Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls (Soft, Fluffy & Perfect for Any Meal)

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

There’s nothing quite like warm, homemade dinner rolls fresh from the oven. These whole wheat dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and full of cozy homemade flavor—perfect for family dinners, holidays, soups, or simply enjoying with butter. Made with wholesome whole wheat flour and simple pantry ingredients, these rolls prove that whole wheat baking can still be soft, tender, and absolutely delicious.

❤️ Why You’ll Love These Dinner Rolls

• Made with 100% whole wheat flour

• Soft, fluffy texture

• Perfect for weeknight dinners or holidays

• Simple ingredients

• Great for meal prep and freezing

👩‍🍳 What You'll Need

• Thermometer

• Baking pan

  
  
  
  

📝 Tips for Success

• Use warm—not hot—milk so the yeast activates properly

• Kneading helps create soft, fluffy rolls

• Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free area

🔄 Substitutions & Variations

• Dairy-free: Use almond or oat milk and vegan butter

• Honey butter rolls: Add a little extra honey for sweeter rolls

• Herb rolls: Add garlic powder or dried herbs to the dough

• Smaller rolls: Divide dough into 15–16 pieces for mini rolls

🥡 Storage Tips

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days

• Reheat slightly before serving for the best texture

• Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw before warming

Recipe

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Makes about 12 dinner rolls

Ingredients:

• 2 and 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour

• Extra ½ cup of whole wheat flour for dusting or adding if too sticky

• 1 and 1/4 cup of milk, divided

• 1/4 cup softened butter

• 3 tablespoons of sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon of sugar for the yeast

• 3 tablespoons of active yeast

Directions:

1.      Heat up 1/4 cup of milk to 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit. Then add the yeast and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to activate the yeast. It will get bubbly.

2.      In a large bowl combine 1 cup of milk, butter, egg, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Then add the yeast mixture and mix.

3.      Slowly add the whole wheat flour to the bowl. Add half a cup at a time and mix well. Then cover the bowl and put the dough in the fridge for 1 hour.

4.      After one hour, take the dough out of the fridge. On a floured surface, knead the dough for 10 minutes and add more flour if needed. You want the dough to be a little sticky but doesn’t get stuck in your hands.

5.      Next, mold the dough into the shape of 12 balls and put them in a greased baking pan (glass or metal). You want the balls near each other but not touching.

6.      Next, cover the baking pan with a cloth and let it sit at room temperature for 3 hours. The dough will rise and get about double the size.

7.      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the bread for about 25-35 minutes and until a cooking thermometer reads to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. The tops of the dinner rolls will start browning. Take the rolls out of the oven and let them cool before you take them out of the pan.

8.      You can store it in a container with a lid, or you can freeze for later use.

These whole wheat dinner rolls are soft, comforting, and perfect for adding a homemade touch to any meal. Whether you’re serving them with soup, holiday dinners, or just enjoying one warm with butter, they’re a recipe you’ll want to make again and again. If you try them, I’d love to hear how they turned out and what you served them with!

-Tina