Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

The Recipe Rebel / Breads

written by Ashley Fehr

4.52 from 29 votes

Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings 18 buns

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Last updated on April 11, 2022

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These Bread Machine Rolls are soft, buttery rolls that are perfect every time! Use whole wheat or all-purpose flour, a bread machine or a stand mixer!

*Stand mixer instructions are included down with the recipe.

Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (2)

How many jokes about buns is an appropriate number in one post? These are the softest buns I’ve ever had. Generally, I like my buns a little firmer (insert an acceptable number of groans and eye rolls here).

I’ve been making/attempting to make buns for what I feel has been quite some time. My first batch of buns was at least 5 years ago. And they were similar to dry baseballs.

I’ve come a long way since then. I had come a long way before I ever tried this recipe, but this recipe knocks everything else I’ve done out of the park. These buns are, dare I say it, PERFECT. Every. Single. Time. Maybe it’s my bread machine’s incredible patience, and my inability to match the bread machine’s dedication to kneading and creating the ideal environment for rising bread dough. Good bread dough needs time. Something that I can never seem to get enough of.

My mom always had the best buns. With this recipe, I feel like we’re almost on an equal playing field, except that I leave the hard labour to my trusty bread machine while she kneads hers by hand.

It’s not like I’ve never used my Kitchenaid and a dough hook, or even my own two hands, to make bread dough before. And it’s not like those buns didn’t turn out just fine, soft and delicious. But the bread machine just makes it so easy! (*Note, since I wrote this post, my bread machine has died and now I make this recipe every time in my stand mixer!)

I first tried this recipe 3 weeks ago, and since then I’ve made them 4 times. Four. Times.

I can’t get enough.

My only beef is that I wish I had a bigger bread machine so I could make more than 18 from one recipe. Though they are quick enough that you can easily whip up a batch every week. You really don’t want to try making a bigger batch of these at one time unless you have a massive bread machine — with one recipe the dough is always busting out of the top (quite literally) by the end of the dough cycle.

The first time I made these, I had some bread flour so I used that. The second, third and fourth time I used the ingredients listed below. I don’t like to buy special ingredients if I don’t have to, and bread flour isn’t something I use regularly. I did not notice a difference between batches. The recipe turns out just as well for me with 75% regular whole wheat flour, and who doesn’t like a little extra fiber and protein?

Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (3)

Here’s a little visual on how I roll my buns. First, pinch off a section of dough. Making a circle with your thumb and first finger to “grip” what will be the outside of your bun, “stuff” all the yucky uneven dough into what will be the “inside” of your bun. Continue “stuffing” until the outside of your ball is nice and smooth. Pinch the end shut and roll around in your hands to smooth out the little lump left behind. Don’t add flour unless it’s too sticky to work with.

Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (4)

**STAND MIXER INSTRUCTIONS:

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup butter, room temperature
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups whole wheat flour (Or use all purpose)
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the warm milk, ¼ cup sugar and yeast. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it starts to bubble.
  2. Add the butter, eggs, and salt and beat on low for a few minutes until the eggs are mixed in and the butter is broken up (a little chunky is okay!)
  3. In the stand mixer with the dough hook attachment, gradually add the flour until a smooth dough forms — it should pull away from the sides of the bowl but a little sticky is okay.
  4. Place dough ball in a large greased bowl, cover, place in a warm spot and let rise for 1 hour, then continue with the rolling, rising and baking.

Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (5)

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Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls

written by Ashley Fehr

4.52 from 29 votes

Light and fluffy whole-wheat buns made with help from the bread machine.

Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (7)

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Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Bread and Baked Goods

Servings 18 buns

Calories 170cal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm milk I put mine in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds
  • 1/2 cup butter room temperature
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1/4-1/2 cup additional milk or water

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in (in order given), in your bread machine. Start the Dough setting. Always check after 5 minutes to see if it needs more liquid or flour — you don’t want it too dry. Add the additional ¼ – ½ cup milk or water if the dough doesn’t seem to be coming together well. I always err on the side of it having a little extra moisture.

  • When cycle has finished, remove from the pan.

  • Shape pieces of dough into balls and place in a greased pan, leaving about an inch in between. (See photos above)

  • Cover and let rolls rise until doubled (about 30-45 minutes).

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until they are a light golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

If you are baking frozen buns, you will need to leave out to thaw completely and then rise. This will likely take about 12 hours.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 170cal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1.2mg

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Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (8)

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Dorothy says

    Can you substitute buttermilk for milk?

    Reply

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Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

Why is 100 whole wheat bread so heavy? ›

All too often, our loaves end up like dense heavy bricks. But there is hope! A few baking tricks can help us get much closer to the pillowy whole wheat loaves we crave. The reason why whole wheat loaves end up so dense is because whole wheat flour has very little gluten as compared to white all-purpose flour.

How do you make pre made rolls better? ›

3 Tiny Steps to Make Store-Bought Dinner Rolls Taste Amazing
  1. Brush with melted butter.
  2. Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
  3. Finish with flaky salt.
May 1, 2019

Will crescent rolls stick to parchment paper? ›

Parchment paper is a good cooking tool to use. It saves clean up time, but it also is coated with silicone which will keep food from sticking.

How to warm up dinner rolls in the microwave? ›

Arrange rolls on a microwave-safe plate. Cover the rolls with a slightly damp, clean kitchen towel. Wrap the entire plate in a dry tea towel. Microwave until just warmed through, 30 to 45 seconds.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

Potato Flakes or Potato Water

Starch helps the dough by trapping the gas from the yeast in the dough and makes the bubbles stronger. This helps the bread to rise and be lighter and fluffier. If you are boiling potatoes, you can use the unsalted water in place of the water in your bread recipe to help out the yeast.

Can you lose weight eating 100 whole wheat bread? ›

Including whole-grain bread in your diet can help support your weight-loss goals. But eating this carb won't guarantee that you will achieve your weight-loss goals in minutes. Whole-grain bread should be included as part of an overall balanced and healthy diet and lifestyle to support weight loss.

Is it better to butter rolls before or after baking? ›

Butter basting: Rolls can be brushed with butter before, during, or after baking. While it doesn't brown the surface as much as egg wash will, it does promote browning and adds a lot of flavor.

Why are my rolls dense and not fluffy? ›

Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.

Why did my homemade rolls turn out dense? ›

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.

What not to do with parchment paper? ›

This means that if you're cooking in a skillet over medium, medium-low, or low heat, you'll probably be fine using parchment. Hill uses it in the oven all the time for any temps under 450°F, but never risks using it on the grill, with the broiler, or in a skillet over high heat because the temperature can exceed 500°F.

Why put butter under parchment paper? ›

Greasing Pans

Rege always uses oil or butter in addition to parchment to ensure that everything will come out cleanly. She makes sure to grease the pan before adding parchment (which helps the parchment adhere and hold in place), then greases the parchment surface as well.

Does it matter what side of parchment paper goes up? ›

Since parchment paper doesn't have a helpful “this end up” sign with an arrow, it takes a little detective work. Just hold the paper up to the light and look for the side that's slightly glossier or shinier. It is the shiny or glossy side of the parchment paper that should be face up on your baking sheet or cake pan.

How do restaurants keep rolls warm? ›

Warming drawers.

These drawers serve the same purpose as a warming oven, but they take up less space. You might install a warming drawer in the prep area to keep food warm before service, for example; it's a great way to offer hot, moist bread or rolls.

Can I use a crockpot to keep dinner rolls warm? ›

The slow cooker is a brilliant way to keep rolls warm for serving or as a means for reheating the rolls the next day if you need to bake them before a big holiday. Bonus: Warming store-bought dinner rolls in the slow cooker makes them feel more like homemade.

When to brush butter on rolls? ›

Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush tops of rolls with egg wash and bake until golden brown on top, about 20-25 minutes. Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush with butter. Serve warm.

Why is my bread machine whole wheat bread so dense? ›

Underhydrated Dough- Hydration refers to the amount of water in your dough. Dough that is too wet has a hard time rising and often spreads out. Underhydrated dough is from too little water. This will make a dry dense loaf.

Is 100 percent whole wheat bread good? ›

Good bread makes your body happy

The benefits of eating 100% whole-wheat or whole-grain far surpass just the taste. Eating whole-grain foods within an overall healthy diet helps to lower your risk for many diseases, including: Stroke. Diabetes.

Why does my bread come out so 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.

How to fix dense whole wheat bread? ›

  1. let your bread rise longer the next time. In most cases, this alone will fix your dense bread.
  2. knead dough intensively. The result is well-aerated, lighter bread that's made quickly.
  3. shorten the bulk fermentation time or try another flour brand.
Aug 27, 2023

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