Oh, there is nothing better than the smell and taste of homemade fresh out of the oven dinner rolls.
Growing up vacations were usually spent at my Grandma Betty’s house in the small town of Ontonagon, MI. A town kind of stuck in old fashion values and traditions, which I love. Every morning, when I woke, I remember being greeted by the smell of homemade bread. My Grandmother made, kneaded, proofed and baked it before everyone woke up, just in time for her huge breakfast. I think that is why I feel Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without fresh dinner rolls. Even when I am far away from home and family the smell just warms my heart.
Now typically when it comes to family recipes I stick to traditional methods, but technology has come a long way since my family started making bread and rolls, making it a little easier to whip up the dough. I love my kitchen aid stand mixer with the dough hook, it saves my hands and wrists, and cuts back on kneading time.
Start with just the water, yeast, sugar, and honey in the mixing bowl and allow it to just hang out for a good 5-8 minutes. The yeast will start to fluff up almost making the water look foamy. Once that has happened, add the melted butter, milk, and salt.
Slowly add the flour about a ½ cup at a time and mix on low. Continue adding ½ cup flour at a time until a softball, that doesn’t stick to the sides, forms. Turn off mixer, lightly flour a working surface, dump the dough onto the surface and knead the dough until the dough is somewhat firm.
Place the new firm ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel and allow to rise for 1 hour. Once the dough has doubled in size, break off a quarter size piece and form it into a ball. Place in a well greased baking dish and repeat spacing balls a ½ inch apart, the recipe makes approximately 24 small dinner rolls. Cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
Place in a 350-degree oven and allow to bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven baste top of rolls with melted butter and bake another 5 minutes. Remove, allow to cook until you can handle rolls with your hands, break apart, place in serving the dish, and serve these soft fluffy dinner rolls.
These Simple Pillow-Soft Dinner Rolls are perfect for family dinner or big holiday feasts. They are simple enough for your kids to help or even for a beginner to make! For more holiday recipes check out the Ultimate Side Dish List.

Pillow Soft Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 pack active yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/8 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted +2 tbsp melted butter for basting
- 1 tsp salt
- 7-7 1/2 cup bread flour plus some for working surface
Instructions
- Add water, yeast, sugar, and honey in the mixing bowl and allow it to just hang out for a good 5-8 minutes. The yeast will start to fluff up almost making the water look foamy. Once that has happened, add in the melted butter, milk, and salt.
- Slowly add the flour about a ½ cup at a time and mix on low. Continue adding ½ cup flour at a time until a softball, that doesn’t stick to the sides, forms. Turn off mixer, lightly flour a working surface, dump the dough onto the surface and knead the dough until the dough is somewhat firm.
- Place the new firm ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel and allow to rise for 1 hour. Once the dough has doubled in size, break off a quarter size piece and form it into a ball. Place in a well greased baking dish and repeat spacing balls a ½ inch apart, the recipe makes approximately 24 small dinner rolls. Cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, bake rolls in the oven for 35 minutes. Remove from oven baste top of rolls with melted butter and bake another 5 minutes. Remove, allow to cook until you can handle rolls with your hands, break apart, place in serving the dish, and serve.
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