These classic homemade dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and buttery with golden tops and airy centers. Made with simple pantry ingredients like flour, milk, butter, eggs, and active dry yeast, this easy homemade bread recipe is perfect for holiday dinners, soups, roasts, or easy weeknight meals.
¾cupmilk - microwaved about 45 seconds until hot chocolate temperature
½cupsoftened unsalted butter - or shortening
¼cupgranulated sugar
1tspsalt
2packages active dry yeast - about 5 tsp or 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp
½cuplukewarm water - 110–115°F
4¼ to 4¾cupssifted all-purpose flour
2large eggs
2Tbspmelted salted butter - for brushing tops
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine 2 packages active dry yeast with ½ cup lukewarm water (110–115°F). Stir gently and let sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ¾ cup hot milk, ½ cup softened unsalted butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir until the butter melts and everything is combined. Let the mixture cool until it feels warm but not hot.
Add 1½ cups all-purpose flour to the milk mixture and beat well by hand or with an electric mixer on low speed for about 1 minute until smooth.
Add the 2 large eggs and the activated yeast mixture, then mix until fully combined.
Gradually stir in the remaining 2¾ to 3¼ cups all-purpose flour (for a total of 4¼ to 4¾ cups flour) a little at a time until a soft dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours, or until the dough doubles in size.
Punch down the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into about 15 rolls. If using a food scale, weigh each piece to about 3.4 oz (96 g). If not, divide the dough in half, then in half again, and continue dividing until you have about 15–16 pieces.
Pinch the edges of each piece of dough underneath to create a smooth top. Roll the dough ball gently on the counter using your hand in an “OK” shape to tighten the surface and place the seam on the bottom.
Place the dough balls seam-side down on a greased baking sheet, brush the tops lightly with melted butter, cover loosely, and let rise for 30–45 minutes until doubled in size.
Bake in a 375°F oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Remove from the oven and immediately brush the rolls with 2 tablespoons melted butter before serving.
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Notes
Use warm water for the yeast. The water should be about 110–115°F, warm but not hot, so the yeast activates properly.
Let the milk mixture cool slightly. If the milk and butter mixture is too hot, it can kill the yeast. It should feel warm like hot chocolate.
Add flour gradually. Start with 4¼ cups flour and add more a little at a time until the dough becomes soft and pulls away from the bowl.
Knead until smooth and elastic. Kneading for about 8 minutes helps develop the gluten so the rolls bake up soft and fluffy.
Let the dough rise fully. The first rise should take 1 to 1½ hours until the dough doubles in size and feels airy.
Brush with butter twice. Brushing before baking helps the tops brown evenly, and brushing again after baking keeps the rolls soft and buttery.
Freeze extras for later. Fully cooled rolls can be frozen for up to 2 months and reheated in the oven for easy weeknight dinners.