Ohhh yes 😌—soft, buttery rolls are pure comfort and crowd-pleasing magic. Think pillow-y interiors, golden tops, slightly sweet, melt-in-your-mouth. Here’s a classic, reliable recipe:
🥖 Soft & Buttery Homemade Rolls
Ingredients (makes ~12 rolls)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup whole milk, warm (~110°F / 43°C)
- ¼ cup water, warm
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (plus extra for brushing)
- 1 large egg
Instructions
1️⃣ Activate yeast
- In a small bowl, mix warm water + milk + sugar + yeast. Let sit 5–10 min until foamy.
2️⃣ Make dough
- In a large bowl, combine flour & salt.
- Add yeast mixture, melted butter, and egg.
- Mix until dough comes together.
3️⃣ Knead
- Knead by hand or in stand mixer 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4️⃣ First rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
5️⃣ Shape rolls
- Punch down dough, divide into 12 pieces.
- Shape into smooth balls and place on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
6️⃣ Second rise
- Cover and let rise 30–40 minutes until puffy.
7️⃣ Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brush rolls with melted butter.
- Bake 18–22 minutes until golden brown.
8️⃣ Finish
- Brush hot rolls with more butter for glossy, soft tops.
- Serve warm.
⭐ Tips for Perfect Rolls
- For extra buttery richness, substitute 2 tbsp butter with cream in the dough.
- Want pull-apart rolls? Place balls closer together on the pan.
- Sweet variation: add 1 tsp vanilla or 2 tbsp honey to dough.
- Can freeze: freeze after first rise, thaw, shape, then bake.
These are basically the perfect accompaniment for soups, stews, or any big sandwich.
If you want, I can also give you a tangy brioche-style ultra-buttery version that’s basically dessert disguised as a dinner roll 😏.
Do you want me to do that version too?
