Best quick-rise dinner rolls

Hamburger buns and dinner rolls may be one of those things that is super inexpensive at the grocery store, often less than $2 for a pack of eight. But you can make them for even cheaper at home, and you have control over the ingredients. Buns and dinner rolls usually have ultra-processed wheat, corn syrup, extra sugars, and preservatives, and making them at home allows you to see what you are actually putting in your food. A couple years ago I was intimidated to make dinner rolls/buns becuase I didn't know if I could capture that fluffy, soft bread that is sold in stores. Turns out, it is really easy! The recipe below can also be dairy-free if your diet requires.

This is a quick-rise recipe, meaning it is easy to whip-up in the afternoon and have warm, steamy buns for dinner or a cookout. Another thing about this recipe is that can be personalized. I put ground flax seeds in mine for a rich, nutty flavor but if you don't like the taste of ground flax or don't have it on hand, it can easily be omitted without comprimising the recipe. If you are dairy-free, you can swap out the butter for coconut oil and the milk for a milk alternative (I have used oat milk before and noticed no difference). You can add spices such as italian seasoning if you wanted to have it with a red-sauce pasta, or rosemary if you wanted to spice it up during the holidays. The options are endless!

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To make the rolls, warm up 1 1/2 cups milk till slighly warm to the touch (about 110 degrees F), and add 2 Tbsp of active dry yeast. Let that sit until it gets foamy. While waiting, combine 3 cups of flour, 1/3 cup honey, 1 tsp salt, 1 egg, 1/2 cup ground flax, and 5 Tbsp of softened butter to a mixing bowl. Once the milk and yeast has become foamy, add to the mixing bowl and combine on a low speed until combined. The dough will be really sticky.

Once all the ingredients are combined, add flour to the mixing bowl 1/2 cup at a time until the dough slightly sticky and soft and pulls away from the edge of the bowl. If you accidentally add too much flour, you can add some milk to soften it up. After about 2 minutes of mixing, remove the bowl from the mixer and cover with a towl and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hr, or until doubled.

Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, your dough may rise quicker than an hour or take a little longer. If your kitchen is cooler becuase of the seasons, you can place your bowl of dough in the oven with the light on to create a slightly warm environment. After your dough has doubled in size, divide evenly into 18 rolls and place in greased or lined 9x13 pans or cookie sheets. Cover these with a towel and let them rise for another half hour or until doubled.

Once these rolls have doubled in size, place in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F and bake for about 15 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. If you are using these as rolls, you can eat them right away, but if you are using these as hamburger buns, it is best if you let them cool completely (or even wait a day) before serving. To store, place in a airtight bag for up to three days.

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Best quick-rise dinner rolls

Prep time: 15 min Rise time: 1.5 hrs Bake time: 15 min. Total time: 2 hrs Yeild: 18 rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups milk (355 g)

• 2 Tbsp active dry yeast

• 4-5 cups flour (divided) (632-790 g)

• 1/3 cup honey (110 g)

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup ground flax (50 g)

• 1 egg

• 5 Tbsp softened butter (70 g)

Directions:

1. Warm up the milk untill slighly warm to the touch (about 110 degrees F) and add the yeast. Let sit until it gets foamy.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of flour (475 g), honey, salt, lax, egg, and butter. Once the milk and yeast has become foamy, add to the mixing bowl and combine on a low speed until combined. The dough will be really sticky.

3. Once all the ingredients are combined, add flour to the mixing bowl 1/2 cup at a time (79 g) until the dough slightly sticky and soft and pulls away from the edge of the bowl. If you accidentally add too much flour, you can add some milk to soften it up.

4. After about 2 minutes of mixing, remove the bowl from the mixer and cover with a towl and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hr, or until doubled.

5. After your dough has doubled in size, divide evenly into 18 rolls and place in greased or lined 9x13 pans or cookie sheets. Cover these with a towel and let them rise for another half hour or until doubled.

6. Once these rolls have doubled in size, place in an oven preheated to 375 degrees F and bake for about 15 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned.

7. If you are using these as rolls, you can eat them right away, but if you are using these as hamburger buns, it is best if you let them cool completely (or even wait a day) before serving. To store, place in a airtight bag for up to three days.

   
   

   Happy baking!