Sweet Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe

I have done all of the experimentation so that this sweet soft dinner rolls recipe is perfect for you! Made using just a few ingredients, these fluffy rolls will adorn your holiday table perfectly. They’ll quickly become your go-to roll recipe for any occasion.

Original post: December 2017 | Updated: October 2020 and November 2024

Why This Recipe Works

• I’ve done all of the experimenting for you with this recipe! I know what can go wrong and why, and I have all the info you’ll need so you can make the most perfect sweet soft dinner rolls!
• These homemade rolls are made with just a few simple ingredients.
• This is my go-to recipe for dinner rolls.
• Every time I make these, my kids say, “Why don’t you make these more often?!”
• These fluffy dinner rolls will make everyone swoon, no matter the occasion or meal.
• Perfect recipe for your Thanksgiving, Easter or other special occasions.
• These sweet dinner rolls are the perfect combination of sweet, fluffy and irresistible.

If you want some delicious crunchy bread as an alternate side dish and need something quicker, check out my easy garlic bread recipe.

Recipe Ingredients

Warm water – You’ll want to encourage the yeast and sugar to grow together in a warm space, so ensure your water isn’t too hot or too cold. If you have a thermometer, the temp should be anywhere between 105-115°F.

Active dry yeast – Any brand of active dry yeast will work great, as long as it is within the expiration date listed on the package.

Salt – Any variety of salt will work, but I typically use Himalayan sea salt.

Sugar – White sugar, also known as granulated sugar, will help the yeast to produce carbon dioxide so it can then help the dough to rise. 

Oil – Vegetable oil or canola oil will both work perfectly for this recipe.

Flour – All-purpose flour is my go-to for this recipe.

Egg – A beaten egg will produce that golden brown finishing touch!

How To Make Perfect Sweet Soft Dinner Rolls

Step 1

Pour the warm water into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let sit for 5 minutes or until mixture becomes cloudy.

Whisk briefly. Add the salt, sugar and vegetable oil. Whisk until the salt and sugar have dissolved, about 1 minute.

Step 2

Using a wooden spoon, add the flour 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough for approximately 3 minutes, or until soft and pliable. It shouldn’t be more than slightly sticky. 

If you have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer with a dough hook, use this. 

Lightly grease a clean, large bowl with vegetable oil and add the dough, coating it completely with the oil from the bowl. 

Cover the bowl with a kitchen cloth or plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Step 3

Coat a 9×13 baking pan generously with cooking spray and set aside. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and lightly knead for 3-5 minutes, or until dough is soft and pliable.

Divide dough into 15 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball using your hands. Place the balls of dough into the prepared baking dish, making five rows of three.

Cover rolls with plastic wrap and/or kitchen towels.

Place the pan in a warm place for 2 hours, or until the dough balls have doubled in size.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Gently brush the tops of the dough with the beaten egg.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until rolls are golden-brown.

Cut at the seams and serve immediately or at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

• Add a pinch of sugar on top of the yeast and warm water to help encourage activity with the yeast before adding in the rest of the ingredients.
• Be sure to cover your dough and let it sit in a warm spot (on top of a warm oven or running dishwasher or sitting near a sunny window or fireplace).
• The dough should be soft and pliable after rising. It should feel like a soft, fluffy cloud in your hands. Handle the soft dough with what I call gentle-firm love.
• Serve with maple syrup, honey butter or homemade apple butter for an amazing sweet experience!

What To Serve With Homemade Dinner Rolls

These fluffy gems go great with a big turkey dinner or even a weeknight meal like Lasagna or Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken or Chili Mac!

Best Yeast For Rolls 

There are two types of yeast – active yeast and instant yeast. Active dry yeast works great but needs more time for rising than instant yeast.

How To Refrigerate Bread Dough Before Baking 

Prepare the dough as directed. Once it has been rolled into a smooth ball, cover and place in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. Remove from the fridge and allow the dough ball to come to room temperature before rising.

Can Yeast Rolls Rise Overnight 

If you plan to make dough to bake the next day, place in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Remove from the fridge the next day and allow it to rise in a warm spot and bake as directed.

Can I Freeze Dough

Once you have shaped the dough into balls and placed them in the pan, you can cover and freeze them. Remove from the freezer and allow them to thaw and rise to double their size before baking.

It could take anywhere from 1-2 hours, depending on how warm your home is.

Why Is My Dough Not Rising 

If your yeast rolls aren’t rising, there are a couple of things to check. Expired yeast won’t rise properly. Yeast is best kept in a cool, dry place unopened for two years. Be sure the yeast packet you used is within the expiration date.

Another factor that can keep dough from rising is the temperature of the environment it is sitting in. A warm environment is absolutely necessary to nurture the rising process.

Consider placing the dough on top of a warm oven, over a running dishwasher, or sitting in a sunny window or near a fireplace.

Can Dough Rise Too Long 

Dough can definitely be left to rise for too long, which can cause it to collapse while baking. A sign that your dough has been left too long to rise is if it feels extremely fragile and collapses when you touch it. 

To test if your dough is properly risen, gently press your fingers into the top of the dough. If it springs back slowly, it is properly proofed and ready to knead. If the dough doesn’t spring back at all, you’ll know that it is overproofed and has let sit for too long.

How To Fix Overproofed Dough

If you’ve determined that your dough is overproofed, deflate it with your fist to remove air. Knead the dough briefly on a lightly floured work surface and shape into a ball.

Place in an oiled bowl and allow it to rise a second time. This time will happen much more quickly.

Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving

Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes that you can make for Thanksgiving this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this delicious roundup.

More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes

• This is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoes recipe and it is the BEST ever. Great with any main dish, any time of year. You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again! 
• Minnesota Tater Tot Hotdish is a hearty meal and classic Midwestern staple. This one-dish meal is great for Thanksgiving or any time!
• This is the best Homemade Cranberry Sauce! It is super easy to make and way surpasses the canned version in flavor.
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are creamy, smooth, delicious and easy to prepare. No boiling or saucepan/stovetop cleaning required with this side dish. 
• This Classic Sweet Potato Casserole is great on your Thanksgiving table and also a perfect side dish that can be enjoyed any time of the year. 
• This delicious Crockpot Stuffing with Leeks and Sausage is made easier in a slow cooker! The addition of leeks and sausage makes it unique and delicious. 

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