Shellfish Free Soft and Buttery Dinner Rolls
Pillowy, golden, and brushed with melted butter straight out of the oven — these dinner rolls are the kind of thing that disappears from the table before the main course even lands. The dough comes together with whole milk, a touch of sugar, one egg, and softened butter worked in gradually, which is exactly what gives each roll that impossibly soft, tender crumb. A two-stage rise builds flavor and that signature pull-apart texture, so the process is worth every minute of patience. Since the ingredient list is entirely land-based — flour, dairy, egg, yeast — there's nothing to second-guess for anyone avoiding seafood and shellfish. No label-reading, no substitutions, just a straightforward bake you can feel completely confident about. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the butter finish takes them from homey to genuinely impressive, whether you're serving them alongside a weeknight roast or a holiday spread. Warm from the pan, they're the kind of roll that makes people ask for the recipe before they've even finished the first one.
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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
- flaky sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
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. Add the flour all at once. Fit the stand mixer with the dough hook and mix on low speed until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains, about 2 minutes.
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