Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (2024)

The softest old fashioned dinner roll recipe ever!

🗝️ Key takeaways

Skip the line at your local restaurant and make this fried shrimp po boy sandwich recipe is theultimate casual dining or game-day food! It's sure to make any party complete.

I've reworked this vintage potato rolls recipe to make it so easy to make that there's no reason not to have homemade dinner rolls often!

They are so buttery, light, and airy that each bite fairly melts in your mouth. If you have a minute grab some coffee and I'll share the recipe... plus my tips for making it!

Ingredients

• Active dry yeast is my choice but you can use the rapid rise in the same amount if you prefer.
• Ginger helps to activate the yeast - think of it like coffee for sleepy yeast colonies.
• Sugar gives the yeast something to eat and keeps it alive.
• Water should always be around 110F. If you live where the water has a lot of minerals or chemicals you might want to use spring water - sometimes city or well water can inhibit the yeast growth.
• All-Purpose flour. I used to use bread flour but I think this is easier for those of you who haven't made much bread before.
• Salt helps to control the growth of the yeast and gives the dough flavor.
• Butter adds moistness and flavor - it helps the rolls stay fresh longer.
• Nonfat dry milk powder increases the lightness and adds protein.
• Instant mashed potato flakes are my secret. They lighten the rolls and give flavor without adding too much moisture which can make them heavy and hard to work with.

🥫 Storage

Potato rolls can be placed in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze for longer storage.

To Freeze (up to 3 months)

You can either -

• make them, let them rise, shape them, and freeze unbaked OR
• bake them and freeze them... OR
• bake them just until they are done but not browned and finish them the day you plan to serve them like brown and serve rolls.

To Freeze Unbaked

After they are shaped place on a baking sheet and put in the freezer until frozen solid. Put in a freezer container in layers with parchment paper between the layers.

Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed.

To Freeze Baked

Bake as directed then place in freezer containers as above.

For Brown n Serve

Bake as directed but just until barely done. Don't let them brown. Remove from oven, cool, and freeze as above.

When ready to serve bake until golden brown. No need to thaw.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

I love dinner rolls, how about you? They freeze well so make them in big batches and freeze so you can have them anytime.

• Clover Leaf Rolls are light and fluffy, buttery, and slightly sweet plus you can pull them apart so that there are more inside edges to hold all of that melting butter.
• Country Style Whole Wheat Rolls are tender, light, and buttery because of the buttermilk in the recipe. If you love the regular buttermilk dinner rolls but want more whole grains in your diet? This is the roll for you.
• 30 Minute Rolls take a little less than 30 minutes start to finish. 30 minutes, y’all.
• Cheese Dinner Rolls are tender and buttery with bursts of flavor from sharp Cheddar and cracked black pepper.

📞 The last word

These are some of my favorites. You use potato flakes and dry milk -- it makes the rolls really airy and light.

I have been making this for years (ahem... decades) and I think I got the recipe out of a vintage Farm Journal cookbook but I honestly can't remember. I do know that it makes the best rolls ever... EVER.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published November 2015. Last updated October 17, 2021 for editorial and structural improvements.

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