One-Hour Honey Rolls
A delicious one-hour dinner rolls recipe with the golden sweetness of honey, these Soft and Fluffy Honey Bread Rolls are the perfect option for holidays or casual weeknight meals thanks to their quick and easy prep process that turns out flawlessly every time.
Honey Rolls Recipe
Is there anything better than fresh, soft dinner rolls being served with your dinner?
Whether it’s a big holiday feast or a simple soup, every meal is made a little bit more complete with fresh rolls on the side.
A couple of months ago, I shared my go-to recipe for one-hour dinner rolls, and while it contains less than a teaspoon of sugar per roll, I wanted to see if I could reduce the sugar a bit more while still giving the bread the rise, aeration and caramelization that sugar provides. While this version doesn’t eliminate the sugar completely, the addition of honey reduces the amount of white sugar per roll to less than a third of a teaspoon per roll.
These rolls are fluffy, soft and chewy with a light honey and yeast flavor. The pillowy golden tops give way to a light-as-a-cloud interior – truly, the perfect all-purpose dinner roll.
My best tip to ensure that these rolls turn out perfectly every time is to use a thermometer to ensure that the milk is not too hot after warming it up and before adding to the yeast mixture. I never used to do this and would get so frustrated when my dough wouldn’t rise. I’d assume that the yeast was old – but what was actually happening was that I was killing the yeast by adding a liquid that was too hot.
You can use a candy thermometer or meat thermometer to check that the mixture is between 95ºF and 110ºF before proceeding with the recipe. This is the meat thermometer I have been using for the past 6 years – I’ve never had to change a battery and it’s super sturdy and reliable. It was a bit pricey, but unlike the $15 models that you can buy, this one isn’t going to need replacement. It is waterproof and comes with a two-year warranty.
Can I use active dry yeast to make one hour dinner rolls? Yes, but you will need to proof the yeast first and they will no longer be “one hour rolls” but “two hour rolls.” You can proof the yeast with water, or by adding the yeast, salt and sugar to the warmed milk mixture and letting proof for 10 minutes before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
Increase all rising times to 40 minutes from 15 minutes.
Can I use rapid rise yeast to make one hour dinner rolls? I use instant yeast and rapid rise yeast interchangeably when making these rolls and always have great results.
Can these dinner rolls be frozen? Yes, you can freeze either before baking (after the second rise) – just ensure you thaw them for one hour at room temperature before baking (and you may need to increase your baking time); or you can freeze after baking for up to six weeks. If freezing before baking, I really love these Pyrex dishes with lids (and I add an extra layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper before securing the lid).
Honey Yeast Roll Ingredients
- Water
- Butter
- Milk <– I always use whole milk in baking recipes as the fat content helps yield better results
- All-Purpose Flour, as needed
- Salt
- White Sugar
- Honey
- Instant Yeast <– can use rapid rise yeast, if using active dry yeast read our tips above for proofing the yeast first and increasing rise times
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: while a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook will make quick and easy work of this recipe, you can use your hands to knead the dough instead. I do not recommend using a hand mixer for this recipe.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Stand Mixer fitted with hook attachment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Microwave-proof dish <– I used my Pyrex measuring cup
- Dough cutter
- 9″ x 13″ Casserole Dish
- Pastry brush <– I like these because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
- Instant Read Thermometer <– essential to avoid killing the yeast with liquid that is too hot
How to Make Honey Rolls
Combine the water, butter and milk.
Place mixture in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium-heat and heat until the mixture reaches 95-115F. If it is hotter, allow it to cool slightly before proceeding with the recipe.
Stir together 3 1/2 cups of the flour, salt, sugar and instant yeast in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer.
Add the warm liquid mixture and honey and knead for 6-8 minutes until a soft ball forms and pulls clean away from the sides of the bowl. Add the additional 1 cup flour, as needed
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel for 15 minutes.
Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish and set aside.
Punch down the dough and divide into 12 to 15 equal sized balls of dough.
Place the balls of dough in the greased casserole dish and re-cover with plastic wrap and towel for another 15 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 400F
Remove plastic wrap and towel from the casserole dish and place the dish in the oven for 15 minutes, until puffed and golden brown on top.
If brushing with butter, brush halfway through baking with 1 Tablespoon of melted butter and then again after baking.
Pin this Easy Honey Roll recipe for the next time you have a bread craving:
Grab your free printable recipe card for our one-hour honey rolls recipe:
One-Hour Honey Rolls
A light and fluffy honey yeast roll ready in less than one hour and with only 15 minutes prep time, these one hour dinner rolls are perfect for any occasion, whether you're serving them as part of a holiday spread or just pairing them with a bowl of soup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons butter, plus additional for brushing
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, as needed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoons instant yeast
Instructions
- Combine the water, butter and milk.
- Place mixture in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium-heat and heat until the mixture reaches 95-115F. If it is hotter, allow it to cool slightly before proceeding with the recipe.
- Stir together 3 1/2 cups of the flour, salt, sugar and instant yeast in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer.
- Add the warm liquid mixture and honey and knead for 6-8 minutes until a soft ball forms and pulls clean away from the sides of the bowl. Add the additional 1 cup flour, as needed
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a clean towel for 15 minutes.
- Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish and set aside.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 12 to 15 equal sized balls of dough.
- Place the balls of dough in the greased casserole dish and re-cover with plastic wrap and towel for another 15 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 400F
- Remove plastic wrap and towel from the casserole dish and place the dish in the oven for 15 minutes, until puffed and golden brown on top.
- If brushing with butter, brush halfway through baking with 1 Tablespoon of melted butter and then again after baking.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
15Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 172Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 159mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves these honey dinner rolls – and that you love how quick and easy they are to whip up!
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These are the best dinner rolls I’ve ever made. Recipe is a keeper.
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