Traditional Homemade Dinner Rolls with three shape variations
Holiday baking is in full swing in my house! I have been baking some of my favorites - Bow Tie Cookies, Peppermint Cookies, and Cranberry Bars. But not everything has been sweet. I've also been making Homemade Dinner Rolls.
I made three batches for Thanksgiving dinner and then I decided to make these dinner rolls again on the day after Thanksgiving.
Usually when I make homemade dinner rolls, I shape the rolls into a nice rounded shape. This time I decided to make a few different variations. I still made the round classic dinner rolls, but I also made a cloverleaf dinner roll and a fan shaped dinner roll.
I used the same bread dough for all so the taste doesn't change, just the shape.
To Make Classic Dinner Rolls
- Divide dough in half
- Work with one half at a time. Cut dough in half again. Keep halving dough until 8 portions are formed.
- Cup your hand around one portion. With dough on a counter top, make a circular motion until a round dough is formed.
- Set on a greased baking sheet ¼ - ½ inch apart.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
To Make Cloverleaf Rolls
- Divide dough in half
- Work with one half at a time. Cut dough in half again. Keep halving dough until 8 portions are formed.
- Take one portion and divide it into thirds.
- Roll each third into a small ball.
- Place the three balls into one greased cup of a cupcake pan. The three balls form one roll.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
To Make Fan Shaped Rolls
- Divide dough in half.
- Work with one half at a time.
- Roll dough out into a rectangular shape approximately 6" x 10"
- Use a pizza cutter to trim off uneven sides.
- Cut dough with pizza cutter into 2 inch squares.
- Stack 6 squares together and place in a greased cupcake pan. Place stacked squares one their sides.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
You could also make dinner rolls using other bread recipes including Oatmeal Rolls and Sweet Potato Rolls.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below or snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my bread recipes!
Looking for other Thanksgiving and Holiday recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (warmed)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (or 1 packet)
- ¼ cup butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour (may need an additional ¼ cup flour)
- ¼ cup butter (melted, add just before baking)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine milk, sugar and yeast. Stir lightly and let sit for 5 minutes until mixture is bubbly.1 cup whole milk, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
- Mix in butter, salt egg and 2 cups of flour. Add additional flour ½ cup at a time until the dough forms a ball. Add up to ¼ more flour if needed.¼ cup butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- Knead with stand mixer for 10 minutes or knead by hand.
- Place dough into a greased bowl and cover. Let rise until doubled, approximately 1 hour.
- Gently punch dough down. Divide dough in half and then each half into eighths. Shape dough into rolls.
- Place rolls on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Just before baking brush the tops lightly with melted butter.¼ cup butter
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.
- Optional - brush with melted butter when the rolls are finished baking.
- Remove from baking sheet and let rolls cool on a baking rack.
Video
Nutrition
allie says
Hi Kathy - these dinner rolls look great. I've never seen the fan rolls- very clever. I've made the traditional shape and the cloverleaf, so pretty and delicious. Great photos and video - extra mouth watering! I just found a jar of homemade cherry preserves in the back of the pantry -- thinking that would be INCREDIBLE with these rolls. Hope all is well at your house - snow here and the wind is whistling to beat the band.
Kathy says
Cherry preserves would be delicious with homemade rolls! Stay warm in that storm!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
So homey and delicious! Great video - I might actually get it right with your instruction! Thank you!!
Kathy says
You can do it!!!
judy says
Those look yummy. The video makes it look easy.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I LOVE baking and especially love bread, but have never made my own dinner rolls! Such a great guide, Kathy and love the different styles. I bet these are amazing fresh outta the oven smeared with lots of butter 🙂
Kathy says
They are delicious right out of the oven!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
You are the queen of breads Kathy! I'm so envious. Everything you make always looks amazing. I'll need to test my skills with this one!
Kathy says
Ahhhh....Thanks, Mary Ann!
Fred G says
Three for one. What a good idea for rolls.
Kathy says
Thanks! 🙂
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
Hello Cloverleaf rolls! I have never made them before, but will put them on my list! I clicked on your video, which played nicely on my 'side bar'. Thanks!
Kathy says
Thanks, Fran! The cloverleaf are fun to make and super fun to eat. I tend to pull of one section at a time and I have all those wonderful soft sides!
Stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says
These rolls look amazing, love the variation in shapes, the fan is my favorite! Take care.
David @ Spiced says
Kathy, I've got a confession to admit. I didn't make homemade rolls for Thanksgiving this year. We just ran out of time, so I skipped it. And I regretted it all day long...and the next day, too, since Thanksgiving leftovers on a sliced homemade roll are just amazing. This post just confirms that I need to go make some rolls. Better late than never, right?? 🙂
Kathy says
Sometimes it's tough to make everything. We went to my in-laws so all I was in charge of was the rolls!