Nothing beats the smell and taste of fresh, warm bread right from your own oven. Forget spending money on store-bought rolls! This simple recipe for homemade dinner rolls is a game-changer for any frugal kitchen. Using just a few pantry staples—flour, yeast, sugar, water, oil, and salt—you can create soft, fluffy, and delicious rolls that are perfect for serving with dinner, as sliders, or just with a bit of butter. This is a fantastic, budget-friendly recipe for beginner bakers and seasoned bread makers alike. With just 20 minutes of prep, you can have bakery-quality rolls that cost pennies to make. Let’s get baking!
Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Additional Time: 1 hr 40 mins | Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins | Servings: 16 | Yield: 16 rolls
Dietary Information: Dairy-Free
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F or 45°C)
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Step 1:
In a large bowl, stir together the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes, until it becomes creamy and foamy. This shows your yeast is active.
- Step 2:
Add 2 cups of the bread flour, the vegetable oil, and the salt to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine. Gradually stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour, about 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms and begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Step 3:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 8 minutes, until the dough is smooth, soft, and elastic.
- Step 4:
Lightly oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it over once to coat the top with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until it has doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Step 5:
Gently deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth, round ball.
- Step 6:
Lightly grease two baking sheets, or line them with parchment paper. Place the rolls on the prepared sheets, leaving at least 2 inches of space between them. Cover with a damp cloth and let them rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
- Step 7:
While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C)
- Step 8:
Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tops are beautifully golden brown. Serve warm.
Cook’s Notes
- For Softer Crusts: Brush the tops with melted butter (or dairy-free alternative) right after baking.
- Storage: Store leftover rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Gluten-Free Status: NOT gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free Status: IS dairy-free as written.
Nutrition Facts
(Per 1 roll serving) Calories: 137 Fat: 2g Carbohydrates: 25g Protein: 4g Sodium: 148mg Sugar: 2g
This is an estimated nutritional analysis. Full nutrition information can vary based on brands and exact measurements used.
