Honey Butter Rolls are soft, fluffy, and utterly delicious. They are perfect for any meal or occasion, whether as a comforting side dish for dinner or a sweet treat for breakfast. The melt-in-your-mouth texture combined with the sweet honey butter makes these rolls irresistible!
Why Make This Recipe
Making Honey Butter Rolls at home is rewarding and brings joy to your kitchen. The sweet aroma of freshly baked rolls fills the air, creating a cozy atmosphere. Plus, homemade rolls are always better than store-bought; you can customize them to your taste and enjoy the satisfaction of baking from scratch. They are ideal for family gatherings, holiday meals, or simply as a special snack.
How to Make Honey Butter Rolls
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110°F (43°C)
- 2 and 1/4 teaspoons (7g) Platinum Yeast from Red Star instant yeast or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1/4 cup (85g) + 1 teaspoon honey, divided
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 3 and 1/2 cups (455g) bread flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, very soft
- 2 Tablespoons (42g) honey
Directions:
- Activate the yeast: In the bowl of your stand mixer, whisk the warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon honey together. Loosely cover and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it gets foamy.
- Mix the dough: With the stand mixer on low speed using the dough hook, add the remaining honey, egg, egg yolk, melted butter, 3 cups of flour, and salt. Mix for 1 minute, then add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour and mix again for another minute until combined. The dough should be thick, soft, and slightly sticky.
- Knead the dough: Knead the dough in the mixer for 8-10 minutes or by hand on a floured surface for the same amount of time. The dough should still feel soft and bounce back when poked.
- Rise the dough: Lightly grease a large bowl, place the dough in it, and cover. Let it rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the rolls: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 15 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and arrange them in the prepared pan.
- Second rise: Cover the shaped rolls with plastic wrap and let them rise until puffy for about 1 hour.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. If they brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil.
- Make honey butter: While the rolls are baking, mix the soft butter with 2 tablespoons of honey to make honey butter.
- Serve: As soon as the rolls are out of the oven, spread a generous amount of honey butter onto each warm roll and serve with any remaining honey butter.
- Store: Cover any leftovers and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm them in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 10 minutes.
How to Serve Honey Butter Rolls
Honey Butter Rolls are delightful on their own, but you can serve them with additional honey butter on the side. They pair well with hearty meals, soups, or even as a part of a breakfast spread. Enjoy them fresh out of the oven for the best experience!
How to Store Honey Butter Rolls
To store Honey Butter Rolls, allow them to cool completely and then place them in an airtight container. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw and warm them up!
Tips to Make Honey Butter Rolls
- Don’t rush the rise: Ensure the dough rises completely for the best texture.
- Keep it soft: Be cautious with adding flour while kneading; the dough should remain slightly sticky for fluffier rolls.
- Temperature matters: Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
Variation
For a twist on the classic recipe, you can add cinnamon sugar to the rolls before baking for a sweet cinnamon flavor. You could also incorporate herbs or cheese for a savory version.
FAQs
1. Can I use whole wheat flour instead?
Yes, you can substitute some or all of the bread flour with whole wheat flour. Keep in mind that this may change the texture slightly.
2. How can I make these rolls vegan?
To make the rolls vegan, substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative and the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of water).
3. What can I do if my dough doesn’t rise?
If your dough does not rise, check the yeast’s freshness and ensure the yeast mixture is warm (not hot). If the conditions are too cold, try placing it in a slightly warmer area to encourage rising.
Honey Butter Rolls
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed to about 110°F
- 2 and 1/4 teaspoons Platinum Yeast from Red Star instant yeast or active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- 1/4 cup honey, divided plus 1 teaspoon
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 3 and 1/2 cups bread flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the honey butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, very soft
- 2 Tablespoons honey
Instructions
Activation
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, whisk the warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon honey together. Loosely cover and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it gets foamy.
Dough Mixing
- With the stand mixer on low speed using the dough hook, add the remaining honey, egg, egg yolk, melted butter, 3 cups of flour, and salt. Mix for 1 minute, then add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour and mix again for another minute until combined. The dough should be thick, soft, and slightly sticky.
Kneading
- Knead the dough in the mixer for 8-10 minutes or by hand on a floured surface for the same amount of time. The dough should still feel soft and bounce back when poked.
First Rise
- Lightly grease a large bowl, place the dough in it, and cover. Let it rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size.
Shaping
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 15 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and arrange them in the prepared pan.
Second Rise
- Cover the shaped rolls with plastic wrap and let them rise until puffy for about 1 hour.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. If they brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil.
Honey Butter Preparation
- While the rolls are baking, mix the soft butter with 2 tablespoons of honey to make honey butter.
Serving
- As soon as the rolls are out of the oven, spread a generous amount of honey butter onto each warm roll and serve with any remaining honey butter.
