There’s something undeniably comforting about the smell of fresh bread drifting through the kitchen. These homemade buns are soft, fluffy, and surprisingly simple to make—even if you’re new to baking. With just a few basic ingredients and a little patience, you’ll have warm, golden rolls that pair beautifully with any meal. Whether you’re serving them alongside a cozy soup, using them for sandwiches, or enjoying one with a pat of butter, these buns bring a touch of homemade goodness to your table. Let’s get baking and fill your home with that irresistible, fresh‑from‑the‑oven aroma.
Foolproof Homemade Buns or Dinner Rolls
Ingredients Makes 12-15 rolls Recipe Prep time 45 minutes
Rising time 60 minutes plus 15-20 minutes
Baking time 20-30 minutes
2 packets of yeast- for tips on understanding baking yeast https://recipeswanted.com/how-to-use-baking-yeast-activate-proof-store-and-troubleshoot-for-perfect-bread/
2 tablespoons of sugar
½ cup hot water
¼ cup milk
3 tablespoons of butter
5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a 1-cup measuring cup. Water should be warm enough to feel quite hot on your inner wrist, but not so hot that it feels burning. The yeast needs hot water to become active, but if the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast. You will know this happened if your yeast doesn’t froth. About water temperature: https://bit.ly/3O4lQ72
- Add butter and milk together in a medium-sized ceramic bowl. Warm the milk in the microwave until the butter has all melted. Check the mixture to make sure the milk hasn’t become too hot to your inner wrist. Stir well with a wooden spoon until combined.
- Add the frothy yeast mixture to the milk mixture, stirring gently until well combined.
- Sift in the flour and salt. Sifting the flour makes for a lighter, tastier bread.
- Stir flour into the liquid, making sure to include the sides and bottom of the bowl, until the dough loses its stickiness and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Flour your hand, then knead the dough in the bowl with one hand until the flour is incorporated and the dough isn’t sticking to your fingers.
- Flour your countertop, then place the dough ball on it. Knead vigorously with two hands until the dough springs back quickly when you poke your finger into the dough ball.
- Scrape out all the dry dough bits from the bowl and discard them.
- Flour the bowl and put the doughball in.
- Cover with a clean, damp cloth to keep a crust from forming on the top of the doughball as it rises.
- Place in a warm spot and raise for 1 hour. If your house is cold, you can preheat your oven to 400 degrees and raise the dough next to the oven.
- After an hour, the dough should have nearly doubled in size. Return the dough to the floured countertop and knead vigorously until it once again springs back when pressed with your finger.
- If you haven’t done it already, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Butter a large cast-iron skillet or a 9×8-inch cake pan. The cast-iron skillet will give you buns with a nice crisp crust.
- Pinch of 1 ½ – 2-inch pieces of dough. Roll them in your hands, then flatten them a bit. Place them in the skillet or pan. Leave a bit of space around the buns so that they have room to rise.
- Let rise for 15-20 minutes.
- Bake for 20 minutes and then check. You are looking for a nice, golden-brown crust to let you know they are done. If they aren’t golden brown, bake for 10 more minutes and check again.
- You did it! You made yeast buns or rolls. Enjoy!
