of dough in a large baking pan, making sure they have a bit of space between them to allow for further rising.
  • Cover the pan of rolls with a clean towel and let them rise again in a warm place for another 20 minutes. While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 400°F.
  • Once the rolls have finished their second rise, remove the towel and place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on top and cooked through. You can test for doneness by tapping on the top of a roll – it should sound hollow when fully baked.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your freshly baked, homemade dinner rolls warm with a pat of butter or alongside your favorite holiday dishes!

Notes

Butter, coconut oil, or lard may be substituted for the shortening.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 451IUCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Easy Dinner Roll Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
davin
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.