Soft, fluffy homemade dinner rolls with a golden top and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
There’s something so comforting about a batch of freshly baked dinner rolls. These homemade rolls are soft, fluffy, and lightly sweetened with honey, with a beautiful golden finish.
Making bread from scratch can seem a little intimidating at first, but this recipe uses simple ingredients and doesn't require anything too complicated. Most of the time is just spent letting the dough rise.
They're lovely served warm with a little butter and make a great addition to a family dinner, a bowl of soup, or a holiday meal.
Recipe Details:
Makes: 8 dinner rolls
Prep and kneading: Approximately 20–25 minutes
Rising time: Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours 15 minutes
Bake time: 20–25 minutes
Oven temperature: 180°C fan-forced (approximately 356°F)
Ingredients:
1 cup lukewarm milk
1 tablespoon yeast
3 tablespoons honey or sugar
3½ cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt (if using salted butter, omit)
3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled (45 g)
Extra milk, for brushing
Sesame seeds, for topping
Instructions:
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
In a measuring jug, combine the lukewarm milk, yeast, and honey.
Stir well and let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes, until it becomes foamy.
Step 2: Make the Dough
Add the bread flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
Mix briefly, then make a well in the center.
Pour in the yeast mixture and the melted, cooled butter. Mix until the ingredients begin coming together into a dough.
Step 3: Knead the Dough
Using the dough hook, knead for approximately 7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
If kneading by hand: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for approximately 10–12 minutes.
Step 4: Let the Dough Rise
Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and cover.
Leave it in a warm spot for 1–1½ hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 5: Shape the Rolls
Once the dough has risen, divide it into 8 equal portions.
Shape each portion into a smooth ball and arrange the rolls in a parchment-lined baking dish.
Step 6: Let the Rolls Rise Again
Cover the shaped rolls and leave them to rise for another 45 minutes.
Step 7: Brush and Add Toppings
Preheat your oven to 350F.
Gently brush the tops of the rolls with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Step 8: Bake Until Golden
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the rolls are lightly golden on top.
Allow them to cool slightly before serving.
A Few Helpful Baking Tips
Make sure your milk is lukewarm.
The milk should feel comfortably warm, not hot. Milk that is too hot can damage the yeast.
Give the dough enough time to rise.
Rising times can vary depending on how warm your kitchen is. Look for the dough to double in size during the first rise.
Don't rush the kneading.
Kneading helps develop the dough's structure, giving the rolls their soft, fluffy texture.
Enjoy them warm.
These rolls are especially nice served slightly warm with butter.
Serving Suggestions
These homemade dinner rolls are a lovely addition to everyday family meals. Serve them alongside homemade soup, stews, roasted chicken, or your favorite holiday dinner.
They're also delicious on their own with a little butter.
Final Thoughts
I love recipes like this because they take a few basic ingredients and turn them into something homemade and comforting. There's a little patience involved while the dough rises, but pulling a pan of warm, golden rolls out of the oven makes it worthwhile.
