Thanksgiving rolls are simple enough that anyone can put them together. The best part is, you can serve these all year long and anyone can make them. This Thanksgiving recipe makes a perfect recipe for any holiday!
These are as simple to make as our easy homemade bread. I'm living proof! (No "bun" intended.)nRead on and I'll show you exactly how it's done.
About these
These simple Thanksgiving rolls are soft and pillow-like little bites of heaven. Add a smudge of sweet butter and you'll probably start hearing harp music. They're that good.
Ingredients and notes
The beauty of this recipe for Thanksgiving rolls, is the shortlist of ingredients. Aside from water, there ware only 7 other things you need. All of them are basic pantry ingredients!
Eggs: Always allow eggs to get to room temperature before using in baking recipes. This makes things bake more evenly and will not cool down the ingredients mixture! Here's how to quickly bring eggs to room temperature.
Flour - You can use all-purpose flour but try to use bread flour. The higher protein content will give these Thanksgiving rolls a chewier crumb.
Yeast - Be sure and proof it to make sure it is alive and well (active.) Otherwise these rolls won't rise well! Do this by "proofing" it in some warm water and sugar. Let it set for 10 minutes and if you get a bunch of bubbles, you are good to go!
If nothing happens, this means your yeast is not good. Either the proofing liquid was too warm and killed the yeast, or it has expired.
How to make them
Whenever you're working with a yeast recipe, a warm kitchen is always preferred. You want to avoid cold and drafty areas.
These Thanksgiving rolls super simple to make! It is a matter of mixing the dry (flour) with the wet (milk and eggs) to the proper consistency. This dough will be wet and sticky!
The dough will be sticky on your fingers, but it firms up a bit when it rises. You'll want this dough to rise for about an hour the first time. Then, another 30 minutes or so after you have formed them.
Find a warm, draft free place for this dough to rise. Cover them up with a kitchen towel to keep them snug!
This easy roll recipe is a nice way for you to build some confidence in your bread making skills. Besides that, they are truly wonderful!
Thanksgiving rolls are the perfect way to soak up Gravy. Or, just as a simple side dish for any meal! I hope you will give these a try today.
Common recipe questions
If you live in a high elevation or very dry place, use only 6 to 7 cups of flour and knead by hand.
You can make these ahead of time by baking them first. Seal them in kitchen wrap and thaw out in the fridge the night before serving. Then, just warm them up in the oven when your dinner is ready.
You can also make these Thanksgiving rolls ahead of time and freeze them before baking. Store them for up to a month in the freezer or three days in your refrigerator.
Butter! Make sure it's the good stuff though. The quality of your butter is just as important as the quality of your homemade dinner rolls. A couple of other things that taste great on these homemade rolls include cranberry relish and apple butter!
One packet of yeast is equal to 7 grams.
Yes. Cut the ingredients in half and make as directed in the recipe card below.
Homemade bread recipes
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📖 Recipe
The BEST Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 c. whole milk if you’re in a pinch, you can use 2%, but whole is best. Don’t use 1% or skim
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar divided
- ⅓ cup butter (5 ⅓ tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 packages active dry yeast or 4 ½ tsp., preferably bread machine yeast
- ⅔ cup warm 105-115-degree water
- 8-9 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 beaten eggs
Instructions
- Combine milk, ½ c. sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down because this step can take forever. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
- While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn’t bubbled, you’ll need to repeat this step–moving on with yeast that hasn’t been activated properly will only end in heartache for you and hate mail for us.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes.
- Add beaten eggs. Why should you beat your eggs first? Same reason you should combine your dry ingredients before adding them to moist ingredients when making cookies and cakes–it ensures everything is well-mixed and can be evenly-distributed through your dough or batter. If you add the whole eggs, your dough may not be as consistent.
- Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft–it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don’t worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they’re so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour.
- Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half.
- Spray 2 9×13 glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to use a pizza cutter because it has a blade on each side, so it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan.
- Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown.
Notes
- It is important to note that when baking these rolls, variables such as altitude and differences among ovens can affect baking time required.
- Some readers have left feedback suggesting that a longer baking time may be necessary for these rolls.
- As always, with baking, do not remove from oven until completely done. Moral of this story: Baking (and cooking in general) is not an exact science.
- Be sure to proof your yeast. Here's a great article from King Arthur Flour on how to proof yeast.
Starr
Dan, these turned out perfect and just how you describe them❣️
Have always stayed away from ‘yeast’ recipes.... but this was awesome!
Thanks for sharing!
Cuz, Starr
Dan from Platter Talk
Starr!
How nice to hear from you and thanks so much for taking the time to leave the lovely comment. I hope some day we can make these together. Hugs to you from Wisconsin!
Georgi Wellington
I don't see anything about kneading these rolls. Am I reading too fast or is kneading not necessary.
Dan from Platter Talk
Hi Gerogi! You didn't miss a thing. No need to knead helps put the easy in the name of this delciious dinner rolls recipe!
Sabrina | The Tomato Tart
Deeelicious! I love bread rolls. Your version looks incredible. Yum!!!
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks Sabrina; these are so simple to make and just wonderful to serve!
jacquee | i sugar coat it!
I love a warm, just-out-of-the-oven bread. I could just sink my face into these right now!
swayam
Good rolls guys!! Love the color on top
Jayne
Nothing better than a fresh dinner roll with butter! I think I would be eating the whole basket of them!
April
These looks so good! I love dinner rolls. I wish I had some now!
Natasha @ Epic Mommy Adventures
These rolls looks so soft...I feel it would melt in my mouth!
Thanks so much for sharing on Turn It Up Tuesday! We love having you! 🙂
Lou Lou Girls
They look so good! Pinned and tweeted. Lou Lou Girls
Cathy
I can just smell the aroma of these beautiful rolls. Thank you for sharing with Share It One More Time. Cathy