How To Make Homemade Rolls From Scratch

Want to make amazing dinner rolls at home? Some of the best recipes are those passed down from generation to generation and this is one of those. I have grown up eating these as well as making them. A neighbor taught my mother how to make them before I was born, and I learned how to make them when I was a very young sous chef…

There is a certain wow factor to homemade rolls. People are always impressed, appreciative, and asking when you will be making them again.

I do not know why people think it is so difficult or complicated to make bread or rolls. Homemade bread and homemade rolls are not nearly as hard to make as you might think. I guess I am lucky, because I grew up in the kitchen with a mother who is an incredible baker and cook, so my training was hands on.

How To Make Homemade Rolls From Scratch

The main thing rolls require is time, but the process itself is pretty simple. The only ingredient you need to have on hand that you might not ordinarily keep is dry yeast, and I just keep packets on hand just to make rolls. The other ingredients are simple and you probably keep them on hand. The two parts that scare people are not knowing how much flour to add to the dough, and not knowing how to properly shaped roll. (Do improperly shaped rolls taste different from properly shaped rolls?) Once you make these and see how easy they are to make, and especially how popular they are, you will want to make homemade rolls on every occasion you can. You will be asked, even if you don’t. Trust me.

They really are some of the best things I know how to make, even though they are admittedly pretty simple. I’ve probably made them 200 times, so this recipe has been well tested and tried (and this does not count the ones my mother makes)

You can also make homemade hamburger buns (or awesome chicken sandwich buns) and homemade cinnamon rolls using this base recipe. I hope to add a post soon with the cinnamon roll recipe. My kids will assure you they are equally, if not more, amazing.

Supplies and Ingredients You Need To Make Homemade Rolls:

Ingredients/Recipe for Homemade Rolls:

3/4 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 packages yeast (rapid rise is fine, just cuts rising times)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups very warm water
1 teaspoon salt
8 to 9 cups flour
Cooking oil
2 Tablespoons butter, softened, or shortening

Supplies:

Mixing Bowl
Electric mixer or whisk plus some patience
2 Cookie Sheets or large rectangular baking dish
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons
Pastry Brush (optional)

Step One:

Mix 3/4 cups water, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 packages of yeast in a container that will hold at least double that amount. Set aside.

how-to-make-homemade-rolls — How To Make Homemade Rolls: Step One – Add yeast, water and sugar, then set aside

Step Two:

Cream butter and sugar. Add 2 eggs, 2 cups of water, salt and 3 1/2 cups flour. Beat at low speed until mixed, then at high speed for 3 minutes. Add yeast mixture and 2 more cups of flour. Mix for 2 more minutes. Add one more cup of flour if needed for workable dough. (This just means the dough needs not to be too sticky. If it still sticks to your hands more than a little bit, add more flour) Knead for five minutes, adding flour to working surface as needed to prevent sticking.

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Step 3:

Oil large mixing bowl. Make a ball with the dough and roll it in the oil in the bowl to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and warm, damp, dish towel. Set on pilot light or in warm spot. If you have a larger bowl, you can fill it with warm water and place this bowl inside. Filling the sink with warm water and setting the bowl in there will also work great. Let rise one hour.

Step 4:

Grease cookie sheets with your softened butter or shortening.

Cut dough with scissors for the desired shape of rolls or buns. If the dough is stretched over fingers and tucked under the roll, the tops will be smooth.