Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (2024)

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These pull-apart sourdough dinner rolls are soft and buttery with that tangy sourdough flavor we love. They're perfect for any meal from summer barbecues to Thanksgiving dinner.

By

Mark Beahm

Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (1)

Mark Beahm

Mark is the head baker at Hjem Kensington, a Danish café in London. He has been developing recipes for home bakers for the last two years.

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Published October 11, 2022

Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (2)

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Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (3)

In This Recipe

  • Sourdough Starter vs Yeast

  • Tips for Success

  • When Is the Dough Ready?

  • How to Plan Ahead

  • Homemade Dinner Roll Recipes We Love

If you’ve been taking care of a sourdough starter for a while, you may be looking for new ways to use it other than your favorite no-knead bread. Or, if you're lucky enough to have a friend lend you some of their starter, here’s a way to showcase it at your next dinner party. These pull-apart sourdough dinner rolls have a chewy top crust and that tangy sourdough flavor we love so much. They're sweet and buttery, soft and fluffy. Sourdough dinner rolls are equally at home with pulled pork and pickles at a summer barbecue or soaking up gravy on your Thanksgiving plate.

The best part is that they're easy to prepare and most of the time spent is hands-off, waiting for the dough to rise. Simply knead the dough in a stand mixer, let the dough rise, shape, rise again, and they're ready to bake.

Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (4)

Sourdough Starter Versus Yeast

While commercial yeast is one isolated strain of yeast for bread baking, sourdough is a culture of wild yeasts and good bacteria present in the environment and your flour. Compared to yeast from the store, sourdough adds extra flavor to breads and rolls, including that characteristic tangy flavor. It also adds strength to the dough and improves the texture for a chewier crust and a fluffy interior.

Baking Tips for Successful Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Sourdough baking has a reputation for being overly difficult and advanced. But that doesn't have to be the case. In addition to making this recipe easy to mix, here are some baking tips to give you some confidence.

  • Make sure to use softened butter. Melted butter will make the dough too greasy and cold butter will not incorporate into the dough.
  • Use warm milk; cold milk will slow down fermentation. Heat the milk in the microwave to lukewarm. If you have an instant-read thermometer, aim for between 100°F and 110°F. It should feel warm to the touch but not scalding hot. If it's a tolerable temperature for you, it's tolerable for the starter.
  • If you have one, I recommend a glass bowl for bulk fermentation (a.k.a. the first rise). It’s easy to pick up the bowl and check the progression of fermentation by looking at the underside of the dough to see how aerated it is.

Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (5)

How To Tell When the Dough Is Ready

With sourdough, it’s sometimes difficult to tell when bulk fermentation is finished and ready for shaping, and when it's done proofing (a.k.a. the second rise) and ready for the oven. Fermentation time also depends on how warm your kitchen is. Seeing how much the dough has risen gives a good clue, but sourdough doesn't necessarily double in size like other yeasted doughs do. The dough will have noticeably risen, look light and airy, and the surface of the dough will be smooth and feel soft to the touch. If it still looks shaggy or feels dense, it needs more time to rise. Give it another 30 minutes and check again. The shaped rolls are fully proofed when they’ve doubled in size and look very puffy. They will have spread enough to touch each other.

How to Plan Ahead

There are a few options for making these rolls ahead of time or breaking the recipe down into smaller steps over more time. You could mix the dough the day before you plan to serve, let it go through its first rise for 2 hours, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight. The next day, continue with shaping and proofing. Rolls that rise in the refrigerator overnight will have a stronger, tangier sourdough flavor.

You can also make the rolls ahead of time and freeze them. I prefer to freeze baked rolls, as I find it takes a long time for the dough to thaw and proof for baking.

Homemade Dinner Roll Recipes We Love

  • Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
  • Milk Bread Rolls
  • Challah Rolls
  • Homemade Crescent Rolls
  • Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Rolls

Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Rise Time6 hrs 30 mins

Total Time7 hrs 5 mins

Servings10to 12 servings

Yield15 rolls

Your sourdough starter is mature and ready to use when it is actively bubbling, has risen to its peak, and there are no streaks left on the container when deflated. I feed mine twice a day, and it tends to be at its peak just before feeding.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240ml)whole milk

  • 1/2 cup (113g) maturesourdough starter (see recipe note)

  • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

  • 2 tablespoons (25g) sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour

For optional wash

  • 1 large egg or 3 tablespoons whole milk or melted butter

Method

  1. Warm the milk:

    Heat the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds. It should feel warm to the touch, but not hot. If it's not warm enough, pop in the microwave again and heat in 15-second intervals.

  2. Mix the dough:

    To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the warm milk, mature starter, softened butter, sugar, salt, and flour.

    Mix on low speed until everything comes together and forms a rough ball, about 1 minute. Increase to medium speed and continue kneading for 7 to 10 minutes until the dough clings to the dough hook. It should be smooth and elastic and pull away from the sides of the bowl—it may still stick to the bottom of the bowl. There’s a magic moment when the sticky goop of wet flour suddenly transforms into a cohesive mass that sticks to itself more than other surfaces. Then, the dough is developed enough for bulk fermentation.

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (7)

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (8)

  3. Bulk fermentation:

    Transfer the dough to a clean large bowl and cover. Allow it to rise at room temperature for about 4 hours until it has noticeably risen, but not necessarily doubled in size. It should be light and airy. If it still looks dense, let it rise for another 30 minutes.

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (9)

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (10)

  4. Prepare the pan:

    Liberally grease a 9x13-inch cake pan with butter.

  5. Shape the rolls:

    Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface. Use a bench scraper or a sharp knife to divide the dough into 15 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, pinching the seam at the bottom to ensure the top surface is taught. Place the shaped rolls into the greased pan evenly spaced in 3 rows of 5.

    If the dough feels too sticky while shaping, instead of sprinkling flour over it, put the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so. You'll find that it's easier to shape cold dough.

    How to Shape Dinner RollsREAD MORE:

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (11)

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (12)

  6. Proof the rolls:

    Cover the pan and set it in a warm spot to rise for about 2 1/2 hours until the rolls have doubled in size and look very puffy. If they haven’t quite risen enough, check back after another 30 minutes.

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (13)

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (14)

  7. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

    Do this about 30 minutes before the rolls are ready to be baked. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven.

  8. Bake the rolls:

    Lightly brush the tops of the rolls with a wash, either a beaten egg, whole milk, or melted butter.

    Bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until they’re golden brown on top. An instant thermometer inserted into the center of a roll in the middle of the pan should read 190°F or above.

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (15)

  9. Cool and serve the rolls:

    Let the rolls cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve them warm.

    Store any leftover rolls tightly wrapped on the counter for up to 5 days.

    Baked rolls can be frozen, wrapped in a layer of plastic, then a layer of aluminum foil, for up to 2 months. Let the rolls thaw at room temperature, still wrapped, for about 1 hour. To serve them warm, reheat them for about 15 minutes in a 325°F oven.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (16)

    Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (17)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
459Calories
36g Fat
32g Carbs
5g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10to 12
Amount per serving
Calories459
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g46%
Saturated Fat 22g110%
Cholesterol 93mg31%
Sodium 172mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 32g11%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 39mg3%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 81mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

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Our Favorite Sourdough Dinner Roll Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good sourdough bread? ›

Top 10 Tips & Tricks for Making Sourdough
  • Use your sourdough starter at its peak. ...
  • Moisten the surface of the dough before baking for more rise. ...
  • Handle with care: be gentle with your dough. ...
  • Use sifted flour to make your sourdough less dense. ...
  • Soak your flour beforehand for a lighter loaf. ...
  • Just add water for softer sourdough.

What is the difference between sourdough rolls and loaf bread? ›

As an example, there are both sourdough bread loaves and sourdough bread rolls. The same is true for brioche bread and brioche rolls. The main difference is that the bread rolls are typically rounder, softer, and smaller.

What makes sourdough bread taste better? ›

The key tastants in sourdough include salt, acetic acid and lactic acid. Salt is added to the loaves by the baker, but acetic and lactic acids are the byproducts of fermentation.

What is the big deal with sourdough bread? ›

1. May support gut health. Although the beneficial microbes in the starter tend to be lost during the baking process, the fibre and plant compounds, called polyphenols, become more bio-available. These act as an important fuel source for our gut microbes, which explains why sourdough is a gut-friendly choice.

What is the best flour for sourdough bread? ›

The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.

What is the mother of sourdough bread? ›

Mother - this is the overall dough culture that lives in a bowl in your fridge. We take portions from it to make our ferments (Starter) for our sourdough recipes. When the mother culture gets low, we add to it (feed it).

Is it okay to eat sourdough bread every day? ›

Is it healthy to eat sourdough everyday? You could eat sourdough every day, but it isn't necessarily healthy to do so. A healthy diet is characterized by balance and moderation. Whether or not it is healthy for you to consume sourdough every day depends on the rest of your diet.

Is sourdough bread better for your stomach than regular bread? ›

According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system. Sourdough is also lower in gluten than other forms of bread.

Is sourdough bread actually healthy? ›

The Bottom Line. Sourdough has made a comeback—and for good reason. It provides nutrients, including healthy carbs, protein, fiber, iron and vitamins like folic acid. It may help improve digestion, lower chronic disease risk and even promote healthy aging.

Why is San Francisco sourdough bread so good? ›

The key to sourdough bread tasting the way it does is the strain of bacteria, lactobacillus sanfranciscensis. And if that name looks like it has ties to San Francisco, it does. "This special strain of lactic acid bacteria thrives in our salty, cold environment," says Kosoy.

Why does San Francisco sourdough taste different? ›

Perhaps because the move to California introduced new bacterial inhabitants into their starters, many miners found that their bread took on a sharper sourness than they were used to—a tang that has since become one of the defining traits of San Francisco's renowned sourdough bread.

How to get more flavor in sourdough bread? ›

Longer fermentation

When it comes time to proof your dough, the longer you proof, the more sour the dough will be. As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone.

Why is everyone making sourdough bread in 2024? ›

For many folks, the renewed interest in sourdough is health-related. Some are going even further than baking their own bread: They're milling their own flour from whole wheat berries, too.

Is making sourdough cheaper than buying bread? ›

So if you look solely at the ingredients, it is cheaper to make your own sourdough. But if you bring other factors into it - it might not be as cheap. This post aims to show you how you can bake a classic sourdough loaf with a little work and no fancy equipment.

Is sourdough bread inflammatory? ›

The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.

What is the secret behind the sour of sourdough bread? ›

There are two main acids produced in a sourdough culture: lactic acid and acetic acid. Acetic acid, or vinegar, is the acid that gives sourdough much of its tang. Giving acetic acid-producing organisms optimal conditions to thrive and multiply will produce a more tangy finished product.

How can I make my sourdough rise better? ›

So don't leave your dough in a warm oven, on a radiator or in sunlight. It will likely be too warm and will dry out your dough too. Instead, find a cosy spot, with no drafts, for your dough to rise. And, if your sourdough starter is struggling to get going, consider finding it a warmer spot too.

What is the best proofing time for sourdough bread? ›

In my experience, the shortest final proof (at room temperature) that I prefer to do is one hour. The longest final proof (at room temperature) is about 3 hours. When going past 2-3 hours in a final proof, the crumb tends to get very gassy and opens up large gas bubbles with a longer countertop proof.

What are three top tips when making sourdough starter? ›

Top 10 Sourdough Starter Tips for Success
  1. Maintain a Schedule to Feed your Sourdough Starter. ...
  2. Know How to Store a Sourdough Starter. ...
  3. Maintain a Small Sourdough Starter.
  4. Use Sourdough Discard for Less Waste.
  5. Know How to Revive a Sourdough Starter. ...
  6. Measure your Ingredients by Weight.
May 21, 2022

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