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Why I Love These Dinner Rolls
Making bread does not have to be complicated. I find that simple bread made with easy ingredients and instructions is all that is needed for a perfectly soft dinner roll. Growing up in the Midwest United States, artisan breads were uncommon. Instead, breads were traditionally on the sweeter side with uncomplicated components. And that’s exactly where this dinner roll recipe comes into play.
These honey oat dinner rolls are nostalgic for me. Honey, old-fashioned oats, and butter are softened with hot water. A little milk tenderizes the dough along with flour and yeast. The best part? These really are foolproof. Once they rise, they’re formed into balls where they rise once more into soft, pillowy rolls. While baking, they become golden, and once slightly cooled, they’re ready to be devoured!
What Is Instant Yeast?
Yeast is often found in two different forms: instant and active.
- Active yeast is more traditional and means that the yeast needs to be activated in warm water to ensure it will rise.
- Instant yeast is made of smaller granules and does not need to be dissolved in water. Instant yeast is guaranteed to be active and ready to use.
I have always used instant yeast and find it to be fail-proof. No activation with water makes it easier and quicker. That’s a win-win!
How Do You Know When the Dough Has Risen Enough?
Most recipes will say that when the dough has doubled in size, it has fully risen. If you are new to making bread, this can be hard to decipher. Here are two methods to know when it’s ready:
- Choose a bowl and make a mark where the dough begins. This way, there is a baseline to track the dough’s growth. This does involve some approximation, but it is a great way to visually see the progress.
- Press a finger into the dough. If it springs back quickly, the yeast is still producing gases and has not fully risen. If the indentation stays or springs back slowly, the dough is ready.
Dough always rises best in a warm environment. Keeping a light on in an unheated oven can produce just enough warmth for the dough to rise quickly.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Honey Oat Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter room temperature
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 cup oats
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 pkg) instant yeast
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the butter, honey, oats, and salt. Pour in the hot water and stir until the butter is dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool to no less than 110°F, 5-6 minutes.8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, ¼ cup honey, 1 cup oats, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 cup hot water
- Stir in the milk with the beaten egg and add 2 cups of the flour and yeast. Stir to incorporate, creating a sticky dough. Add more flour, 1 cup at a time, incorporating well after each addition. Stir and eventually knead the dough. Do not add more flour, but knead the dough until it is slightly tacky and clears the side of the bowl, 3-5 minutes. Form the dough into a smooth ball.½ cup whole milk, 1 large egg, 4 cups all-purpose flour, 2 ¼ tsp (1 pkg) instant yeast
- Drizzle the sides of the bowl and the dough with 1 tbsp neutral oil. Cover and allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled, 40-60 minutes.
- Once doubled, punch down the dough and knead into a ball. Separate the dough into 15 even-sized dinner rolls and place in a buttered 9×13 baking dish. Cover and let rise until doubled, 35-50 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Once dinner rolls have doubled, place in the preheated oven and bake until the tops are golden, 20-25 minutes. The center of the bread should reach 190°F. Remove from the oven and allow to cool 20 minutes before pulling apart and serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
These rolls got high marks, especially from the wee bairns! Grandkids always seem to grab a roll first and I served them with homemade butter and fresh honey.
The recipe is easier than you think and almost foolproof. I used regular oats and instant active dry yeast as recipe suggested. They are a bit more hearty than, say croissants, but none the less were “gobbled” up at our Thanksgiving table.
Kaleb: I love your recipes and your videos. I made the Honey Oat Dinner Rolls for Thanksgiving and they were a hit. I wanted to let you know that in the printed version of the recipe the addition of the egg was left out. On your website the recipe has the egg but when the recipe is printed the egg is in the ingredients but not the instructions. Thanks again for all your fabulous recipes and tips.
I test baked a batch of these rolls to decide if I wanted to serve them on Thanksgiving. Well I’m making my second batch for the holiday. They will be great with just butter or to make a sandwich. They are not heavy and doughy, but dense and light. Nice recipe, Kaleb and Mom.
Watched your video with Mom and decided to try this when I made ham and bean soup on a chilly day. It was a very easy recipe and turned out better than I anticipated. They were fluffy and yeasty and substantial. I had to practice patience because they took longer to rise than normal in the Florida weather, however, it was the length of time you listed. My patience was rewarded by getting a delicious dinner roll. Thank you! I will make them again.
Easy to follow instructions. Turned out delish
I love all your videos of food, desserts, and gardening that you too. thank you for everything kaleb!!
I’ve tried making rolls before with mediocre results. These were so easy, my 4 and 2 year old even helped! They turned out perfectly and taste amazing!
In the dinner roll recipe….did you use instant oats or old fashion oats or does it matter. Also if you didn’t have instant yeast could you bloom the yeast in the hot water? Thanks Melissa
Bloom action e yeast in warm water, about 110° not boiling. Boiling water will kill active yeast
I am going to try them for thanksgiving. Thanks for good rolls recipe.
Can you use quick one minute oats?
Hello,
Wondering how to keep oatmeal honey rolls warm and/or store them after baked.
They are incredibly!
Happy Holidays.
Tracy