This yummy recipe for white rolls has been a favorite for years now. It makes rolls that are soft, tender, and so flavorful!
These white rolls go with just about anything, but we love serving them with cheeseburger soup, creamy chicken soup with bacon and ranch, and homemade chicken noodle soup.
This has been my favorite basic white roll recipe for almost two decades. The evaporated milk and potato flakes give them a little something extra and people are always asking for the recipe. If you are looking for a fantastic recipe for white rolls, this is it!
I am always asked to bring rolls to every family gathering. From Thanksgiving to family reunions, this is my go-to roll recipe. I’ve tried several others over the years, but I always come back to this one. The flavor of the rolls is simply amazing!
I love my carbs, and there is nothing that beats a hot homemade roll slathered with butter. Yum!
The potato flakes give these rolls a great flavor and texture, but I’ve made them without the potato flakes, and they will still be delicious rolls!
I have a KitchenAid and a Bosch, but I usually make these in a large mixing bowl. I use my hand mixer to beat the dough at first, but I just stir the remaining flour in. I find that I get a much more tender roll that way. You can definitely use your appliances, just make sure you don’t over-knead the dough!
Ninety percent of the time, I form these rolls into round balls, and they fit perfectly in my half sheet baking pan. Sometimes I roll them out into crescents, and they are fun to serve that way. You just need two pans because you need to leave more space between them.
How to make yummy white rolls:
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Add the rest of the ingredients and enough flour to make a soft dough that isn’t sticky.
Let the dough rest for about 15 minutes, then form the dough into rolls. Place on greased cookie sheets.
Cover the rolls and let them raise for about an hour or till doubled in size. Then bake at 350° for about 25 minutes or till golden brown. Brush tops with butter.
Yummy White Rolls Recipe
Yummy White Roll Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp instant yeast I use SAF brand
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- ½ cup potato flakes
- 1 12 oz can evaporated milk
- ½ cup oil
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 6 cups all purpose flour more or less
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water in a large mixing bowl. Add potato flakes, milk, oil, salt, eggs, and 2 cups of the flour. Beat till smooth.
- Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Let rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Punch dough down, then form dough into balls and place on a large greased cookie sheet with sides. Let rise till doubled, about 45-60 minutes.
- Bake at 350° for about 25-30 minutes or till light golden brown. Brush tops with butter while still hot.
Notes
Nutrition
(originally published 11/1/2008, updated 10/2018)
A few more roll recipes you might like:
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How much does 6 cups of flour weigh in grams or ounces please?
I usually get about a cup of flour from 5 ounces, so 6 cups would be 30 ounces. However, for yeast doughs, you DO NOT want to measure the flour exactly. You just need to add enough to get a soft dough that’s barely not sticky. Humidity, brand of flour, size of eggs, and room temperature all play a factor, so the amount varies every time. Hope that helps!
I found your recipe a few years ago and my family all loves them. They work beautifully as brown and serve rolls as well. I use four 8×8 inch pans, and take 3 pans out at the 17 minute mark, just when they’re gaining color. (I keep baking the 4th pan the full time, because there’s no way we’re not eating some right away). When the parbaked one’s cool, slip them into gallon-size freezer bags and stack them in the freezer. When you need bread quickly, put a pan of frozen rolls in the oven at 350 for 20-22 minutes. They are sooo good. Thank you for sharing them!
Oh my gosh, I love that idea! I am definitely going to try it. (And yes, I’ll have to bake one of the pans at my house too!) 🙂
I made these rolls today, and they are freaking awesome! Light, fluffy and addictive. I thought the Tbsp. of salt seemed much as I don’t use alot of salt I’m my foods. I reduced it to half, but after tasting I think a full Tbsp would be fine. I sifted my flour, added slowly, and used 5 cups. I always leave my dough a little stickier as the pretty dough I see in videos always gives me dry dense bread (may have to do with southern weather). I lightly flour bread board while working dough and that keeps dough from sticking to hands. My family says no more store bread. Lol. I Give these rolls a 10 outa 10.
I am so happy to hear they were a hit at your house Donna! The first time I made them (years and years ago), I thought the salt was too much as well, so I used less. But after tasting them, I reverted back. haha. And yes, dry weather does make for drier bread, so it’s good to go with your gut!
In your yummy white bread recipe it calls for 1 Tablespoon of salt, is that correct? Seems like a lot
Yes, 1 tablespoon is correct. They have a fair amount of sugar, so the salt offsets the flavor and the rising. But you can use less if you prefer. 🙂
Hi Kara, I was looking for a recipe for rolls late last night and found yours, it was different and so highly praised, I thought “Well this is the one.” I liked the ingredients and said “Hey, its gonna rain all day tomorrow so I’ll make these for a treat for my work week.
They turned out fantastic, mine looked as good as your main photo or better, so soft. I’d asked my mother a couple questions about the recipe (she’s baked all her life), and she thought it looked like a great recipe, I used “Idaho” potato flakes, which are one of the few instant potato brands available where I am in Canada. My mother told me the recipe’s a keeper and to write it down for her before I even made them. I might make three loaves of bread tomorrow with the dough (going to rain again so can’t go do much outside again, sucks my only two days off).
I’ll be making these again next, along side my main cheesebread recipe and brownbread recipes.
HI Kara, I am a brand new bread baker. I think I can do this roll recipe, it’s sounds wonderful. Can I make a whole loaf instead of rolls? I will be kneading by hand. Also, can I use less sugar?
Thanks, Debi from Maryland
I haven’t made the dough into bread, but it should work. I’ve tried it with only 1/4 sugar, but they aren’t quite as tasty. It also takes a bit longer to raise. But they are still good even with less sugar!
So, so good!!!! Super easy to make, even easier to eat! Definite do over recipe! I don’t think I will ever buy rolls again!
I just made this! wanted you to know I followed this exact and it turned out great! I lost track of the flour ( I think was close to 6 cups) but I knew since you said not to make it too sticky – I added the flour a bit at a time. Anyways great recipe 🙂
Thank you!
You’re welcome! Glad to hear they turned out great. We sure love them!
What do I use in place of the potatoes flakes of I don’t have them?
I use instant yeast that needs to be activated. So do I measure before I activate or after? 🙂
The water and sugar you are adding the yeast to “activate” it. Therefore just measure 2 Tbsp of the dry yeast.
Can I use half whole wheat flour?
Yes, that should work just fine. They won’t be quite as soft and fluffy, but I actually like the texture of whole wheat. 🙂
Yes, absolutely. It absorbs more moisture, so you may need a little less flour.
Hi Kara!
Just came across your recipe and it looks wonderful! Have you ever tried using potato “pearls” instead? The are dehydrated, but in a different form. Slightly butter flavored. I’m thinking because they aren’t as fine as the flakes, I would rehydrate them with the can of evap milk before beating together with the rest of the ingredients. What do you think? Thanks!
I actually did try them once but I didn’t like the flavor they added. It’s a personal preference, so you could try them. I would definitely rehydrate them first. Let me know how they turn out for you!
Don’t make the same mistake I did. I put it in my bread maker on the dough setting and it made a huge mess all inside it. But these were probably the best rolls I have ever made. Great flavor and texture. Will be making these again soon…. without the bread machine. 🙂
Thanks for the warning – that does not sound fun to clean up!
Hi Kara! We’ve made your rolls before and they’re absolutely delicious!
I was wondering how far in advance you can make these? And how would you reheat them?
Can I make them in glass baking dishes vs. cookie sheets?
Thanks for your help!
So glad you love the rolls! The longest they have ever lasted at my house is two days, and we just heat them up individually in the microwave. If you want to make them ahead and heat the whole pan, I’d undercook them a bit, then when ready to serve, cover the pan with foil and heat in the oven at a low heat. Maybe 250°? And yes, you can definitely bake them in glass pans instead. I’ve baked them in glass 9×13″ pans and it works just fine!
If you let them rise for hours is it a problem?
The picture looks SO good I had to try it.. never made a roll you don’t knead. I added about 8 cups of flour before I could even handle the dough… just had a terrible, runny mess all over my counter!!????
Finally got enough flour to shape them. Didn’t have any idea how many to divide it into.. would have been nice to put in the recipe.
Hope they taste good… too much work for me to ever do again, and I’ve baked bread for years!!
Need to know what brand of potato flake to get.
I have looked all over for the potatoe flakes but can’t find any. What kind do I get and what brand. Would love to make some.
Any potato flakes that aren’t seasoned should work. I’ve updated the post with a link to Bob’s Red Mill potato flakes on amazon if you can’t find them locally. I have seen them at my local Walmart.
Hi Kara, Thank you for sharing, I tried it 2x and it’s really gooooooddd!
So glad you like them. I’m craving a batch right about now!
Very good ! Simple recipe . It’s a keeper .
Thanks Fred!
Hiii,looks yummy,thank you,kindly u mean the potato flakes is z one from z super market or the fresh one?
I use dried potato flakes.
Girlfriend, you hit a home run with this recipe! I’ve been baking “stuff” for many, many years and this recipe is a real winner. My husband said: “Don’t lose this recipe”.
Thanks so much! My husband and kids would be pretty upset if I lost the recipe, that’s for sure! 😉
It’s thanksgiving morning and I’m making the rolls. Im a complete newbie with yeast and am always timid to make them. Your instructions were not as detailed as I would have liked. You said to add the yeast and sugar to warm water but then when adding the rest of the ingredients you said sugar again. Is there more than 1/2c? After it rests for 10-15 min do I kneed it at all? Help!!!!
I’m making these for the 1st time also – I bake bread regularly. I would not add any more sugar! 1/2 C more than enough. I use Bobs Red Mill flour. Takes a lot more than pillsbury etc flour
I switched to dough hook on Kitchen aide when adding flour. I had to add tons more of flour – no need to hand knead
So sorry, Kimm, there was a typo in the instructions. You don’t need to add any more sugar. And no need to knead the dough a second time. I’ve updated the recipe, thanks for pointing out my mistake. 🙂
Oh My Gosh, these really are THE BEST! And they couldn’t be easier to make. I’ve been making various yeast products for many years and am always on the lookout for better (easier) recipes. Look no further………..these are winners.
I made the white rolls Thursday for our Thanksgiving celebration that we were having on Saturday a week earlier BUT, I ran into a problem because on Friday night I realize the family was enjoying the rolls prior to Saturday BECAUSE THEY WERE SO GOOD!!! so Saturday morning I needed more rolls to feed our 25guest.
You got that I was trying to say I’ll never use another recipie when I need to make rolls????????
Hi, just wondering if you use 2 Tablespoons of yeast or Teaspoon measurement? Thanks you.
Dear Kara,
Love your white roll recipe. I own a Bosch and make all my breads with it, including my wheat bread. Do I knead the dough in the Bosch or on counter by hand.
Lived in Utah for ten and miss it.
if I wanted to make the rolls ahead of time (a day or two) can I freeze them prior to baking? Freeze once in the cookie tray but before the final rising?
I have frozen the dough balls before, and I don’t think they turn out quite as amazing, but they are still really tasty. (No one else in my family can tell the difference.) To freeze them, you need to place the dough balls at least 2″ apart on greased cookie sheets. Cover and freeze for about 2 hours, then take the frozen balls and place them in ziplock bags. Store in the freezer. When you want to make them, place all the dough balls flat side down on your cookie sheet (or other pan), and let them rise till doubled. Then bake just like you normally would.
Is the oil vegetable oil
I usually use canola oil, but you can use any oil that is liquid at room temperature.
How big do you make balls and how many on a regular cookie sheet? Thank you.
I sometimes make them large, sometimes small, depending on the number of rolls I need. As a general guide, I usually make them about 2-2 1/2″ wide. If you want to be exact, you can cut the dough into 36-42 equal pieces. As long as you let them raise till doubled their size, any size of rolls will turn out. Good luck!
How many rolls are you putting per half sheet pan?
I usually fit 3-4 dozen of the round rolls, depending on the size. If I make crescent shapes, I can only fit 12-15 rolls per pan.
Do you use self rising flour?
No, you don’t need self rising flour for yeast breads. I use all purpose flour for all my recipes. I prefer unbleached, but that is just a matter of preference. 🙂
I did 6 cups of flour and it was too soft to handle HELP
Just keep adding flour a little bit at a time till your dough isn’t sticky anymore. With yeast breads, the flour is never an exact measurement, so it’s fine to add more or less than the recipe states. Good luck!
On your Yummy white rolls, how much evaporated milk do you use. Another question is that I use yeast from a jar. (Quick rising) Should I reduce the amount of yeast to 1 T. 1/2 t. for this?
Nope, I use instant yeast as well.