You’ve just landed upon the recipe for the the most Perfect Bread Machine Dinner Rolls! You’ll never be the same. Don’t have a bread machine? I included the directions to make these without one, also!
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It might seem dramatic to call these dinner rolls perfect or life-changing, but I’d never throw those terms around if I didn’t think it was true. Once you make these Perfect Bread Machine Dinner Rolls, you’ll only want these at your holiday dinners. No popping open a can, no store-bought funny business, nothing but these.
I’ve been making these Bread Machine Dinner Rolls for years now, but I’ve never considered sharing the recipe here. It doesn’t exactly fit in with the Happy Healthy Mama theme of healthier recipes.
This year, however, I’ve had a slight shift in perspective. These rolls are made with white flour, sugar, whole milk, and plenty of butter. I don’t consider them something you should eat regularly. But here’s the thing. I only make these lovely rolls once or twice a year, at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A big part of living a happy, healthy life is living with balance, practicing moderation, and enjoying food. It’s almost like I was putting forth a false pretense by not sharing the less-than-healthy holiday recipes I do enjoy on those special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
The last thing I want to do is make anyone think I live up to this unachievable standard of health and never let foods such as these Perfect Bread Machine Dinner Rolls pass my lips. 
So let’s talk about these rolls!
I make them in the bread machine (aff link) using the dough cycle, but in the recipe I’ll also include directions to make them without a bread machine if you don’t have one. Either way, while these take a long time, most of the time is hands off. It’s definitely a quicker and easier with the bread machine, so you might want to get one!! 😉
These are super easy to make. You just need to start early because you aren’t going to have these perfect dinner rolls in an hour. Perfection takes time, kids.
You start by putting the ingredients in the order listed into the bread machine and set it to the dough cycle. One hour and thirty minutes later, the bread machine magically makes perfect dough. Every time. 
Cut the dough in half and roll it into two nine inch rounds. This dough is SO easy to work with and it’s forgiving also.
Now you cut the circles into eight or sixteen equal parts. I did eight here, and that will make large rolls. For smaller rolls, cut it into sixteenths. 
Take each triangle and roll it up, crescent style.
Place the rolls on a greased baking sheet. 
Now you’re going to cover the rolls and let them rise for two hours. (Remember, perfection takes time….) 
If your house is freezing, put them in a warm place.
After two hours, they will have risen nicely. Now they’re ready to bake.
You can brush them with melted butter before baking or not. Your choice. For these pictures, I did not. I brushed them with melted butter after they came out of the oven. In the video you’ll see below, I brushed them before.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. 
Hello, Perfect Bread Machine Dinner Rolls. Nice to meetcha!
I can’t even tell you how much these rolls are adored by all who try them. They are light, fluffy…perfect.
Now, for extra overkill, I’ll let you watch these being made via video!
I have to note that when I made these for the video, I had a last-minute schedule change and wasn’t able to bake them when I should have, so they had too much rise time. (Heeeelllllooo puffy rolls!) You can see that in the video they aren’t as perfect-looking as these pictures (two different days). But when I say this dough is forgiving I mean it! These still tasted absolutely perfect.
Please make these. You will love them.
If you’re making these rolls for Christmas, they’d be lovely with this Sheet Pan Christmas Dinner. Sounds so easy!
I didn’t create this recipe myself. This is one of those recipes that lives on the Internet in varying, but close, forms in different places, including All Recipes and Genius Kitchen. I tried to find the original creator, but it seems this is one that comes from someone’s grandma’s neighbor’s great aunt. The best kind of recipes, no? I’d like to give a hug to the person who perfected the recipe for these dinner rolls. I know my family is grateful, too. Enjoy them, friends.
Perfect Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
- Total Time: 4 hours 12 minutes
- Yield: 16-24 rolls 1x
Description
These are PERFECT Bread Machine Dinner Rolls–you will never go back to the cans of crescent roll dough!
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 ounce active dry yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
Instructions
Bread Machine Instructions
- Place the ingredients in the bread machine in the exact order listed (important). Set the bread machine to the dough cycle.
- When the dough is ready, divide it in half.
- Roll each half into a 9 inch round circle.
- Cut each circle into 8 or 12 pie-shaped wedges. 8 will yield large rolls, 12 will yield medium-sized rolls.
- Starting with the wide end, roll up each wedge and place on a greased baking pan.
- Cover with a cloth and let rise about 2 hours, until the rolls have doubled in size.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
Without Bread Machine Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together yeast, milk, and sugar. Let stand for 30 minutes.
- Mix eggs, butter, and salt into yeast mixture.
- Mix in flour, 2 cups at a time.
- Cover with wax paper and let dough stand at room temperature overnight.
- In the morning, divide the dough in half.
- Roll each half into a 9″ round circle.
- Cut each round into 8 or 12 pie-shaped wedges.
- Roll up each wedge starting from wide end.
- Place on greased cookie sheets and let stand until ready to bake.
- Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
Notes
This is the bread machine I have and love. (aff link)
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
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Can you make them the day ahead and just reheat before dinner
Yes!
Made these a week ago and froze until yesterday. These rolls are soft, buttery and delicious!
OMG! Amazing….and so simple. Thanks for an awesome recipe.
I was a little nervous to try these, but the recipe seemed so simple that I decided to give it a go. And I’m SO glad that I did!
My bread machine is currently broken so I decided to make these by hand for our Thanksgiving dinner today. I just got them out of the oven and tried one – I can confirm that they are the best rolls I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to serve them up later!
I have bookmarked this recipe.. I have made these several times now and they are my family’s favorite! Sometimes they come out better than others but they always taste good. But we are a bread eating kind of family-These never last longer than a day or two.
Just made these, they look good. If I freeze should they be thawed before heating?
Yes I would thaw first.
I’m glad you titled this recipe dinner rolls else I would not have found it. I’ve successfully made the crescent shaped rolls and also the round dinner rolls using this recipe. Delicious!
Thanks for your feedback! I will have to try making them round.
Easy to make, but I was disappointed. With the title I thought these would be the best rolls I’ve every tasted, that’s just not the case. They taste ok, but not really that much better than the rolls I buy at the store. Kind of bland white bread taste, but then again I don’t eat white bread. Maybe with some tweaking they’ll be my go to rolls. As it is no way. If you’re a white bread fan, these are probably the rolls for you.
Thanks for your feedback. We adore these rolls and find them perfect for our taste buds. 🙂
Disastrous. I was looking for a second dinner roll recipe that would use all purpose flour (not bread flour). The title, which doesn’t specify these are actually for crescent rolls, led me here. Hoping to try to bake them in a 9×13 pan as I do my regular rolls, I quickly could tell by the sticky consistency that that was not to be. I tried to shape them as suggested and let them rise… but just pulled them out of the oven to find heavy, doughy lumps. Will simply go back to my bread-flour recipe which is no-fail every time.
I’m not sure what went wrong for you here. I have made these (following the recipe to a T) countless times and they are a family favorite. Every time I serve them to someone else, I get asked for the recipe. Something surely went wrong for you and I’m sorry for that, but this recipe is a good one and I’m sorry you missed out on these delicious rolls!
I agree they should be called butterhorns, or anything other than dinner rolls, but when you read the recipe, it is quite clear that these are Crescent shaped.
Thanks for your feedback. Sounds like I need to change the name of this recipe! I grew up calling almost all rolls “dinner rolls” but it’s clear now that’s not completely accurate.
Absolutely TERRIFIC! I used buttermilk and half of the sugar the recipe called for and I couldn’t believe how easy and scarily delicious these are! Hats off to Maryea!
Thank you for the feedback! 🙂
I have now made this twice and used the dough to make two loaves and they made PERFECT chicken milanesa tortas! I grilled the bread and all….outstanding! I have the dough rising now to make in the form of “parker house” rolls for tonight. I am afraid to get on the scale thanks to this recipe!
Could you add cheeder cheese to this recipe and if so at one point?
Oooh I love the idea! I am really not sure when the best time to add it would be though. If I get a chance to test it out, I will let you know! Please do the same if you test it.
Tonight I made these rolls for the first time. I must say these are the best things that have ever come out of my bread machine, which has been stored for many years. I think it will sit proudly beside the toaster oven for awhile now. Your directions were just right as where your hints. I am so glad I found this recipe.
Oh, no! I forgot to proofread and see no way to edit, but it should be were, not where. Also, I used bread flour and instant yeast.
So happy to hear this, Ida!
Quick and Easy instructions. I have made other rolls but by far these are the best rolls yet. Thank you for sharing
These rolls are perfection. I’m making a second batch today and will freeze them until thanksgiving, thaw and gently warm them right before dinner.
So glad to hear that!
These came out amazing! I was wondering if you’ve ever tried them pull apart style in a 13×9 glass dish? I’ve always loved them that way!
I haven’t tried that, but I think it would work! I like that style too.
Hats off to you Maryea. So far the best recipe. Had tried many recipes and this one is a winner. Thank you.
Any suggestions for adding something spicy like garlic, coriander etc.?
Thank you for the feedback! I like how you’re thinking. I’d have to experiment, but I think adding some spices in would be great.
My family and I absolutely love the taste of these rolls. I do have 1 small issue. My dough comes out of my bread machine very sticky (literally sticking to the inside of the machine). I considered adding a touch more flour to my machine or maybe kneeding in more after the dough cycle is complete. What is the best fix for this?
Interesting–I’ve never had that issue! I would try adding just a touch of flour before you take it out.
Bread or all purpose flour?
All purpose flour! 🙂
Those look so delicious!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Can you make these with any kind of milk? I have a child with a milk protein intolerance, so we used unsweetened Almond milk for a lot of things. Wasn’t sure what would happen?
I haven’t tried it. I don’t think almond milk would work well because of the lack of fat. Maybe coconut milk? My biggest worry would be the taste, but if that doesn’t bother you I think that may be your best bet.
I know I’m super late but for anyone reading down this far, I used oat milk and vegan butter (kept the eggs in though) and they came out perfect!