I love how these honey butter dinner rolls instantly make any meal feel warm and comforting. Every time I bake them, the smell of freshly baked bread mixed with sweet honey fills my kitchen and sets the tone for a cozy, satisfying meal. These rolls are soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet, with a buttery finish that melts into every bite. I find myself making them again and again because they are simple, dependable, and always crowd-pleasing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I enjoy this recipe because it delivers bakery-style rolls without complicated steps. The dough is easy to work with, the rise is reliable, and the results are consistently soft and golden. I also like how the honey butter glaze adds just enough sweetness to balance the rich, buttery flavor. These rolls fit just as well on a holiday table as they do next to a simple weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of Ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
4½ cups bread flour, divided
1½ tablespoons instant yeast
¼ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1¼ cups milk, warmed to about 110°F
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
for the honey butter
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
I begin by adding 3 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt to the bowl of my stand mixer and stirring everything together. I pour in the warm milk, add the softened butter and the egg, and mix on low speed until the ingredients are fully combined.
Once the dough starts coming together, I increase the speed slightly and mix for a couple of minutes. I then add the remaining flour gradually, allowing it to fully incorporate each time. I continue mixing until the dough becomes soft, slightly sticky, and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
I transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise at room temperature until it doubles in size. After the first rise, I gently punch the dough down and divide it into equal portions. I roll each piece into a smooth ball and place them into a greased baking dish.
I cover the rolls again and let them rise until they look puffy and light. I bake them in a preheated oven at 375°F until the tops turn golden brown. As soon as they come out of the oven, I brush them generously with the honey butter mixture and let it soak in before serving.
Servings And Timing
I usually make this recipe to yield about 18 dinner rolls. The preparation takes around 10 minutes, the total rising time is about 1 hour, and the baking time is approximately 15 to 17 minutes. From start to finish, I can have these rolls ready in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Variations
I sometimes add a little extra honey to the glaze when I want the rolls sweeter. For a richer texture, I replace a small portion of the milk with cream. When I’m serving them with savory dishes, I reduce the honey slightly and brush the rolls with plain melted butter instead.
Storage/Reheating
I store any leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. When I want to enjoy them again, I reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds or warm them in the oven until soft and fluffy.
FAQs
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?
I often make the dough in advance and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, I shape the rolls and bake them as usual.
Can I freeze these rolls?
I freeze the baked rolls once they are completely cooled. When I’m ready to serve them, I reheat them in the oven until warm.
Why didn’t my rolls rise properly?
I’ve learned that this usually happens if the milk was too hot or the dough didn’t rest in a warm enough place.
Can I knead the dough by hand?
I’ve made these rolls without a mixer many times. I knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic.
How do I keep the rolls soft?
I brush them with honey butter while they are still warm and store them in an airtight container, which helps keep them soft.
Conclusion
I truly enjoy making these honey butter dinner rolls because they bring comfort and warmth to every meal. The soft texture, golden crust, and sweet buttery glaze make them irresistible straight from the oven. Whenever I bake them, they remind me that homemade bread doesn’t need to be complicated to be incredibly satisfying.
These Honey Butter Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet with a golden, buttery glaze. Perfect for any meal, they bring a cozy, homemade touch to the table with minimal effort.
Total Time:1 hour 30 minutes
Yield:18 rolls
Ingredients
4½ cups bread flour, divided
1½ tablespoons instant yeast
¼ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1¼ cups milk, warmed to about 110°F
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
For the honey butter glaze:
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
In a stand mixer bowl, combine 3 cups flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir to blend.
Add warm milk, softened butter, and egg. Mix on low speed until just combined.
Gradually add remaining flour, mixing until dough is soft and slightly sticky but pulls from the bowl.
Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down the dough and divide into 18 equal portions. Shape into smooth balls and place in a greased baking dish.
Cover and let rise again until puffy, about 20–30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake rolls for 15–17 minutes, or until golden brown.
While hot, brush generously with honey butter glaze. Let soak in before serving.
Notes
Substitute part of the milk with cream for a richer dough.
Increase honey for a sweeter glaze or reduce it for savory meals.
Refrigerate dough overnight for an easy make-ahead option.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.
