Brown Butter Easy Dinner Rolls

These comforting Easy Dinner Rolls with brown butter are so perfect to whip up for your friends and/or family. It pairs great with any dish, or even on its own. I love the smell of them baking up in my oven, and this recipe is such a good one to have in your back pocket.

❤️ Why You’ll Love These Easy Dinner Rolls

• 30-Minutes Prep: Making your own homemade bread doesn’t need to be complicated. This recipe can be prepped in 30-minutes. The rest of the time is spent letting the dough rise and baking.
• Versatile: Add in (or on top) herbs to make your own twist on this dinner roll recipe.
• Healthier: By making your own bread you know exactly what’s going in it. There are no preservatives here!

🍲 Ingredients

Yeast: There are two main types of yeast that you’ll find at your store – active dry or instant rise (or sometimes called quick rise or rapid rise). Both types will work but require different instructions to activate them. Active dry dissolves in warm water and with sugar in order for it to “bloom”. Instant rise yeast doesn’t need to be proofed in warm water and can be added directly into your recipe which is what I used for this recipe. Whichever you have or choose, just make sure you activate it properly if you need to.

Brown Butter: Brown butter is made by cooking unsalted butter long enough to turn the milk solids brown while cooking out any water present in the butter. It makes it have that nutty or toasty taste which is more intense than regular butter flavor. However, you can also use regular butter or plant-based butter instead.

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👩‍🍳 How to Make Easy Dinner Rolls

1. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will foam up and might spatter a bit. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids turn from yellow to chestnut red to brown, 5-10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a heat-proof bowl and let cool.
2. Grease a large bowl with the vegetable oil.
3. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until a thermometer registers 120°F – 125°F. Add the milk to the dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Add the egg and stir to mix well. Knead until a smooth dough forms, 5 to 10 minutes.

🗒 Tips and Tricks

• Serve dinner rolls with a variety of butter, jams, or meals!
• Prep a bunch of these Dinner Rolls in advance and store them in your freezer for easy access.
• Make these Dinner Rolls your own by stuffing or topping them with your favorite ingredients.

🗒 Variations

Brown Butter Dinner Rolls Stuffed with Feta and Zataar

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups (580 grams) all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 packages rapid rise (instant) yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 1/3 cup finely crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp zata’ar seasoning
• 1 tbsp sumac
• Egg wash: 1 large egg, 2 tbsp whole milk or plant based milk
• Flaky salt

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will foam up and might spatter a bit. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids turn from yellow to chestnut red to brown, 5-10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a heat-proof bowl and let cool.
2. Grease a large bowl with the vegetable oil.
3. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until a thermometer registers 120°F – 125°F. Add the milk to the dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Add the egg and stir to mix well. Knead until a smooth dough forms, 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Gradually mix in ½ cup of the cooled browned butter. The dough will separate a bit, but keep on mixing and it will come together. Knead until the dough is soft and completely combined, could take about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
5. Meanwhile, butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a small bowl, mix the feta cheese, sesame seeds, zataar, and sumac.
6. Transfer the dough to a work surface. Press into an 8×10-inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the rectangle into 12 equal pieces.
7. Working with 1 piece at a time, press into about a 3 ½-inch square or round. Sprinkle with 1 rounded teaspoonful of the feta cheese blend. Gather the edges together to encase the spice blend. Pinch the edges firmly together, then turn over and roll into a ball. Place in the prepared baking dish.
8. Cover the rolls with a tea towel and set in a warm area until doubled in volume, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
9. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash by whisking 1 large egg and 2 tbsp milk together. Brush the egg wash generously over the tops and sides of the rolls. Sprinkle the remaining spice mixture over the top of the rolls. 
10. Bake the rolls until deep golden brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack. Melt the remaining browned butter and brush generously over the rolls; sprinkle with flaky salt. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Serve with butter.

🗒 Substitutions

Vegan Substitutes: Replace brown butter with vegan butter and replace milk with plant-based milk. The only issue here is the egg brush. I recommend using egg for the golden brown color, but you can just brush with plant-based milk as well. 

🗒 Best served with

• Ravioli Casserole
• Pastitsio
• Creamy Pesto Lasagna

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Store in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 months in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave OR at 350F in the oven for 10 minutes. Brush with milk after removing from oven.

🤔 Common Questions

Brown Butter Easy Dinner Rolls

5 from 3 votes

Fresh, warm brown butter dinner rolls are perfect to pair with any dish. These Easy Dinner Rolls are comforting and a classic one you'll make again and make.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 18 minutes mins

Course Vegetarian

Cuisine Baked Goods

Servings 12

Calories 239 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups (580 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 packages rapid rise (instant) yeast
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend

Egg Wash:

• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp whole milk or plant-based milk
• flaky salt

Variation: Brown Butter Dinner Rolls Stuffed with Feta and Zataar

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 cups (580 grams) all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 packages rapid rise (instant) yeast
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend
• 1/3 cup finely crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp zata’ar seasoning
• 1 tbsp sumac
• Egg wash: 1 large egg, 2 tbsp whole milk or plant based milk
• Flaky salt

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Instructions

 

• In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will foam up and might spatter a bit. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids turn from yellow to chestnut red to brown, 5-10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a heat-proof bowl and let cool.
• Grease a large bowl with the vegetable oil.
• In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until a thermometer registers 120°F – 125°F. Add the milk to the dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Add the egg and stir to mix well. Knead until a smooth dough forms, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Gradually mix in ½ cup of the cooled browned butter. The dough will separate a bit, but keep on mixing and it will come together. Knead until the dough is soft and completely combined, this could take 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, butter a 9×13-inch baking pan.
• Transfer the dough to a work surface. Press into an 8×10-inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the rectangle into 12 equal pieces.
• Working with 1 piece at a time, press into about a 3 ½-inch square or round. Pinch the edges firmly together, then turn over and roll into a ball. Place in the prepared baking dish.
• Cover the rolls with a tea towel and set in a warm area until doubled in size, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash by whisking the egg and milk together. Brush the egg wash generously over the tops and sides of the rolls.
• Bake the rolls until deep golden brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack. Melt the remaining browned butter and brush generously over the rolls; sprinkle with flaky salt. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Serve with butter.

Variation: Brown Butter Dinner Rolls Stuffed with Feta and Zataar

• In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will foam up and might spatter a bit. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter turns golden brown and the milk solids turn from yellow to chestnut red to brown, 5-10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a heat-proof bowl and let cool.
• Grease a large bowl with the vegetable oil.
• In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until a thermometer registers 120°F – 125°F. Add the milk to the dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Add the egg and stir to mix well. Knead until a smooth dough forms, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Gradually mix in ½ cup of the cooled browned butter. The dough will separate a bit, but keep on mixing and it will come together. Knead until the dough is soft and completely combined, could take about 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and turn to coat. Cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, butter a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a small bowl, mix the feta cheese, sesame seeds, zataar, and sumac.
• Transfer the dough to a work surface. Press into an 8×10-inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the rectangle into 12 equal pieces.
• Working with 1 piece at a time, press into about a 3 ½-inch square or round. Sprinkle with 1 rounded teaspoonful of the feta cheese blend. Gather the edges together to encase the spice blend. Pinch the edges firmly together, then turn over and roll into a ball. Place in the prepared baking dish.
• Cover the rolls with a tea towel and set in a warm area until doubled in volume, 40 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash by whisking 1 large egg and 2 tbsp milk together. Brush the egg wash generously over the tops and sides of the rolls. Sprinkle the remaining spice mixture over the top of the rolls. 
• Bake the rolls until deep golden brown, about 18 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack. Melt the remaining browned butter and brush generously over the rolls; sprinkle with flaky salt. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Serve with butter.

Notes

Replace brown butter with regular butter or earth balance. 

Replace milk with plant-based milk.

Have fun with it and form free-standing buns for sandwiches, mix in spices or cheeses- the choice is yours!

Serve dinner rolls with a variety of butter, jams, or meals!

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Store in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 months in the freezer. Reheat in the microwave OR at 350F in the oven for 10 minutes. Brush with milk after removing from oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 12 | Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 48.8g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 318.3mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.2g

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