Have you ever wanted to bake bread that fills your home with the most comforting scent? These Soft Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls are just the ticket. They are pillowy soft, a little bit sweet, and have a beautiful golden color from the sweet potato. Seriously, they are amazing.
This is a truly Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe that is perfect even if you are new to baking with yeast. We will walk through it together, step by step. Get ready to impress your family and friends with these beautiful Homemade Bread Rolls. You can do this!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, the flavor is incredible. The sweet potato adds a subtle, earthy sweetness that pairs so well with a little bit of honey. It’s not overpowering at all. It just makes these Sweet Dinner Rolls extra special.
Then there is the texture. We are talking unbelievably soft and fluffy. Each roll pulls apart so beautifully. They are tender and light, making them perfect for any meal. They are great alongside a hearty soup or for making little sandwiches.
The color is another reason to love them. That lovely, warm orange hue from the sweet potato makes them look so inviting on the dinner table. They look just as good as they taste, which is always a bonus.
And honestly, this is such a straightforward Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe. Even if you’ve been a little scared of yeast before, this recipe is very forgiving. The dough is a dream to work with. It is soft and smooth, not sticky and frustrating.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to gather for these amazing Soft Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls. The list is simple, and you probably have most of these items in your pantry already. No fancy ingredients required!
- 1 medium sweet potato (about 250 to 290g), peeled and chopped (this will give you about 1 cup mashed)
- 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk, warmed to about 110°F (43°C)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 standard size packet)
- 1/3 cup (113g) pure honey, divided
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 5 tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 5 1/2 cups (715g) bread flour, plus more as needed
- (optional) 2 tablespoons (28g) melted butter and flaky sea salt, for finishing
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to get baking? Let’s make some delicious Homemade Bread Rolls. Just follow these simple steps, and you will have warm, fluffy rolls in no time. It’s easier than you think!
Step 1: Prepare The Sweet Potato
First, get your sweet potato ready. Boil the chopped sweet potato in water over medium high heat. Let it cook until it is very tender, which should take about 10 to 12 minutes. You should be able to easily pierce it with a fork.
Drain the water and mash the sweet potato until it’s smooth. A few small lumps are perfectly fine, so don’t worry about getting it perfect. Measure out 1 cup of the mash and set it aside to cool down a bit.
Step 2: Activate The Yeast
Now for the yeast. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the warm milk, the yeast, and 2 tablespoons of the honey. The milk should be warm to the touch, like a baby’s bottle, but not hot.
Cover the bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes. You are looking for it to get a little foamy or bubbly on top. This tells you the yeast is alive and ready to work its magic.
Step 3: Make The Dough
To the yeast mixture, add the rest of the honey, the room temperature eggs, softened butter, the cooled mashed sweet potato, salt, and just 1 cup of the bread flour.
Mix everything on low speed for about a minute. If you are mixing by hand, a sturdy spoon will work great. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the rest of the flour.
Beat this on medium speed until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. This usually takes about 3 minutes. If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time.
Step 4: Knead The Dough
Time to knead! You can continue using the mixer with the dough hook for about 5 minutes. Or, you can knead it by hand on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes. The dough should feel smooth, soft, and just slightly tacky.
A good way to check if it’s ready is to poke it. If the indentation slowly bounces back, it is ready for its first rise.
Step 5: First Rise
Lightly grease a large bowl with a little oil or some nonstick spray. Place the dough inside and turn it over once to coat it lightly with the oil. Cover the bowl and let it rise in a warm, draft free spot until it has doubled in size. This will take about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Step 6: Shape The Rolls
Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into 20 even pieces. Each piece will weigh about 65 to 75 grams if you want to be precise. A kitchen scale is handy for this.
Shape each piece into a smooth little ball. Arrange the balls in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan. They should be close but not squished together just yet.
Step 7: Second Rise
Cover the pan and let the rolls rise again until they look puffy. This second rise is shorter, usually about 30 to 45 minutes. They will be nestled up against each other now.
Step 8: Bake The Rolls
While the rolls are rising, adjust your oven rack to the lower position and preheat it to 350°F (177°C). Bake the rolls for 25 minutes. It helps to rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure they brown evenly.
They are done when they are golden brown and an instant read thermometer inserted into the center roll reads 190°F. If the tops get too brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the pan with foil.
Step 9: Finish And Serve
As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the warm tops with melted butter. A little sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top is a wonderful finishing touch. It adds a tiny crunch and balances the sweetness.
Let the rolls cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before serving. This is the hardest part, I know! But it allows them to set up properly. Then, enjoy your fresh Homemade Bread Rolls!
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftover Soft Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls, storing them is easy. Keep them tightly covered in an airtight container or a zip top bag at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, you can refrigerate them for up to one week. To reheat, just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or warm them in a low oven until they are soft again.
Tips
Want to make sure your Sweet Dinner Rolls are perfect every time? Here are a few extra tips. First, make sure your ingredients like eggs and butter are at room temperature. This helps the dough come together smoothly.
Don’t have a stand mixer? No problem. You can absolutely make this Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe by hand. It will just take a bit more muscle for the kneading part. Think of it as a good workout!
When letting your dough rise, find a warm spot in your house. My favorite trick is to turn the oven on to its lowest temperature for just a minute, then turn it off and place the covered bowl inside. It creates a perfect cozy environment for the yeast.
For perfectly portioned rolls, using a kitchen scale is the best way to go. This ensures they all bake evenly. If you don’t have one, just eyeball it and try to get them as uniform as possible.
Conclusion
Baking these Soft Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls is such a rewarding experience. From the simple process to the amazing smell that fills your kitchen, it’s a joy from start to finish. The result is a batch of incredibly soft, flavorful rolls that everyone will love.
This recipe proves that making delicious Homemade Bread Rolls doesn’t have to be complicated. So go ahead, give this Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe a try. You will be so glad you did. Happy baking!
FAQ
Can I Use All Purpose Flour Instead Of Bread Flour?
You can, but the texture will be slightly different. Bread flour has a higher protein content, which helps create a chewier, more structured roll. All purpose flour will result in a slightly softer, more tender roll. They will still be delicious!
Why Didn’t My Rolls Rise?
There are a few common reasons. Your yeast might have expired, or the milk might have been too hot, which can kill the yeast. Also, make sure the spot where you let the dough rise is warm and not too cold or drafty.
Can I Make These Rolls Ahead Of Time?
Yes! You can prepare the dough through the first rise, then shape the rolls in the pan. Cover the pan tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before baking as directed.
Soft Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
These pillowy soft sweet potato dinner rolls are subtly sweet with a beautiful golden color. A truly easy and comforting homemade bread recipe, perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil, drain, and mash the sweet potato. Measure 1 cup and set it aside to cool slightly.
- In a stand mixer bowl, whisk warm milk, yeast, and 2 tablespoons of the honey. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- To the yeast mixture, add the remaining honey, eggs, softened butter, cooled mashed sweet potato, salt, and 1 cup of flour. Mix on low, then add the remaining flour and beat for 3 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Knead the dough with a dough hook or by hand for 5 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Gently punch down the dough and divide it into 20 even pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball and arrange them in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Cover the pan and let the rolls rise again for 30 to 45 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Bake the rolls for 25 minutes, or until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer reads 190°F.
- As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let them cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results, make sure your ingredients like eggs and butter are at room temperature. This helps the dough come together smoothly.
You can make this recipe entirely by hand if you don’t have a stand mixer; it will just require more kneading.
Using a kitchen scale to portion the dough ensures all rolls are the same size and bake evenly.
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