Flour Water Salt Yeast Recipe

Easy Yeast Rolls

Total Time

Prep: 45 min. + rising Bake: 15 min.

Makes

4 dozen

These simple, tender yeast rolls bake to a golden brown and will disappear in no time. If you've never baked with yeast before, these rolls are the perfect starting point. —Wilma Harter, Witten, South Dakota

Easy Yeast Rolls

Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Ingredients

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons salt
6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine sugar, egg, oil, salt, yeast mixture and 4 cups flour; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into four portions. Divide and shape each portion into 12 balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks.

Easy Yeast Rolls Tips

Why are my yeast rolls not fluffy?

There are a few different reasons your yeast rolls might not be fluffy. A fluffy yeast roll relies on a successful proof. (Read our ultimate guide to proofing bread to learn some of our best tips.) Another reason your rolls might not be fluffy is that your yeast could be old and past its prime. Double-check the expiration date before using. You'll also want to make sure that the water you used wasn't too warm to dissolve the yeast—it shouldn't exceed 115°F. Lastly, you might have needed to knead some more. Under-kneaded dough can result in flat rolls. Here's how to tell if you've kneaded enough.

Can I make these yeast rolls ahead of time?

You can make these yeast rolls ahead of time, but we think they're best the day of! To make them in advance, wrap and freeze cooled baked rolls. Defrost at room temperature, wrap in foil and gently warm at 250°F before serving.

How do I store yeast rolls?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or wrap well and freeze for up to three months. We don't recommend refrigerating this dinner roll recipe because it could dry out the rolls.

—Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 roll: 78 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.