Fluffiest Honey Butter Rolls
Fluffiest Honey Butter Rolls
Ingredients
For the Rolls
- 1 cup sourdough discard, active, fed, or unfed (see notes)
- 1/2 cup warm milk, (105-115°F)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Egg Wash and Topping
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
For Finishing
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened, for rubbing
- as needed whipped honey butter, for serving
Instructions
- 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Add the sourdough discard, 1 large egg, melted and cooled butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix briefly with the dough hook attachment until just combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Gradually add the all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed to medium-low and knead for 8-10 minutes, or until the dough is very elastic, smooth, and passes the 'windowpane test' (you should be able to stretch a small piece thin enough to see light through it without tearing). The dough will be sticky, which is desirable for soft rolls.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Lightly grease a large bowl with a small amount of oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min
- 5
Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12-16 equal pieces (depending on desired roll size).
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Shape each piece of dough into a round roll. To do this, cup your hand over the dough and gently pull and tuck the edges underneath, rotating the dough against the counter to create a tight, smooth ball.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Line a 9x13 inch baking pan or a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the shaped rolls close together on the prepared pan, leaving a small space between them. This encourages them to rise into each other, creating soft sides.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise again in a warm place for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are visibly puffy and 'super fluffy'.
⏱️ 30 min
- 9
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and 1 tablespoon of water for the egg wash. Gently brush the tops of the risen rolls with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown on top and cooked through. If the tops are browning too quickly, you can loosely tent them with foil.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375
- 11
Immediately after removing the rolls from the oven, rub the softened 1/2 stick of butter over the hot tops of the rolls. This will melt the butter, creating a glossy finish and adding rich flavor.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Serve the Fluffiest Honey Butter Rolls warm, ideally with a generous spread of whipped honey butter.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Fluffiest Honey Butter Rolls
Ingredients
For the Rolls
- 1 cup sourdough discard, active, fed, or unfed (see notes)
- 1/2 cup warm milk, (105-115°F)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Egg Wash and Topping
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
For Finishing
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened, for rubbing
- as needed whipped honey butter, for serving
Instructions
- 1
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Add the sourdough discard, 1 large egg, melted and cooled butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix briefly with the dough hook attachment until just combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Gradually add the all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed until a shaggy dough forms. Increase the speed to medium-low and knead for 8-10 minutes, or until the dough is very elastic, smooth, and passes the 'windowpane test' (you should be able to stretch a small piece thin enough to see light through it without tearing). The dough will be sticky, which is desirable for soft rolls.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Lightly grease a large bowl with a small amount of oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 60 min - 5
Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release the air. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 12-16 equal pieces (depending on desired roll size).
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Shape each piece of dough into a round roll. To do this, cup your hand over the dough and gently pull and tuck the edges underneath, rotating the dough against the counter to create a tight, smooth ball.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Line a 9x13 inch baking pan or a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the shaped rolls close together on the prepared pan, leaving a small space between them. This encourages them to rise into each other, creating soft sides.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let the rolls rise again in a warm place for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are visibly puffy and 'super fluffy'.
⏱️ 30 min - 9
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and 1 tablespoon of water for the egg wash. Gently brush the tops of the risen rolls with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown on top and cooked through. If the tops are browning too quickly, you can loosely tent them with foil.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 375 - 11
Immediately after removing the rolls from the oven, rub the softened 1/2 stick of butter over the hot tops of the rolls. This will melt the butter, creating a glossy finish and adding rich flavor.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Serve the Fluffiest Honey Butter Rolls warm, ideally with a generous spread of whipped honey butter.