Tips for Making Dinner Rolls
Making soft, buttery garlic bread rolls shouldn’t feel intimidating. I’ve messed up plenty before (too flat, weirdly chewy, the list goes on). The trick? Keep your ingredients at room temp. Cold butter is honestly a nightmare to work with.
Patience is key, not kidding, especially during rise time. If you rush, you’ll end up with dense rocks… not fluffy pillows. I cover the bowl with a clean towel and place it somewhere not drafty. Maybe sounds silly, but a cozy dough is a happy dough.
Here’s my very honest opinion: Always brush rolls with extra garlic butter after baking. Trust me, it makes them taste like they came out of some five-star restaurant. Also: don’t bother with fancy equipment. Your hands work just fine (sometimes I just smoosh the dough for fun).
Every time I bring these to a potluck, someone’s bound to ask for the recipe. Half the time, I’m mid-bite, stammering out instructions. Yep, that’s how good these really are.
“These rolls came out melt-in-your-mouth soft and buttery, just like you promised. My picky teenager even had third helpings!” – Sharon M.
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
Let’s break down the lineup: all-purpose flour is your best friend here— no crazy specialty flours needed. You’ll want instant yeast since it rises quicker and you can toss it right in with the flour. Sugar? Just a little to feed the yeast and tame all that garlic.
Speaking of garlic, you can swap in pre-minced if you’re in a time crunch (though fresh always wins for flavor). Got fresh herbs lying around? Chop some parsley or chives right in there for color. Don’t have whole milk? I’ve totally used 2 percent before— works fine, but don’t go fat-free.
If dairy’s an issue, unsweetened almond milk and vegan butter get the job done. Oh, and cheese lovers, try adding shredded mozzarella inside the rolls. Thank me later.
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Recipe Tips and Notes
Start out by letting your yeast hang out in warm milk with sugar first if you’re not sure it’s fresh— should turn foamy in a few minutes. No foam? Start over, don’t waste your flour. When mixing everything, just go slow with the milk. Dough should be soft, not soggy.
I use my hands to check for stickiness. If they come away with only a little dough clinging, you’re good. Too sticky? Sprinkle in a smidge more flour. Baking times can honestly sneak up on you— my oven bakes a little hot, so I check at 16 minutes. Tops should be golden but not burnt.
Final touch: brush with melted garlic butter and let rolls chill five minutes before eating. Or don’t wait— sometimes they vanish from the pan too fast.
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
How to Properly Knead Dough for Dinner Rolls
If kneading dough sounds like a workout, well— it sometimes is. I plop my dough on a clean, lightly floured counter. Then I press down, fold in half, give it a quarter turn, and do that whole “push and turn” dance for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Listen, your arms might grumble a little. That’s normal. The magic happens when the dough starts smoothing out and gets stretchy. If you poke it and the dent bounces back a bit, you nailed it. If it feels too tacky, toss a sprinkle of flour on your hands, but go easy— too much and you’ll get dry rolls.
Not every kneading session is perfect, so don’t stress. Worst case, your house still smells incredible, right?
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Storage and Leftovers
Okay, so you made a batch of garlic butter bread rolls and (miracle of miracles) there are some left. Huge win. What now? Once they cool, stash ‘em in a zip-top bag or airtight container. Room temp is fine for two days— any longer, pop ‘em in the fridge.
But say you want to reheat? Sprinkle a little water on top, then cover in foil and bake a few minutes to wake them up. Microwave works too— 10, maybe 15 seconds max. Don’t overdo it, or they toughen up.
Pro tip: wrap extra rolls, freeze, and thaw for late-night carb cravings. You’re welcome.
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Serving Suggestions
- Perfect on the side with your favorite soups (butternut squash matches up so cozy)
- Make ‘em tiny for miniburger sliders or tear-and-share appetizer plates
- Swipe with chili oil for a punchy snack
- Stash a couple in your lunchbox with salad— totally levels up sad desk lunches
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Time to Bake Your New Favorite Rolls
Alright, that about covers it— you’re officially armed for garlic butter bread rolls greatness. Don’t be afraid to play around or swap things in as you get comfortable. If you want more ideas, the homey recipes in the bread baking section over here are killer for inspiration.
And if you’re curious about other takes on the classic, Garlic Bread Rolls from Cambrea Bakes shows another way to level up your skills. For dessert, who doesn’t love a Butterscotch Pie after a plate of homemade rolls? Go forth, bake, and let your kitchen smell like a dream. You’ll seriously keep coming back for more.
Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
Print
Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft and buttery garlic dinner rolls that elevate any meal with their delightful flavor and aroma.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet instant yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup whole milk (or 2% milk)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (or pre-minced garlic)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or chives (optional)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix warm milk with sugar and yeast; let foam for 5 minutes.
- Add melted butter, garlic, salt, and flour; mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Punch down the dough and shape into rolls; place in a greased baking dish.
- Let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes until golden.
- Brush with additional melted garlic butter and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Keep ingredients at room temperature for best results. Brush with extra garlic butter after baking for added flavor. Store leftover rolls in a zip-top bag for up to two days, or freeze for future cravings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
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