Honey Free Classic Dinner Rolls
Soft, pillowy dinner rolls fresh from the oven are one of those simple pleasures that never get old, and this recipe delivers exactly that — golden tops, fluffy interiors, and a rich buttery finish that makes them impossible to resist. Many store-bought rolls and even some homemade recipes sneak in honey as a sweetener or glaze, so baking your own is the cleanest way to stay in control of what goes into them. Here, granulated sugar does all the heavy lifting for sweetness and helps activate the yeast beautifully, so there's no need for any alternative sweeteners. The dough comes together with whole milk, egg, and softened butter worked in gradually, which is what gives these rolls their tender, almost cloud-like crumb. A final brush of melted butter straight out of the oven adds that glossy, irresistible sheen without a drop of honey in sight. Serve them warm alongside a big family dinner or use them to mop up a bowl of soup — either way, they disappear fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
For the dough
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar, divided
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
For brushing
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1
Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until it reaches 105–110°F (40–43°C) on a kitchen thermometer — warm to the touch but not hot. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer, sprinkle in the yeast and 1 tbsp of the sugar, and stir briefly. Let stand for 5–10 minutes, until the surface is foamy and the mixture smells yeasty.
- 2
Add the remaining 2 tbsp sugar, the salt, and the egg to the yeast mixture. Fit the stand mixer with the dough hook and mix on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour all at once and mix on low until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains, about 2 minutes.
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