Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls Recipe
These Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, and bursting with buttery garlic and fresh herb flavors. Perfectly golden and tender, they make a delightful addition to any dinner table, offering a homemade touch that’s both comforting and delicious.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 rolls 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dough
- 1/4 cup warm water (heated to ~105°F)
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1 egg (room temperature and lightly whisked)
- 1 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cups + 2 TBSP all-purpose flour (additional 2 TBSP as needed)
Garlic Herb Butter
- 1–2 garlic cloves (minced, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (finely chopped)
- Sea Salt Flakes (to taste)
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a bread hook, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Dough: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and mix with lukewarm milk. Add this milk-butter mixture to the yeast mixture along with the lightly whisked egg. Stir to combine, then add salt and flour. Mix on medium speed until the dough forms a slightly sticky ball, adding up to 4 tablespoons additional flour if necessary for handling.
- First Rise: Lightly grease a large bowl and transfer the dough into it. Cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, allowing it to double in size.
- Knead Dough: Once risen, transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 2-3 minutes to develop structure and elasticity, working quickly to prevent sticking.
- Portion Dough: Using a kitchen scale, weigh the dough and divide it into 8 equal portions. If no scale is available, cut the dough into 8 evenly sized pieces.
- Shape Rolls: Shape each portion into a tight ball by pulling down the edges and tucking the seam underneath. Place each dough ball seam-side down on a greased cast-iron skillet or a 10-inch greased pan. Cover again with the tea towel and let rise for another hour until nearly doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: After the rolls have risen for 30 minutes, begin preheating the oven to 375°F, allowing the dough to finish rising while the oven heats.
- Bake Rolls: Remove the towel and bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown on top and register an internal temperature of 200-205°F for optimal doneness.
- Prepare Garlic Herb Butter: While the rolls bake, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter with minced garlic in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Stir in finely chopped rosemary and thyme, then set aside to let the flavors infuse.
- Finish and Serve: Once baked, brush the hot rolls generously with the garlic herb butter mixture. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt to taste. Let the rolls rest for about 10 minutes, then serve warm for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Make sure your water is not too hot when activating yeast, ideally around 105°F, to avoid killing the yeast.
- If dough is too sticky to handle, add flour gradually, but avoid adding too much to maintain softness.
- Using a kitchen scale helps achieve evenly sized rolls that bake uniformly.
- You can substitute fresh herbs with 1/2 teaspoon each of dried rosemary and thyme if fresh is unavailable.
- Letting the rolls rest after baking helps set the crumb and improves texture.
- The rolls are best served warm but can be reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: garlic herb dinner rolls, homemade dinner rolls, soft dinner rolls, garlic bread rolls, fresh herb rolls, bread recipe