Homemade Steakhouse Dinner Rolls are better than the rolls at your favorite steakhouse. Sweet, salty, buttery, and less than 100 calories each!
These fun little rolls are absolutely delicious! Made with simple ingredients, you will be amazed that making these homemade rolls is so easy.
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So, here's the backstory of why I'm sharing this recipe with you...
Several weeks ago, my husband and I decided to try a local steakhouse that we had heard was reliably good from friends and colleagues. In the past when we have driven past this restaurant, the parking lot has been packed. It is so busy that if you arrive more than 30 minutes after opening time, you will have a long wait to get a table.
So, we decided to go right as the restaurant opened to give it a try. We have just moved to a new town and want to find all the best places to grab a bite.
We were immediately seated and our drink order was taken. As we were perusing the menu for tasty steaks and sides, the waiter dropped off a basket of freshly baked rolls that had been brushed with melted butter. My husband immediately pulled one from the basket. It was warm and smelled heavenly of yeast and homemade goodness. Or… at least at first it did.
Our waiter returned for our order and I, too, reached for a roll. I was surprised it was not what I expected. I looked again at the basket. The rolls were very flat and as I drew the basket closer to me to have a better look, I smelled more than just yeast. I got the slightest whiff of alcohol. That is when I knew.
These rolls were over proofed!
Normally, we would have eaten all of the bread and possibly had a second basket delivered to us. Not this time. The last two rolls of the four that came in that basket sat sadly untouched. So, of course I went home thinking, "I need to share my recipe for dinner rolls!"
My dinner rolls are very easy to make!
Basic white bread and dinner rolls are very easy to make. They take time, but all of the ingredients are pantry and refrigerator staples and with a little planning, you can make them any day. So, let’s get started!
Ingredients
As you see, all of the ingredients are ones you are likely to have on hand. The basic ingredients for rolls are water, yeast, sugar, and salt. This particular dough is enriched with butter and egg and the topping is butter, honey, and my favorite flaked sea salt.
Instructions
The most important step in bread making is making sure your yeast is strong and activated. In this recipe, you prove that the yeast is good by starting with “proofing” the yeast.
Proofing the Yeast
Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar together in your bowl.
I am showing this in a glass bowl so that you can easily see the change in the ingredients as the yeast activates and grows.
Yeast is Activated
Here you can see the mixture has risen in the bowl and has become very spongy.
The yeast is now fully activated and ready to be used.
Making the Dough and the Rolls
Step 1 - Proof the Yeast
Step 2 - Make the Dough
Step 3 - Gather Dough into a Ball. Place in a Large Bowl and Cover with Plastic Wrap
Step 4 - Let Dough Rise Until Double in Size
Step 5 - Punch Down and Portion out the Dough - Punch down the dough and shape it into a rectangle. Next cut the dough into equal squares with a knife or pastry wheel and start to shape the rolls.
Step 6 - Shape Dough into Rolls - Tuck the edges under and gently shape dough into a ball by pinching the dough from the bottom. The dough will stretch across the top leaving a smooth look to each ball of dough.
Step 7 - Place Rolls in Prepared Baking Pan. {SPECIAL NOTE: You can refrigerate the rolls at this point, up to overnight and then finish them later.} Let Rise and Brush Rolls with Butter and Sprinkle with Salt
Step 8 - Let Rolls Continue to Rise to Almost the Top of the Pan
Step 9 - Bake!
After about 18 minutes in the oven the rolls are golden brown and smell heavenly. Give them another brushing of butter with honey and serve them in the pan or in your favorite bread basket or bowl. Cover them with a cloth napkin or kitchen towel to keep the rolls warm and cozy during dinner.
These dinner rolls are amazing with or without additional butter on the side... and I guarantee you can't eat just one!
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📖 Recipe
Steakhouse Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- Rolls:
- 2 Teaspoons Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Lukewarm Water
- 1 Tablespoon Yeast
- ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Salted Butter, Softened
- 1 Large Egg, Slightly Beaten
- Topping:
- 3 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
- 2 Tablespoons Flaked Sea Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Parsley, Chopped (Optional)
Instructions
- Use the vegetable oil and lightly oil a large mixing bowl. Set this bowl aside for later.
- Add lukewarm water to a stand mixer’s large mixing bowl. Add yeast and sugar and mix well with a knife. Allow yeast to proof for 20 minutes, or until yeast mixture is foamy and raised.
- Add flour, salt, egg, and the 2 tablespoons of softened butter and mix with a dough hook on low speed until all is combined and dough comes together.
- Increase speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes.
- Using a silicone spatula scrape dough from hook and mixing bowl and place dough in the prepared large bowl. The dough will be very sticky, but not slack. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise until double, about 1 hour.
- While dough is rising, heat the butter in a small ramekin on low power (2) in a microwave for 1 minute or until melted. Add honey and stir well.
- Gently punch down the dough. Stretch and pat the dough into a rectangle. Using a pastry cutter or a knife, divide the dough into 24 equal sized pieces about 1 ounce each. Take each piece in hand and pinch the corners of the dough under each piece. Shape into a ball by continuing to roll the edges under and smoothing the dough until a round ball is achieved.
- Place the shaped rolls in a parchment-lined 13 x 9 x 2” baking pan. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rolls rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Midway through the last rising, preheat oven to 350°F and brush the rolls with half of the butter mixture and sprinkle them with the flaked sea salt.
- Recover rolls with plastic wrap and let rolls continue to rise until the tops of the rolls are as tall as the height of the baking pan.
- Remove plastic wrap from pan and bake rolls for 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
- Remove rolls from oven and drizzle rolls with the remaining butter mixture and cool slightly.
- Plate and serve.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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