the perfect dinner rolls

last updated on October 29, 2026

For day 3 of my 12 Days of Thanksgiving Recipes, we are making the perfect dinner rolls from scratch. Rolls are an essential part of a Thanksgiving dinner, in my opinion. This roll recipe has withstood the test of time, and is truly the best! They are soft, fluffy, and so easy to make. Plus, they can be made the night before if that is easier for your Thanksgiving schedule! If you are looking for a wheat roll instead, check out my overnight wheat rolls.

ingredients needed for the perfect dinner rolls

• 1 packet instant yeast
• 1 cup milk, warmed (around 100-110F)
• 8 tbsp butter, divided
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (420 grams)
• 1/2 tsp salt

how to make the perfect dinner rolls

1. Activate the yeast. Add milk and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer, then let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Add in the wet ingredients. Soften 4 tbsp of butter, and add it to the bowl. Add in the honey and egg. Mix until everything is combined.
3. Add in the dry ingredients. Add in the flour and salt. Mix the dough with a dough hook for 5 minutes, until it starts to pull away from the side of the bowl. It should be very soft and slightly sticky. If the dough is too sticky, add flour, little by little.
4. Let the dough rise. Cover the bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for one hour. If you are making these rolls the day before, you can also refrigerate the dough overnight to let it rise.
5. Cut the dough. Dump the dough out on a clean surface. Divide the dough in half to make it easier to work with. Roll the dough into a large square, about 12″ x 12″. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the the dough into six strips, each about 2″ wide.
6. Form the rolls. Melt the other 4 tbsp of butter, and lightly brush each strip with it. Roll each strip up to form a roll shape. Transfer the rolls to a greased 9″ x 13″ pan with the seam-side down. Repeat these steps with the second half of the dough.
7. Let the rolls rise again. Once all the rolls are in the pan, cover the pan with cloth or plastic again and let them rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350F.
8. Bake. After the rolls are done rising, bake them in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Enjoy!

tips for best turnout

• Make sure your warm milk is between 100°F and 110°F. If your milk is too hot, it will scorch the yeast, and your rolls will not rise.
• Weigh your flour using a kitchen scale. Too much flour will make your dough dry, and your rolls will have a hard time rising. If you feel like you have added too much flour to your dough, slowly add warm water, milk, or butter, a teaspoon at a time, until it is the correct consistency—very soft and a little sticky.
• Let your dough rise in a warm room. A cold room will slow down the rising process.
• Really allow your rolls to rise during both of the rising times. The first rise lasts about an hour, and the second lasts about 30 minutes. When your rolls do not have enough time to rise, they end up small, dense, and lacking flavor.

faqs

other recipes you will love

• overnight wheat rolls
• pumpkin streusel muffins
• cheddar and chive biscuits

the perfect dinner rolls

5 from 5 votes

[category] Side Dish

[published] November 5, 2023

[PREP] 15 minutes mins

[COOK] 30 minutes mins

[TOTAL] 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• 1 packet instant yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
• 1 cup milk warmed (around 100-110F)
• 8 tbsp butter divided
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 420 grams
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Add the milk and yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
2. Soften 4 tbsp of butter and add it to the bowl along with the honey and egg. Mix until everything is combined.
3. Add the flour and salt and mix with a dough hook for 5 minutes until the dough has formed and is starting to pull away from the side of the bowl. The dough should be very soft and slightly sticky. If it is really sticky, add a bit more flour.
4. Cover the bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled, about an hour. (Alternatively, you can transfer the bowl to the fridge and let the dough rise overnight, then continue the rest of the steps the next day)
5. Dump the dough out onto a clean surface. Divide the dough in half and roll one half out into a square, about 12"x12". Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into 6 strips, each strip about 2" wide.
6. Melt the remaining 4 tbsp of butter. Lightly brush each strip of dough with butter and roll it up. Transfer the rolls to a greased 9"x13" pan, with the seam side down. Repeat the process with the other half of the dough. You should have 12 rolls total.
7. Cover the pan with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for 30 minutes. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350F.
8. Once they've finished rising, transfer the rolls to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are all golden brown. Enjoy!