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Perfectly soft buttery rolls will be your classic go-to roll recipe! They are tender fluffy, and baked with a buttery golden top. These rolls are sure to be a family favorite!
If you want a really big, soft, buttery roll, then this is the recipe for you. Homemade rolls are the best part of any meal! Need more delicious roll recipes? Try my amazing 1-Hour Rolls, these Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls, or Parker House Rolls for your next dinner.
Perfectly Soft Buttery Rolls
These perfectly soft buttery rolls are truly the most amazing homemade rolls you will ever make! What makes them perfectly soft and buttery? The addition of the fats from the milk, butter, and eggs makes them extra tender, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. These rolls are a labor of love, but definitely worth it when you bite into the pillowy roll! If you’re new to working with yeast, don’t be intimidated because this is a great recipe and I walk you through all the steps. They turn out beautifully no matter what!
You will be known for these perfectly soft buttery rolls when you share them with family and friends! Make them for holiday meals, special occasions, or whenever you want a comforting warm homemade roll. Slather your rolls with honey butter, jam, or this cinnamon honey butter.
What You Need to Make Perfect Rolls
Don’t let working with yeast scare you. It’s super simple and these rolls can’t get any easier. You’ll have perfectly soft buttery rolls in no time. Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry ready to go.
- Whole Milk: Warmed but not hot! Warm it between 80 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sugar: This is necessary for the yeast to activate.
- Active Dry Yeast: Use 2 ¼ teaspoons or 1 packet for this recipe.
- All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour is best to achieve fluffy soft rolls.
- Salt: Salt is essential for bread to have flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: melted but not hot
- Large Eggs: It helps to beat the eggs before adding them to the dough ingredients.
- Butter: To brush on the tops of the rolls!
Let’s Make Perfectly Soft Buttery Rolls
The best roll recipes take time, especially when it needs time to rise, so don’t rush it. This will ensure a nice light fluffy interior when you allow the air pockets to form during rising. I promise it will be worth the wait! I can’t wait for you to make these perfectly soft buttery rolls!
Prepare and Raise the Dough
- Proof the Milk, Sugar, and Yeast: In a medium bowl mix together the milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it rest until the yeast has become foamy and active.
- Combine the Flour and Salt: In the bowl of the stand mixer, add 3 cups of the flour then whisk in the salt. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture. Using the dough hook attachment mix on low until the dough begins to come together.
- Knead the Flour Mixture, Yeast Mixture, Butter, and Eggs: Pour in the butter and eggs. Then add the remaining flour ¼ cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the mixer. The dough will still be slightly tacky, you may not use all of the flour.
- Cover and Raise the Dough: Remove the dough from the bowl and add it to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with saran wrap or a damp cloth. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Shape and Raise the Rolls
- Divide and Shape Dough Balls: Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and punch it down to release the air. Divide into 15 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
- Raise the Rolls: Grease a 9X13-inch baking dish with butter. Evenly arrange the rolls in the prepared pan. Cover the rolls and let them rise until they are doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake the Rolls
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. The temperature of the rolls out of the oven should be 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Brush with Butter and Enjoy: Remove the perfect soft buttery rolls from the oven and brush with additional melted butter. Enjoy warm!
Tips For Perfectly Soft Buttery Rolls
No matter which roll recipe you are making, here are a few tips that will come in handy. Once you get the hang of it, you will become a roll master!
- Activate: Make sure the yeast gets activated. If the yeast does not activate, your rolls will not rise. If the yeast does not get bubbly and frothy, then I recommend starting over.
- Flour: Do NOT add too much flour. Adding too much flour will turn an amazing soft roll into a heavy dry roll. Add the flour 1/4 cup at a time until it pulls away from the bowl. The dough will still be slightly tacky, you may not use all of the flour. Knowing how much flour to add can be tricky, but the more rolls you make, the easier it will be to tell when there is enough.
- Tip For Shaping the Rolls: You can always spray your hands with cooking spray to help shape the rolls and keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
- Do NOT Overbake: If you overbake your rolls, they will be dry and no one wants a dry roll. If you really want to get technical, use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the rolls when they come out. They should be 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storing and Freezing Rolls
Everyone loves these perfectly soft buttery rolls and we fight over the leftover rolls! Especially when you warm them in the microwave for 10 seconds. It tastes like it’s fresh from the oven! I’ve also added some tips for freezing the dough to make rolls for later!
- At Room Temperature: Store completely cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Freeze the Dough: Keep the dough frozen in an airtight container for up to a month. I recommend spacing the rolls on a sheet pan and freezing them into balls first, then place in an airtight container.
- Thaw and Bake: To thaw, remove the frozen rolls from the freezer and place them in a greased baking dish. Cover with a tea towel then let them rest and rise at room temperature until they have thawed and doubled in size. Bake using the instructions on the recipe card!
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Perfectly Soft Buttery Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup whole milk, warmed but not hot
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 package active dry yeast, 2 ¼ teaspoons
- 6 cups all purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted but not hot
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for brushing on rolls
Instructions
Prepare and Raise the Dough
- In a medium bowl mix together the milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it rest until the yeast has become foamy and active.
- In the bowl of the stand mixer, add 3 cups of the flour then whisk in the salt. Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture. Using the dough hook attachment mix on low until the dough begins to come together.
- Pour in the butter and eggs. Then add the remaining flour ¼ cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the sides of the mixer. The dough will still be slightly tacky, you may not use all of the flour.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and add it to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with saran wrap or a damp cloth. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Shape and Raise the Rolls
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and punch it down to release the air. Divide into 15 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
- Grease a 9X13-inch baking dish with butter. Evenly arrange the rolls in the prepared pan. Cover the rolls and let them rise until they are doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake the Rolls
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. The temperature of the rolls out of the oven should be 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the rolls from the oven and brush with the melted butter. Enjoy warm!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It’s Christmas Eve, 2023 and could not find my old recipe. Found this one and just made it for my Cinnamon Rolls and all I can say is I will never use another recipe for my rolls again!!! These were perfect and so light and delicious.. If anyone is on the fence about trying this recipe I urge you to try it.
Plus it saved me about an hour less than my old recipe…
Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Laura
Imade these rolls for breakfast and I could make it so easily. Thank you so much for putting up the steps and guide of this recipe.
These rolls are so good and easy enough for new bakers.
Alyssa – can you freeze the dough? I’m trying to work ahead for Thanksgiving so I enjoy the day and don’t lose steam by 4pm! 😉
That is a great idea! Yes, you can freeze the dough.
Can these rolls be frozen after they are baked? If so would you just reheat in oven?
Yes, that will work too.
If I am out of AP flour. Could I use bread flour instead?
Thank you 😊
I made these rolls and it was a hit for me and my family. They were so soft and fluffy i had to make them again. I work with the pantry at my church and made some and take for the other volunteers and now one of them wants me to make some for him for Thanksgiving
How long do you let the dough rise on the first rise?
It takes about 1 hour to 2 hours.
They taste more like a biscuit that a bread roll, also needs more salt for me.
If you feel it needs more salt then use salted butter.
~C.
Hi Jenn,first time I use your recipe and I’m so happy my dinner rolls came out,delicious and super soft,thank you so much,I look forward to use another one of your recipes.
Sounds delicious! Wonder if this recipe be made in a bread machine?
Yes, you can. Just add all the ingredients and hit “dough” then finish kneading it and form it into a pretzel shape to bake. Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out!
This is an excellent recipe. I used almond milk instead of regular milk and 3 medium eggs instead of 2 large. Bake at Areo Bake 400 12mins yes they do brown fast. Made 15 medium size tasty buns. I will definitely be making these over and over.
That is great to hear! Thank you so much for sharing! I am so glad that you loved them!
Just made these today! I followed the recipe exactly, making sure to not add too much flour and to not overbake them. Since these are going to be for Easter tomorrow, I was only able to try one roll. They’re SO GOOD!!! These rolls are exactly what their name says they are. Perfect, soft and buttery.
That is great to hear! Thank you so much for sharing! I am so glad that you love them! Happy Easter! XOXO
Can the dough or rolls be frozen? If so which is better to freeze
I made these for my husband a month ago and he has asked me to make them every week since! Amazing! Especially with home made chili and stew!
Could these be made bigger as in to use as a hamburger bun?
Made these bigger for exactly for that reason, tonight! I was looking for a light fluffy bun that would compliment my butter burgers and found these. They worked so great my kids want me to keep this recipe so we can have them every time I make them.
Do you think I could use 2% milk? The recipe sounds very yummy and your pics are great.
Hey girl these look amazing! Yummy! I love homemade bread!