Pillowy-soft, beautifully golden and brushed with warm honey butter, these Soft Honey Butter Dinner Rolls are made for the holiday table. Their tender, fluffy centers and glossy buttery tops make them perfect for soaking up gravy, serving alongside turkey or ham, or turning into little leftover holiday sandwiches the next day.
Ingredients
Method
- Combine the warm milk, yeast and honey in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5–10 minutes until the mixture looks foamy.
- Whisk the egg and melted butter into the yeast mixture until combined.
- Add the flour and salt gradually, mixing until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for about 7–8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add only enough additional flour to keep the dough manageable.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Gently deflate the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball.
- Place the dough balls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a little space between them.
- Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes, or until noticeably puffy and beginning to touch.
- Bake at 375°F for 18–22 minutes, until the tops are beautifully golden brown.
- Stir the melted butter and honey together until combined.
- Brush the warm rolls generously with honey butter immediately after they come from the oven. Finish with a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt if desired.
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🔄 Variations
🌿 Garlic Herb Rolls: Add minced garlic, parsley and rosemary to the melted butter topping.
🍊 Orange Honey Rolls: Add a little fresh orange zest to the honey butter for a subtle festive citrus flavor.
🧀 Parmesan Herb Rolls: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the rolls during the final few minutes of baking.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
🦃 Serve warm with Herb Butter Roasted Turkey, stuffing and gravy.
🍖 Pair with Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham for Christmas dinner.
🥪 Split leftover rolls and fill them with turkey, cranberry sauce and Brie for easy holiday sliders.
🧊 Storage
Store completely cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Reheat briefly before serving and brush with a little additional melted honey butter.
The baked rolls can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
💡 Pro Tips
Make sure the milk is warm, not hot. Milk that’s too hot can damage the yeast.
Keep the dough slightly soft. Adding too much flour is one of the easiest ways to end up with dense dinner rolls.
For evenly sized rolls, divide the dough by weight if you have a kitchen scale.
Brush the rolls with honey butter while they’re still hot so the topping melts into the crust and gives them that gorgeous glossy finish.
❓ FAQs
Can I make these dinner rolls ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare and shape the rolls, cover the baking dish and refrigerate overnight. Allow them to come toward room temperature and become puffy before baking.
Can I use instant yeast instead?
Yes. Instant yeast can be mixed directly with the dry ingredients, although the rise time may be slightly shorter.
Why didn’t my dinner rolls rise?
The yeast may have been old, the milk may have been too hot, or the dough may have been left somewhere too cold.
How do I keep homemade rolls soft?
Avoid adding excessive flour or overbaking them. Brushing the warm tops with butter also helps keep the crust tender.
Can I freeze the rolls?
Yes. Freeze completely cooled baked rolls in an airtight freezer-safe container and thaw before reheating.