These pull-apart, fluffy and easy dinner rolls with active dry yeast are a super easy side dish. Flavored with with Everything Bagel seasoning, these are the BEST dinner rolls you can bake.
Dinner rolls don’t have to boring, right?
Even though they are a side dish, these hot rolls can be eaten by themselves.
They might even take a center stage at the dinner table because they are simply gorgeous!
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Ingredients
Here is a quick look at the ingredients. It is to understand why these specific ingredients were chosen. To get the full recipe, go to the bottom of this post.
Milk – Milk is great for making the dough. I always prefer it over water because it gives the dough a better texture. Also, the rolls turn out extra fluffy because of it. You can use almond milk or whole milk. I don’t recommend skim or fat-free milks.
Active dry yeast – I prefer this over Instant yeast because I feel like my rolls rise very well with it. If you are interested in learning more, there is a masterclass on the difference between the two types of yeast.
Sugar – Sugar makes the yeast activate properly and together, they make these rolls very soft.
Butter – I have used regular butter in this recipe, but you are welcome to use regular butter instead. Check out my post on why I don’t use vegan/plant based butters anymore.
All purpose flour – This flour is the best flour for dinner rolls because they rise well with active dry yeast.
Pink Salt – This salt actually taste real salt and it also brings 84 minerals with it.
Everything bagel seasoning – This seasoning is truly the star of the recipe. It takes plain old dinner rolls and turns them into super cool rolls! You can make your own everything bagel seasoning or buy it from (Affiliate Link) Amazon.
If you are confused about vegan and vegetarian ingredients, consult my handy-dandy guide! It will clear things up for you.
🍅 Handy Tip: Always heat milk stove top and not in the microwave. On stove top, the milk will heat evenly.
Yeast and they shall rise
Many readers have asked me to make yeast-free rolls. I have tried to make a good batch without yeast, but, never succeeded.
You can use a combination of baking soda and baking powder to do the work of yeast. Rhian’s Recipes has a vegan, gluten-free version of dinner rolls.
Personally, I love using yeast in dinner rolls. It makes them rise and gives them that fluffy, soft rolls texture.
🍅 Measuring Tip: If you are using active dry yeast packets, you will need 2 of the packets (¼ oz per packet). If you are using rapid dry yeast, it amounts to 2 Tbsp.
Answering common questions
Making sure the yeast and milk mixture is frothy before mixing it with the flour is very important. If your yeast mixture is not frothing up, then you have to discard that mixture and start again.
Also, make sure you give the dough 30 minutes to rise and then let the rolls rise for another 30 minutes before putting it in the oven.
Yes, you can use a mixer. I think it’s highly recommended to use a mixer instead of kneading it with hand.
The main reason yeast doesn’t froth in the milk is because the milk temperature is not right.
This is why food thermometers were made, lol. The milk needs to be 100°F-110°F like it says in the back of the yeast packet.
If you are like me and don’t own a thermometer, you will need to gauge the temp by your hands. The milk should be lukewarm like you are going to feed it to a baby.
👩🍳 Cooking tip: It is vital to let the dough rise for 30 minutes. Also, as soon as you form the dinner rolls, set it aside for 30 minutes. So, when you finally put the baking tray in the oven, the rolls will rise so well in the oven.
Can I make it in air fryer?
Yes, you can make the dinner rolls in the air fryer. Line the basket with a wax paper and put the dough balls just like in the baking dish.
Air fryer it on 320°F for 25 Minutes. You may have to experiment with the time depending on your air fryer.
Keep the temperature low because it will cook the rolls from the inside too. High temperatures will burn the top and leave them uncooked from the inside.
I made 25 golf sized dough balls and set one aside to make in the air fryer. This is what it looks like when made in the air fryer! 😆
My baking dish (Affiliate Link) stoneware square 10.24″ baking dish
My air fryer (Affiliate Link) ) COSORI MAX XL Air Fryer
How to make easy dinner rolls
- Heat the 2 cups of milk stove top for 1 minute. Make sure it’s lukewarm before adding the yeast and sugar
- Add the ¼ cup sugar and 1 Tbsp active dry yeast. Mix well and set aside for 3 minutes
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour. You may have to sift it if it’s clumpy
- Add the salt. I used pink, but, you can use any salt
- Add 8 Tbsp of butter. That’s 1 big stick or 2 mini sticks. The butter should be softened to room temperature
- After 3 minutes, the yeast starts to froth up. This is what it will look like.
- When the yeast turns frothy, slowly introduce it to the flour. Add it with one hand and mix with the other.
- Knead the dough until it’s soft and there are no knots
- Cover with a tea towel and let it rise on it’s own for 30 minutes
- At the 30 minute mark, remove the tea towel and give the dough a soft punch. This will deflate the flour. Knead it again for about 30 seconds.
- Make golf size balls and place in a buttered square baking sheet. Make sure the top is smooth. There should be no wrinkles or lines on it.
- I made 25 balls (only 24 are put into the square dish. I used one to make in the air fryer)
- Cover the dinner rolls with the tea towel and again, let it rise for 30 minutes
- After the dinner rolls have been rising for 20 minutes, prepare your oven. Make sure you remove any pots and pans in it before turning it on to 350°F
- When there are 2 minutes left for the dough balls to rise, add melted butter in a bowl.
- Add the Everything Bagel seasoning to the melted butter and mix well
- Remove the tea towel and use a brush to baste the top of the dinner rolls with the everything bagel butter. Make sure you get it into every nook and cranny
- The dinner rolls are now ready to be put into the preheated oven. 350°F for 30 minutes!
- Tada!!! They are done!!!
Check out some of my favorite Thanksgiving air-fryer recipes like my air fryer hasselback sweet potatoes
Don’t be shy, chime in below in the comments. Let me hear your opinion on this recipe.
⭐️ If you tried and enjoyed these vegan dinner rolls, please rate it 5 stars! Share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. ⭐️
Best Dinner Rolls with Everything Bagel
Equipment
- Mason Cash | Classic Kitchen Gray 10.24" Square Baking Dish
- Baking Mixer
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk whole milk or almond milk
- 1 Tbsp active dry yeast if you are using the small 4oz packets, you will need 2 of them
- ¼ cup sugar I used Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar
- 8 tbsp butter vegan or regular
- 4½ cups All purpose flour I used enriched, bleached all-purpose
- 2 tsp salt I used pink salt, but you can use any
For Basting
- 2 tbsp butter vegan or regular
- 1 Tbsp everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
- Heat the 2 cups of milk stove top for 1 minute. Make sure it’s lukewarm before adding the yeast and sugar
- Add the ¼ cup sugar and 1 Tbsp active dry yeast. Mix well and set aside for 3 minutes
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour. You may have to sift it if it’s clumpy
- Add the salt. I used pink, but, you can use any salt
- Add 8 Tbsp of butter. That’s 1 big stick or 2 mini sticks. The butter should be softened to room temperature
- After 3 minutes, the yeast starts to froth up.
- When the yeast turns frothy, slowly introduce it to the flour. Add it with one hand and mix with the other
- Knead the dough until it’s soft and there are no knots
- Cover with a tea towel and let it rise on it’s own for 30 minutes
- At the 30 minute mark, remove the tea towel and give the dough a soft punch. This will deflate the flour. Knead it again for about 30 seconds
- Make golf size balls and place in a buttered square baking sheet. Make sure the top is smooth. There should be no wrinkles or lines on it
- I made 25 balls (only 24 are put into the square dish. I used one to make in the air fryer)
- Cover the dinner rolls with the tea towel and again, let it rise for 30 minutes
- After the dinner rolls have been rising for 20 minutes, prepare your oven. Make sure you remove any pots and pans in it before turning it on to 350°F
- When there are 2 minutes left for the dough balls to rise, add melted butter in a bowl.
- Add the Everything Bagel seasoning to the melted butter and mix well
- Remove the tea towel and use a brush to baste the top of the dinner rolls with the everything bagel butter. Make sure you get it into every nook and cranny
- The dinner rolls are now ready to be put into the preheated oven. 350°F for 30 minutes!
- Remove from the oven and wait for them to cool to touch before serving
Notes
- Heat the milk stove top over microwave because it heats evenly.
- I made this recipe twice. Once, it was with vegan dairy products and once with regular dairy products. They both turned out equally well.
- I really urge you to use a stoneware baking dish because it cooks the dinner rolls evenly.
- It’s important to give the dough and rolls 30 minutes each to poof up. It gives the yeast time to work its magic.
- When you make the balls, make sure the top is smooth. I like to gently pull the top of the rolls and tuck the extra underneath.
- These dinner rolls can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. I kept it in the baking dish and covered it with foil.
- To freeze them, wrap them in foil and put them into zip-lock bags. Freeze them and use up within 2 months.
- This recipe makes about 25 vegan dinner rolls.
Jersey Girl Cooks says
Homemade rolls are good but with this extra seasoning they are even better. So yummy!
Healing Tomato says
Thank you. I am always looking to make recipes at home over buying them. This way, I can add my favorite ingredients
Andrea says
These dinner rolls sound amazing! I love the addition of everything bagel seasoning.
Healing Tomato says
Thank you, Andrea.
Gina says
The perfect way to make a soft and fluffy dinner roll even better- everything seasoning! These were a total hit!
Healing Tomato says
Thank you, Gina
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed these with dinner last night and they turned out perfectly light, fluffy and delicious! Easily, a new favorite roll recipe!
Healing Tomato says
Thank you, Sara
Maricruz says
Love dinner rolls but of course, always made mines with eggs, milk, butter and sometimes even lard. But since I’m looking also vegan options for my fav recipes, this recipe is just perfect too! 👍🏻
Healing Tomato says
Thank you, Maricruz