Dinner rolls

The idea of baking dinner rolls at home may sound intimidating to some, but it’s one of the easiest recipes to whip up in under an hour. I’ve been making dinner rolls for a long time, and when it comes to comfort food, few things can rival the aroma of bread baking in the oven.

These warm and pillowy rolls emerge from the oven with plumes of steam, and when they are slathered with a generous dollop of butter, they turn an ordinary meal into a memorable feast. The best part is that you can flavour your home-made dinner rolls in a variety of different ways.

Ingredients

All-purpose flour, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, warm water, butter, yeast, milk, and heavy cream.

You don’t need any fancy flours or gadgets to bake dinner rolls at home. All you need is an oven, a baking tray, and a few simple ingredients. All-purpose flour serves as the foundation of the bread. Yeast is considered the star of the show; it is responsible for fermentation. It also gives the dough an airy texture.

Butter provides a rich and flavourful touch to the recipe. You can also substitute it with olive oil or clarified butter. Milk adds moisture and creates a soft crumb. Garlic powder is the secret ingredient for these dinner rolls. It is an optional ingredient; however, it does add a special flavour to the bread. Brown sugar will balance out the salt. Heavy cream adds an extra boost of richness.

Instructions

Activate the Yeast: Prepare warm water by heating it in a microwave. Pour the warm water into a small bowl and add the yeast. Let it sit for about eight to ten minutes. The tiny bubbles will form into plumy, puffy clouds; this is a sign that the yeast is alive and well. Activating the yeast before adding to the dry ingredients is an essential step for this recipe. Adding the yeast directly to the dry ingredients or adding it to the wet ingredients without warm water will result in dense and heavy rolls. There are some brands of fast rising yeast, however, as a precautionary measure, it is always advised to activate the yeast in warm water prior to adding it in.

Combine the dry ingredients: Prepare a large mixing bowl and add all-purpose flour, garlic powder, a pinch of salt, and brown sugar. Whisk the ingredients lightly with the handheld whisk until the dry ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients: Add the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl: butter, heavy cream, and milk. Also, add the activated yeast to the large bowl. Use your hand or a wooden spoon to combine the mixture.

Knead the dough: Knead the dough for about 5 to 7 minutes, until it begins to lose its stickiness and becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough remains sticky after kneading, add a teaspoon of flour and continue kneading until the dough is soft and stretchy. If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of water and continue kneading until the dough becomes moist and pliable.

Rest and rise: Form the dough into a single large ball and place it gently in a large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap, leaving no gaps. Allow the dough to rest in a stable, warm environment for 10-15 minutes. A warm environment will allow the yeast to activate further and cause the dough to rise, whereas a calm atmosphere, such as exposure to a fan or air conditioning, will slow down or even stop the dough’s rising process.

Shape the Rolls: By this time, the dough will have doubled in size, filled with air and bubbles. Remove the cling wrap from the bowl and gently push down with your fist into the dough to release the air. Then, divide the dough into equal-sized pieces and roll each one into a ball. Place parchment paper on a baking tray and transfer the rolls, leaving a small space between each one. This step allows the rolls to expand and maintain their shape while baking. 

Bake the dinner rolls: Coat the rolls with a layer of butter, sprinkle with black sesame seeds, and bake for 30 minutes at 302°F (150 °C). Applying butter on top of the rolls will result in a golden brown colour, and the black sesame seeds will add a subtle nutty flavour to the rolls. Serve the dinner rolls with fillings, dips, or the main dish. 

What to Serve with Dinner Rolls?

Dinner rolls are easy and quick to make, and they can be served at many different events and occasions. It is also very delicious and pairs well with many types of main dishes, such as roasted chicken, beef stew, brisket, BBQ, and Soups. Dinner rolls can also be served as appetizers or as sides, accompanied by fillings or accompaniments such as herbed cream cheese, garlic powder, chili sauce, egg salad, mashed potatoes, or Roasted vegetables. 

How to Store and Reheat Dinner Rolls?

Bring the dinner rolls to room temperature before storing in the fridge. Transfer the rolls to an airtight container to prevent them from drying out. Dinner rolls can also be frozen for a longer storage life by keeping them in a freezer-safe container. Dinner rolls can be stored in the fridge for up to five days and in the freezer for up to three months. 

Reheating the dinner rolls is as simple as placing them in the microwave. Place the rolls on a plate, covered with a microwave-safe lid. Reheat in thirty-second intervals as the rolls can become dry and harden. To reheat the frozen dinner rolls, use the defrosting option in the microwave, or leave the rolls on the countertop until they reach room temperature, then reheat them in the microwave using the above method.