Homemade dinner rolls that are easier than you think, with a step by step recipe video and tons of garlic herb flavor! They’re perfectly soft and fluffy. Includes how to recipe video
I’m curious: how often do you guys make your own yeast breads, buns or rolls?
For me, I think it actually used to be something I did more often a year or two before (right when I posted these Buttery Bread Machine Rolls), but lately I haven’t been into it that much. It’s easy to find good quality bread and buns these days (and they’re inexpensive, too!), so often I give in and just buy it.
But I think there’s nothing as therapeutic for me as playing with yeast dough in the kitchen when I’ve got nowhere else to be. It’s such a labor of love, and the results are out of this world (and yes, there are some great store bough or bakery breads but nothing like the bread you make yourself!). It also opens up the world of other yeast breads — cinnamon buns or these Homemade Dinner Rolls perhaps??
One benefit of making your own bread is you can sample it just minutes after it’s out of the oven (<— amazing). Also, that smell.
I am a bit obsessive when it comes to good smelling things. Hand soaps, lotions, shampoos, cleaning products, wax melts. Ooooh, my wax melts.
I think I have about 20 different scents in my stash and I am always on the hunt for more.
And let me tell you — if they made one that captured, “Fresh Homemade Bread”, I would be all over it. That and banana bread. If someone as equally enthusiastic as I am could dream those up for me, that would be great, thanks. Maybe a new line of products here on The Recipe Rebel? Kitchen inspired wax melt scents?
Don’t encourage this madness. Just keep scrolling.
And since it’s not summer yet, I’m still in full-blown soup-with-a-side-of-bread mode, and these Garlic Herb Rolls are perfect for dunking. They are soft, fluffy, and flavorful but not overpowering. No need to be intimidated if this is your first time baking with yeast! You’ve just got to take it slow and not rush the rise — that’s what’s going to get you those fluffy buns.
Looking for more homemade bread recipes? Try this No Knead Artisan Bread or this Whole Wheat Bread!
Homemade Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk not hot — I microwave on high for about 45 seconds
- 3 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/4 cup sugar 50g
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (or use all purpose) 250g
- 2 cups all purpose flour 250g
Garlic butter:
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- In a large bowl (the bowl of your stand mixer if using), whisk together milk and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until bubbly — this is how you know your yeast is working.
- Add butter, sugar, eggs, salt, garlic powder, parsley, basil and thyme and mix with whisk or stand mixer until eggs are beaten (butter may still be a little chunky, and that's okay).
- Add the flour gradually, one cup at a time, and mix with a dough hook (or your hands!). Add just enough so that the dough is smooth but slightly sticky. Place in a greased bowl and turn to coat the ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel and set in a warm place to rise for 60-90 minutes, until doubled.
- Lightly grease a 9×13" pan and roll dough into 12-14 balls, creating as smooth a top as possible. Place in pan with the seam down and cover to let rise for about 30 minutes, until doubled again.
- Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, until medium golden brown.
- Garlic butter: Stir together melted butter, garlic powder and parsley and brush over rolls if desired. Serve warm.
- These freeze perfectly, so make a big batch to keep for later!
Notes
Nutrition Information
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ViV says
Great recipe! First time making dinner rolls. I let them raise for an extra hour after I divided the dough, they turned out so light and fluffy. And the flavor with the herbs is a nice touch. Will be making these again!
Can I add extra sugar and omitt the herbs to turn it into sweet dinner rolls?
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Viv! I have never tried extra sugar, but I’d love to hear how they turn out!
Jesse says
Making this right now and I was super excited to make it because it says total time 55 minutes and then you make it and it says rise for 60-90 min!!! I’m kinda mad about that because now I’m half way through making this and it won’t be ready in time for dinner because the total time is way off please fix!!!
Ashley Fehr says
The total time accounts for active time only unfortunately, so prep time plus cook time. It does not automatically add in inactive time.
Lisa says
So do you use 4 cups of flour or just 2?
Ashley Fehr says
You will use the amount of flour listed in the recipe.
Cyndi Page says
I just purchased a new bread machine and am getting back into baking bread. This recipe looks great and I can almost smell it! Just wondering if you ever use a bread machine for mixing and kneading your dough before baking. I put off buying one for yrs and consequently stopped baking bread since my arthritis is so bad in my hands and wrists. Anyway I am thinking of halfing this recipe and mixing and kneading in my bread machine then baking as normal in the oven. Any ideas or hints for this?
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Cyndi! I haven’t since my bread machine died a number of years ago, but I used to love prepping the dough in the bread machine! I honestly can’t remember much about it, so I would look into your manual and follow the instructions there, but the recipe itself should work fine. Let me know how it goes!
Nakita says
I used my breadmaker to knead the dough and for the first rise. It worked great. I put the flour in last, just before the yeast.
Ashleigh says
I can’t wait to make these! They look great. Also… you can get a baked bread candle from The Candle Lab (OH/PA but they ship!)
Ashley Fehr says
Oh my word — that must smell incredible!
Carlena Landon says
I made these buns not too long ago and they were very yummy and fluffy I’ve been asked to make them again for Christmas but the family wants these as well as regular dinner rolls. Could i make these without the garlic and herbs and make regular ones? Should I add more flour do you think? Thanks for sharing!
Ashley Fehr says
You can definitely leave out the seasonings! I wouldn’t add any additional flour in their place
Jessica Cristanelli says
Hi, Ashley!
I live at high elevation, any changes I should heed? Can wait to smell these bad boys baking! I’m a home-made-bread-scent-fanatic myself!
P.S.
This is a 2017 Thanksgiving side this year and I am imagining it becoming a tradition
Jessica Cristanelli says
CAN’T wait…I can NOT wait! =)
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Jessica! Unfortunately I am no expert at baking at high elevations. I would check out this resource here: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/high-altitude-baking.html. Let me know how they turn out!
Carolyn says
Hi I want to make these for Thanksgiving which is next week for us and I was wondering can I make them the day before and bake them on Thanksgiving Day
Ashley Fehr says
You may be able to roll them, cover and refrigerate overnight. I haven’t tried, but I’d love to hear if you do!
NinjaHV says
Hi, can I freeze the dough and bake them the next day?
Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
I actually haven’t ever tried that so I’m not totally sure. If you do try it I’d love to hear how they turn out!
Enerllee5 says
Please advise whether the basil, parsley and thyme for the dough should be fresh or dried.
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
They are dried
Amal says
Hi, I know I’m late, but I had one question, do we spread the garlic butter before baking or after the rolls are baked? If done after baked, can we do it before baking too? For added flavor
Ashley Fehr says
I do it after but I think you can do it before, just as long as they don’t burn
Elisabeth Montgomery says
I cannot wait to try this recipe. Nothing better than warm bread and garlic.
I am obsessed with yummy smells too and actually found a banana bread wax melt scent at Wal-Mart.
Ashley Fehr says
Oh my word, I need to find that! It sounds amazing!
Teressa says
These look so good. I want to make them tomorow but just want to clarify the yeast. I googled active dry yeast vs instant and it said for instant that it should be combined with other dry ingredients then warm liquid added and active dry yeast is added directly to warm liquid. It also said instant only takes about 10 minutes to double vs 2 hours for active. So I am assuming you are using active dry yeast not instant but want to make sure as I am new to bread making. What I have is Fleischmann’s active dry yeast. Will that work?
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Teressa! That’s a good question! And no, I am using instant yeast and I use it just like I said. Active dry yeast should work just as well, but I prefer to use instant yeast for everything because I just find it rises better and more easily, I still let it bloom and rise just like active dry yeast. You should be able to use active dry the same way.
Jacqie says
Hi There! How do you freeze these? Do you freeze the dough balls or once you’ve baked them? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
I freeze them baked and then cover and reheat at a low oven temperature, like 250, just until warm.
Karla says
Can you tell me if it matters whether I use whole milk or fat free milk for bread recipes? What is your experience with this? Thanks again, so glad I found your blog!
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Karla! I usually use 1% so I think either fat free or whole milk will work fine
Sydney Stafford says
I used skim milk and my yeast wasn’t bubbling. I added the sugar in with just the warm milk and yeast and that worked, just adding the sugar in a step earlier
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, sugar can definitely help the process!
Lynne Tan says
Hi, these look so good I don’t know if you have any left but are they still soft and fluffy the next day
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Lynne! They are still soft but it’s not quite the same as fresh. If you make them ahead, I would just put them in the pan in the oven on a low heat (maybe 250 degrees F) for 5-10 minutes until they are warm again. They should be just as good as fresh then!
Janice says
Hi your recipe is 250g wheat flour and 250g of plain flour? Thanka
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, just what it says in the recipe. You can use all all-purpose if you prefer though.
Mario says
So I could use bred flour too.
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These look so amazingly fluffy and delicious – nothing with garlic and herbs can be bad!! Want one slathered with butter right now 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
The best! Thanks Rachel!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh my gosh I am the HUGEST sucker for homemade dinner rolls. They get me every time and I practically ignore every other part of the meal! LOL. Looooooove all the garlic and herbs on these little babies!
Cynthia says
I made these as buns and were amazing! Would the recipe work as loaves?
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I hardly ever make my own bread or rolls from scratch, mainly because I’m too lazy! But when I do, it’s totally worth the effort. And seeing these makes me want to do it all the time. Love the garlic herb flavors, Ashley! Definitely my version of a perfect dinner roll!
Jess says
Hi. Can u pls advise if that was a total of 2 or 4 cups flour?
Ashley Fehr says
It is exactly what’s listed. 2 cups of whole wheat, 2 cups of all purpose. If you don’t like the taste or texture of whole wheat buns, you can use all all purpose.