Description
These easy milk bread rolls are incredibly soft, fluffy buns with a golden, shiny honey butter finish. Perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings, they are a budget-friendly and irresistible side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk, warm (105–115 degrees F / 40–46 degrees C), or unsweetened almond milk
- 2.25 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 3 cups bread flour, or blend with whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter, softened, or vegan butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for the shiny honey butter brush
- 1 tablespoon honey, for the shiny honey butter brush
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and you can smell the yeasty aroma.
- Combine And Knead Dough: Add the sugar, egg, bread flour, salt, and softened butter to the yeast mixture. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then knead for 10-15 minutes by hand (or 5-7 minutes in a stand mixer) until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat, cover, and let proof in a warm place for 60-90 minutes until doubled in size.
- Shape Rolls: Gently punch down the dough, divide into 12-16 equal pieces, and shape each piece into a smooth, tight ball. This takes about 15-20 minutes.
- Second Rise: Arrange shaped rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover loosely, and let rise again in a warm spot for 30-45 minutes until puffy and almost doubled.
- Bake Golden: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and an internal temperature of 200 degrees F (93 degrees C) is reached. If browning too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil.
- Brush With Honey Butter: Immediately after removing from the oven, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and stir in 1 tablespoon of honey. Brush this mixture liberally over the hot rolls for a glossy finish.
Notes
Always check your yeast’s expiration date; fresh milk ensures the best flavor. Ensure milk is warm (105-115 degrees F / 40-46 degrees C) but not too hot for yeast activation. Using a stand mixer with a dough hook can make kneading effortless. A turned-off, warm oven can speed up proofing times. A kitchen scale helps achieve perfectly even rolls. If rolls brown too quickly during baking, tent with aluminum foil.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll (approx. 70 g)
- Calories: 200 calories
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: easy milk bread, fluffy buns, honey butter, family dinner, holiday gatherings, budget-friendly, yeast bread, baking, soft rolls