Looking for a delicious, butter soft addition to your dinner table? Look no further than Sourdough Dinner Rolls! These fluffy rolls are the perfect complement to any meal, from a cozy family dinner to a fancy holiday feast.
With their soft texture and distinctive flavor, sourdough dinner rolls are sure to become a favorite in your household. Plus, they’re easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and some patience as you wait for the dough to rise.
So, why not try making these delectable rolls tonight? Your taste buds will thank you!
Ingredients Needed
Active, bubbly starter is a mixture of flour and water that has been left to ferment for a period of time. It contains naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria that help to leaven bread and give it its characteristic flavor. You want your stater to have doubled in size and be full of bubbles. That tells you that the yeast is strong and ready to rise dough!
Having trouble getting your sourdough starter to rise? I often turn my oven to broil for about 1 minute, turn it off, then put my starter (or dough!) in it to rise with the oven light on. You should still be able to put your hand in the oven…it shouldn’t be too hot! You’re just giving it a little boost of heat.
Warm water is used to activate the yeast in the starter and help it to grow. It also helps to hydrate the flour and create a smooth dough.
Milk adds richness and flavor to bread. Using warm milk also helps to activate the yeast in the starter more quickly.
Honey is a natural sweetener that can be added to bread dough for flavor. It also helps to feed the yeast in the starter, allowing it to grow more quickly.
Eggs add richness and protein to bread dough. They also help to bind the ingredients together and create a tender crumb.
Salt not only adds flavor, but also helps to control the fermentation process by slowing down the activity of the yeast in the starter.
Flour is the main ingredient in bread dough. It provides structure and texture, as well as serving as food for the yeast in the starter. You can use a variety of different flours in this recipe and I often use khorasan (Kamut) flour. Depending on which flour you choose, it might take slightly more/less flour. Go by the consistency of the dough shown in the video linked below: the dough cleans the sides of the mixing bowl & forms a ball, it is soft & stretchy, makes a window pain, as shown.
Butter adds richness and flavor to bread dough. Softened butter is easier to mix into the dough than cold butter, which can be difficult to incorporate evenly.
How to Store
To store sourdough dinner rolls, it is best to let them cool completely after baking. Once they are cool, store them in an airtight container, plastic or linen bag and store them at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
If you need to keep the rolls for longer than 2-3 days, you can freeze them. Wrap each roll individually or as a group in plastic wrap or beeswax and then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.
To serve frozen rolls, allow them to thaw at room temperature for several hours or overnight before reheating. To reheat the rolls, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the rolls for 10-15 minutes until they are heated through.
Sourdough dinner rolls can be stored in the refrigerator but they tend to lose moisture as time goes on. They can be spritzed with water and reheated as mentioned above for a fresh taste!
Tips for Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Sourdough dinner rolls are a delicious and versatile addition to any meal. They have a tangy flavor that pairs well with savory dishes, but they can also be enjoyed on their own as a snack or appetizer.
- One of the great things about sourdough dinner rolls is that they are easy to make at home. All you need is some sourdough starter, flour, water, salt, and a little bit of patience. The dough needs time to rise and ferment, which gives the rolls their distinctive flavor and texture.
- The two most common mistakes I see people make with most enriched sourdough recipes like this are: not kneading the dough for long enough (you should get to window pane stage) and not letting their dough rise for long enough. These two variables ensure that your rolls will be fluffy and soft!
- When making sourdough dinner rolls, it’s important to use high-quality ingredients. Look for flour that is unbleached and unbromated, as these chemicals can interfere with the fermentation process, plus these are not what you want to be eating! You can also experiment with different types of flour to create unique flavors and textures.
- Brushing the tops with melted butter or olive oil before baking will give them a beautiful golden-brown color and add extra flavor.
- Sourdough dinner rolls are perfect for serving alongside soups, stews, roasts, or any other hearty main course. They also make great sliders or mini sandwiches when filled with your favorite meats and cheeses. And don’t forget about using them as a base for bread pudding or French toast!
What Goes Well With Sourdough Dinner Rolls?
Here are some ideas for what to pair with sourdough dinner rolls:
- Thanksgiving or Easter dinner. These meals are not complete without a soft, buttery roll!
- Soup, such as tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, or lentil soup
- Stew, such as beef stew, vegetable stew, or chili
- Roasted meats, such as turkey, chicken, or beef
- Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers
- Salad with a vinaigrette dressing
- Charcuterie board with cured meats and cheeses
- Butter and jam for a simple breakfast or snack option
- Sandwiches or sliders with your choice of fillings (turkey and avocado, ham and cheese, pulled pork)
- Creamy dips like spinach artichoke dip or hummus
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Sourdough dinner rolls are versatile and can be paired with many different flavors and cuisines. Enjoy experimenting with different pairing options!
More Sourdough Recipes
Overall, sourdough dinner rolls are a delicious way to incorporate homemade bread into your meals. With their tangy flavor and soft texture, they’re sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
Watch me make Sourdough Dinner Rolls here!
Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Equipment
- 1 mixer
- 1 9×9 or 8×8 pan
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bubbly starter
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 2 T honey
- 1 egg, room temp
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 cups flour
- 3 T softened butter
Instructions
- In a mixer, add the first 6 ingredients until well combined. Add the flour a cup at a time. Then add the softened butter, a tablespoon at a time.
- The dough should clean the sides of the bowl and come together in a ball. It should not be too sticky. If it’s not quite there, add more flour one tablespoon at a time. Knead the dough for 10 minutes until the dough becomes stretchy and soft and can stretch into a windowpane.
- Put the dough in a bowl somewhere warm until it has nearly doubled in size (depending on the temperature, this can take 6-10 hours). Refrigerate for 1-3 days for a long ferment.
- On baking day, knead the dough several times to redistribute the yeast. Divide the dough into 9 pieces and roll into balls (3-3 1/4 oz balls). Place into an oiled 9×9 or 8×8 pan. Cover and let rise somewhere warm until light and fluffy and doubled (or more) in size.
- Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes and the rolls are golden brown. They’re fully baked if an inserted thermometer reads 200°. Brush melted butter over the tops of the rolls and serve!
I would love to make these, do I have to use a mixer or can I just hand knead the dough?
We make these over and over. They are SO good. My daughter’s friends now even ask her to bring them one when I make them!