Fun updates to the dinner table roll

Whether your rolls are made from scratch or you get a little help from the store, here are some ideas to make this humble dinner accessory the life of the party.

A celebratory meal seems incomplete without a bread accompaniment, but this side is too often an afterthought that fails to live up to the excitement of the other dishes on the table. These tried and true yeast dinner rolls are homey yet unforgettable and won’t be overshadowed by other menu items. Make them even more impressive by following one of the variations at the end of the recipe — cheddar and chive, honey-oat, or raisin and fennel.

Tried and true yeast dinner rolls

Serves 10; Makes approximately 20 rolls

These ever-so-slightly sweet rolls are light and fluffy with a satisfying chew. The directions call for kneading with a stand mixer as the dough is very wet and tacky, but you could also knead by hand using a bench scraper and some elbow grease.

Ingredients:

• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups milk, warmed
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Add the flour, yeast, salt, butter and eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium for thirty seconds, then continue beating while slowly pouring in the milk. Once smooth, continue beating and pour in the sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, increase the speed to high and beat until the dough comes together in a ball around the paddle.
2. Move to a large, lightly-buttered bowl or other container and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 2 or 2 1/2 hours.
3. Line a rectangular baking dish or baking sheet with a lip with parchment paper. Pull approximately 3-tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them 1/2 inch apart on the baking dish/ sheet. If the rolls don’t fill the dish/sheet, roll some aluminum foil, spray it with nonstick spray, and place 1/2 inch away from the last row of rolls. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until fluffy and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with plain butter or flavored butters (recipes below).

Variations:

• Cheddar and chive: Add 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup finely-chopped chives after the first rise.
• Honey-oat: Replace the sugar with 1/3 cup honey. Add 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats after the first rise and sprinkle with 1/4 cup oats just before baking.
• Raisin and fennel: Add 1/2 cup golden raisins and 1-1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds after the first rise.

Rather than manipulate the bread recipe, you can add interest to your rolls by serving up a unique spread, like dill and lemon, mango-chile, or cinnamon and sugar butters. They take only minutes to pull together but make a big impact at the dinner table.

Dill and lemon butter

A vibrant, herbaceous spread to cut through the richness of a decadent meal.

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
• Zest of 2 lemons

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine.
2. Serve at room temperature.

Mango-chile butter

Sweet heat to hit all points of the palate. Pairs especially well with fish and pork.

Ingredients:

• 1 dried guajillo chile pepper
• 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1 cup fresh mango cubes

Directions:

1. Place the chile in a shallow bowl and cover with boiling water.
2. After five minutes, strain out the water and add the chile, butter and mango to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
3. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Cinnamon and sugar butter

Always a hit, with kids and adults alike! Serve with rolls as well as sweet potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine. Serve at room temperature.

More dinner table roll recipes

California dinner rolls
Dark and soft restaurant dinner rolls Overnight refrigerator rolls