Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (2024)

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ByAmanda CarlisleUpdated on

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Some of the best dinner rolls ever come from this Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe! Make a few or make all of them at once. DELICIOUS!

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (1)

This recipe is a lifesaver. I have made this Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe since we got married 20 years ago (WOW, that made me sound old.) It makes a delicious light, fluffy, slightly sweet dinner roll that can’t be beaten. We use them for small slider sandwiches, and just with a little butter. These are also perfect for the holidays.

What are Refrigerator Bread Rolls?

Long story short, these are Refrigerator Bread Rolls because you make the dough, and you can keep it in the fridge for as long as five days before baking it. It is an excellent way to prep ahead of time for the holidays!

I love this recipe because it is excellent if you enjoy bread with dinner every night. Just pinch off enough for a roll or two and put it on a pan to rise while you are cooking. Then, pop them in the oven — freshly baked bread every night.

I used to do this all of the time when we were first married. Now, we tend to enjoy them during the holidays, and they are still amazing!

Tips for making Bread Rolls

I love this recipe because it is easy. There is not a lot of kneading or working the dough. You mix it up in your mixer, refrigerate, and then divide it into rolls before baking. Here are some tips to make it even easier.

  • Cover your bowl of dough well because it will try to rise in the fridge.
  • Flour your surface before turning your dough out.
  • Use a small kitchen scale to weigh your dough balls if you want your rolls to all to be the same size.
  • Grease your baking dish well to keep your bread from sticking to the pan.
  • Preheat your oven entirely before placing your rolls in it.

How to Make Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (2)

When I said easy, I mean easy! Just activate your yeast in warm water. After about 5 minutes, dump the yeast water and all of the other ingredients in the bowl of your mixer and let it mix until a dough is formed. About 2 minutes. Take your bowl and cover it and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill. You can store it for up to 5 days before baking.

It isn’t the prettiest dough at first, but don’t let that scare you.

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (3)

When you are ready to use your dough, turn it out onto a floured surface and divide it into rolls. This recipe makes 24, but you don’t have to bake them all at once. Form your dough into balls and place them in a greased baking pan.

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (4)

Let the dough rise for about an hour, or until they double in size. Bake the bread rolls at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (5)

When they are done, remove them from the oven and brush the tops of the rolls with some melted butter. ENJOY! These make the best dinner rolls and even are great for slider sandwiches!

Some of the best dinner rolls ever come from this Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe! Make a few or make all of them at once. DELICIOUS!

Print Recipe

Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (6)

Prep Time:2 hours hrs

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water 105 ° to 115°
  • 2 pkgs quick acting yeast or 2 TBSP dry Yeast
  • ½ cup butter melted, or dairy free margarine
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4-4½ cup all purpose flour

Instructions

  • Combine the warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand until yeast is foamy about 5 minutes.

  • In a mixer beat butter, sugar, eggs and salt and slowly add the yeast mixture. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time until dough comes together. About 4 cups.

  • Cover and refrigerate 2 hours up to 5 days.

  • Turn the Chilled dough out on a lightly floured board or counter.

  • Divide your dough into 1/4ths. Each of these has enough dough for 6 rolls. Divided it as evenly as possible. This recipe makes 24 dinner rolls, although you can make them bigger or smaller if you choose.

  • Shape each small piece of dough into a round ball for a rolls. Place them in a greased baking dish. I reccomend 12 rolls per 13x9 pan. You can also bake them individually on a parchment lined baking sheet.

  • Once baking sheet or pan is full cover with dish towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.

  • Preheat oven to 375° and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

  • Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Dairy Free

  • Use dairy free margarine instead of butter

Notes

A Few at a Time

This is a great refrigerator dough recipe. You can also just pinch off enough dough for a few rolls for with dinner during the week. Not all of it has to be baked at once. Use the dough within 5 days of mixing.

Freeze

Bake all of the rolls at once. These freeze really well and can be reheated easily.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Servings: 24 rolls

Calories: 145kcal

Author: Amanda Carlisle

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Easy Refrigerator Bread Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my bread lighter and fluffy? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Can I refrigerate yeast rolls before baking? ›

Cover the rolls with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight. When you are ready to bake, remove them from the fridge (leave them covered) and let sit at room temperature while your oven preheats. Bake the rolls at 375F (190C) for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

How long does it take for dough to rise in the fridge? ›

In lieu of a typical 1- to 3-hour rise at room temperature, you'd opt for a long (8- to 12-hour) rise in the refrigerator. This slow refrigerated rise is referred to as "cold fermentation" and has many benefits ranging from flexibility to flavor.

What makes bread light and airy and fluffy? ›

Sugar: When yeast is mixed with sugar it consumes the sugar and produces carbon dioxide gas, which causes the bread dough to rise and become light and airy. Instant Yeast: Instant dry yeast can be added directly to the flour mixture without needing to be activated first.

Why are my bread rolls not light and fluffy? ›

Why are my dinner rolls not fluffy? If your dinner rolls aren't fluffy it could be because of one of two reasons. Either, you added too much flour or you possibly used all bread flour. Alternately, not giving your dinner rolls enough time to proof and get puffy before baking could yield dense rolls.

How do I make my rolls more airy? ›

Shape and Rise

Each dough ball will weigh right around 3 ounces, give or take. Space them a little bit apart in the baking pan and let them rise until very puffy and the sides are touching. Don't skimp on the rising! If they don't rise long enough, they won't reach their fluff-fluffy potential.

Does letting bread rise longer make it fluffier? ›

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

How do you make homemade rolls less dense? ›

How to Make Bread Less Dense?
  1. Proof The Dough Longer. As explained, under-proofing has been among the most popular reasons behind a dense bread texture. ...
  2. Give Your Yeast Better Environment. ...
  3. Activate The Yeast. ...
  4. Knead The Dough For Longer. ...
  5. Use Folds and Stretch For Bulk Fermentation. ...
  6. Adjust The Water Level.
May 27, 2023

Can you use too much yeast in rolls? ›

This can affect the bread by adding a "yeasty" taste if you put too much into the dough. General amounts of yeast are around 1 - 2 % of the flour, by weight. Too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand.

Why didn't my dough rise in the fridge overnight? ›

When you put your dough in the fridge it slows the yeast activity down. It takes ten times longer for dough to rise in the fridge than it does at room temperature.

Can I put uncooked rolls in the fridge? ›

Option #1: Refrigerate the Dough or Unbaked Rolls

Mixed dough actually keeps very well for a few days in the refrigerator.

What happens if you leave dough to rise for too long? ›

“If the dough has risen too long, it's going to feel fragile and might even collapse as you poke it,” says Maggie. If this is the case, there's a chance you can save your dough by giving it a quick re-shape. Learn more about this fix in our blog on saving overproofed dough.

Can I let bread dough rise in the fridge overnight? ›

The dough should generally be proofed for around 1 to 4 hours at a warm temperature or overnight (or more) at a cold refrigerator temperature. As the proofing temperature increases, the total fermentation time will decrease.

Can dough rise too long in fridge? ›

Chilling the dough slows the action of the yeast, but doesn't stop it. You can leave it in the fridge for up to 72 hours, then take it out an hour or two before you want to make your pizza.

Why is my bread dense and heavy? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

How do you make bread less heavy? ›

How to Make Bread Less Dense?
  1. Proof The Dough Longer. As explained, under-proofing has been among the most popular reasons behind a dense bread texture. ...
  2. Give Your Yeast Better Environment. ...
  3. Activate The Yeast. ...
  4. Knead The Dough For Longer. ...
  5. Use Folds and Stretch For Bulk Fermentation. ...
  6. Adjust The Water Level.
May 27, 2023

What makes bread fluffy and rise? ›

Once reactivated, yeast begins feeding on the sugars in flour, and releases the carbon dioxide that makes bread rise (although at a much slower rate than baking powder or soda). Yeast also adds many of the distinctive flavors and aromas we associate with bread.

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