Salted Dinner Rolls

Chef's Notes

Notes

These rolls are relatively light and have a fairly crispy exterior. For richer rolls, use warm milk in place of the warm water. For a softer outer layer, wait to brush rolls with butter and sprinkle with salt until after baking. For a softer, glossy exterior, brush rolls with an egg wash instead of melted butter.
Measuring flour. For best results, measure flour by weight with a kitchen scale. If you don't have a scale, just make sure to scoop and level your flour for best results.
Additions and Substitutions. Substitute 1 cup (120 grams) of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the all purpose flour if you like. We don't recommend using additional whole wheat flour as it can change the texture of the rolls. Omit the flakey sea salt if you like. Use warm water in place of warm milk. Use granulated sugar or agave syrup in place of honey if you like. We have not tested this recipe with self-rising flour, gluten-free flour, bread flour, or instant yeast.
Mix-Ins. This dough is very forgiving! Mix a few tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs, dried rosemary, roasted garlic, fresh cracked pepper or shredded cheese (we love parmesan, asiago, or cheddar) into the dough for extra flavor. Add 2-3 extra tablespoons of honey if you'd like a sweeter roll.
Make-Ahead Tips. Measure ingredients a day or two in advance and keep them in individual airtight containers (keep cold ingredients like eggs in the fridge!) until you're ready to use them. Alternatively, mix dough a day in advance and let it do its first rise overnight in the fridge (instead of on the counter). When you're ready to bake, let dough come back to room temperature and proceed as instructed.
Storing and freezing. Store rolls in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days. For tips on how to freeze these dinner rolls, click here. If you're planning to store rolls for more than a day or two, we recommend leaving off the salt as it can draw out moisture and make the top of your rolls a bit soggy over time. We don't recommend storing rolls in the fridge - it can dry them out!
To reheat dinner rolls, microwave in 8-10 second intervals on a microwave-safe plate until warmed through, or heat in a 300 degree oven for 5-10 minutes until warm.
Ingredients and Equipment. We like Fleischmann's or Red Star Active Dry Yeast. Maldon salt or Jacobsen Sea Salt are perfect for topping these rolls. Use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, or mix by hand in a large bowl with a sturdy spoon or spatula. Use a basic kitchen scale to easily measure flour and a good bench scraper to cut through bread dough. A silicone pastry brush is great to spread melted butter. We used a 3qt., 8x10 casserole dish for this recipe, but you can also use a large cast iron skillet, a cake pan, or a muffin tin. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the cooking time with a different pan style (rolls baked in muffin tins or on flat cookie sheets will bake more quickly - start checking for doneness around 10-15 minutes!)
This post contains affiliate links: if you buy something we'll earn a small commission at no cost to you.

These rolls are relatively light and have a fairly crispy exterior. For richer rolls, use warm milk in place of the warm water. For a softer outer layer, wait to brush rolls with butter and sprinkle with salt until after baking. For a softer, glossy exterior, brush rolls with an egg wash instead of melted butter.
Measuring flour. For best results, measure flour by weight with a kitchen scale. If you don't have a scale, just make sure to scoop and level your flour for best results.
Additions and Substitutions. Substitute 1 cup (120 grams) of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the all purpose flour if you like. We don't recommend using additional whole wheat flour as it can change the texture of the rolls. Omit the flakey sea salt if you like. Use warm water in place of warm milk. Use granulated sugar or agave syrup in place of honey if you like. We have not tested this recipe with self-rising flour, gluten-free flour, bread flour, or instant yeast.
Mix-Ins. This dough is very forgiving! Mix a few tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs, dried rosemary, roasted garlic, fresh cracked pepper or shredded cheese (we love parmesan, asiago, or cheddar) into the dough for extra flavor. Add 2-3 extra tablespoons of honey if you'd like a sweeter roll.
Make-Ahead Tips. Measure ingredients a day or two in advance and keep them in individual airtight containers (keep cold ingredients like eggs in the fridge!) until you're ready to use them. Alternatively, mix dough a day in advance and let it do its first rise overnight in the fridge (instead of on the counter). When you're ready to bake, let dough come back to room temperature and proceed as instructed.
Storing and freezing. Store rolls in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days. For tips on how to freeze these dinner rolls, click here. If you're planning to store rolls for more than a day or two, we recommend leaving off the salt as it can draw out moisture and make the top of your rolls a bit soggy over time. We don't recommend storing rolls in the fridge - it can dry them out!
To reheat dinner rolls, microwave in 8-10 second intervals on a microwave-safe plate until warmed through, or heat in a 300 degree oven for 5-10 minutes until warm.
Ingredients and Equipment. We like Fleischmann's or Red Star Active Dry Yeast. Maldon salt or Jacobsen Sea Salt are perfect for topping these rolls. Use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, or mix by hand in a large bowl with a sturdy spoon or spatula. Use a basic kitchen scale to easily measure flour and a good bench scraper to cut through bread dough. A silicone pastry brush is great to spread melted butter. We used a 3qt., 8x10 casserole dish for this recipe, but you can also use a large cast iron skillet, a cake pan, or a muffin tin. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the cooking time with a different pan style (rolls baked in muffin tins or on flat cookie sheets will bake more quickly - start checking for doneness around 10-15 minutes!)
This post contains affiliate links: if you buy something we'll earn a small commission at no cost to you.