1-Hour Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls are a quick and easy way to add homemade goodness to any meal. These rolls are light, tender, and perfect for pairing with your favorite dishes. With just a few simple steps, you can have warm, freshly baked rolls on the table in no time.
This 1-Hour Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls recipe has been a favorite in my kitchen for years. It consistently delivers rolls that are tender, airy, and perfectly buttery. What makes this recipe stand out is its simplicity—just a few basic ingredients, minimal rise time, and the option to mix the dough by hand or with a stand mixer. The best part? It all comes together in about an hour, making it ideal for those busy weeknights when you want fresh bread on the table or during the holidays when you're juggling multiple dishes at once.
If you enjoy these 1-Hour Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls, you might also love trying other homemade bread recipes. Consider making my No-knead Sandwich bread and 3 Ingredients Healthy Oat Bread without flour, sugar, oil, or eggs.
Ingredients
- Water: Use warm water to help activate the yeast, which is key to getting the dough to rise quickly.
- Milk: Warm milk adds richness to the dough, making the rolls soft and tender.
- Salt: A small amount of salt enhances the flavor of the rolls without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Sugar: The sugar not only adds a touch of sweetness but also feeds the yeast, helping the dough rise faster.
- Butter: Softened butter is mixed into the dough, adding a rich, buttery flavor and contributing to the soft texture of the rolls.
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides the structure for the rolls. Start with 3.5 cups and add more as needed to achieve a smooth, elastic dough.
- Instant Yeast: Fast-acting rapid rise yeast only requires one rise, making this recipe quick and easy to prepare.
- Melted Butter: Brushing the rolls with melted butter after baking gives them a golden, glossy finish and extra flavor.
How to make 1 hour dinner rolls
Prepare the Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, add warm water, warm milk, salt, sugar, and softened butter.
- Microwave the mixture for about a minute, making sure it's warm to the touch but not boiling (around 95°F to 115°F).
Mix the Dough:
- In a separate bowl, combine the instant yeast and flour.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in two batches, stirring to combine. The dough will be sticky at this stage.
Knead the Dough:
- Transfer the sticky dough onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough for 6-8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Be careful not to use more than 4 cups of flour in total.
Shape the Rolls:
- Divide the dough into 15 equal pieces.
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball and place them in the greased pan, leaving a little space between each roll.
Let the Rolls Rise:
- Cover the pan with a damp cloth and let the rolls rise in a warm place for 20-25 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
Bake the Rolls:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Once the rolls have risen, brush them with melted butter or an egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.
Finish and Serve:
- When the rolls are done, brush them with more melted butter for a soft and shiny finish.
Helpful Tips for Best Soft Dinner Rolls
- Use Warm Ingredients:
- Ensure that your water and milk are warm (between 95°F to 115°F) to activate the yeast properly. If the liquids are too hot, they can kill the yeast; if too cold, the yeast won’t activate as effectively.
- Don’t Over-Flour:
- The dough should be slightly sticky when you start kneading. Avoid adding too much flour during the kneading process, as this can make the rolls dense rather than soft and fluffy. Stick to the recipe’s flour measurements for best results.
- Knead Thoroughly:
- Kneading the dough properly helps develop the gluten, which gives the rolls their soft and airy texture. Knead for 6-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Allow Adequate Rising Time:
- Even though this is a quick recipe, it’s important to let the rolls rise until they double in size. This ensures that they will be light and fluffy. A warm, draft-free environment will speed up the rising process.
- Space the Rolls:
- When placing the rolls in the pan, leave a little space between each one. This allows them to expand and rise properly, resulting in softer rolls.
- Brush with Butter:
- Brushing the rolls with melted butter before and after baking not only adds flavor but also keeps the crust soft. If you prefer a slightly crispier crust, use an egg wash instead of butter before baking.
- Don’t Overbake:
- Bake the rolls just until they’re golden brown. Overbaking can result in rolls that are dry rather than soft and tender.
- Serve Fresh:
- These rolls are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. If you need to make them ahead of time, you can reheat them in the oven for a few minutes to restore their softness.
Faqs
Yes, you can use active dry yeast. Just make sure to proof it in warm water with a bit of sugar before adding it to the other ingredients. The dough will need a longer rise time compared to instant yeast.
If your dough is too sticky, you can add a little more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a manageable consistency. Be cautious not to add too much flour, as this can make the rolls dense.
The rolls are ready when they have doubled in size and look puffy. You can gently press one with your finger; if the indentation springs back slowly, they are ready to bake.
For best results, prepare and bake the rolls the same day. If you need to make the dough ahead of time, you can refrigerate it after the first rise. Let it come to room temperature and complete the second rise before baking.
Ensure you use warm liquids to activate the yeast properly and avoid over-flouring the dough. Knead the dough thoroughly to develop the gluten, and don’t overbake the rolls. Brushing them with melted butter after baking helps keep them soft and adds flavor.
While all-purpose flour is recommended for this recipe, you can use bread flour for slightly chewier rolls. However, if you use whole wheat flour, you may need to adjust the liquid and kneading time.
Other bread recipes you might like
Recipe video
1 Hour Soft & Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Equipment
- 9x13 baking pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup warm water
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoon butter, softened
- 3.5-4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon rapid rise yeast/ instant yeast
- 2-3 tablespoon melted butter for brushing
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add warm water, warm milk, salt, sugar, and softened butter.
- Microwave the mixture for about a minute, making sure it's warm to the touch but not boiling (around 95°F to 115°F).
- In a separate bowl, combine the instant yeast and flour.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in two batches, stirring to combine. The dough will be sticky at this stage.
- Transfer the sticky dough onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough for 6-8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Be careful not to use more than 4 cups of flour in total.
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- Divide the dough into 15 equal pieces.
- Roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball and place them in the greased pan, leaving a little space between each roll.
- Cover the pan with a damp cloth and let the rolls rise in a warm place for 20-25 minutes, or until they have doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Once the rolls have risen, brush them with melted butter or an egg wash.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.
- When the rolls are done, brush them with more melted butter for a soft and shiny finish.
Notes
- Ingredient Temperature: Make sure the water and milk are warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast. The ideal temperature is between 95°F and 115°F.
- Flour Measurement: Use the amount of flour specified in the recipe. Adding too much flour can make the rolls dense, so start with 3.5 cups and add more only if necessary.
- Kneading Tips: Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic. This helps develop the gluten, which gives the rolls their fluffy texture.
- Storage: Let the rolls cool completely before storing. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. Avoid refrigerating to maintain their freshness.
- Reheating: If the rolls become slightly stale, refresh them by reheating in a 300°F (150°C) oven for a few minutes to restore their softness.
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