Honey Whole-Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe — Soft, Slightly Sweet Rolls

Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls that are easy to make, soft, and fluffy. These rolls are ideal for sandwiches, holiday meals, or any time you want fresh homemade bread. Serve warm with butter for best results.

There’s nothing like homemade bread, and these honey whole wheat dinner rolls are a favorite. They’re flavorful and tender, made with whole wheat flour but without added refined sugar.

With more time at home lately, I’ve been baking a lot, and this combination of whole wheat and bread flour with a touch of honey is one of my go-to recipes.

These rolls work well with savory mains such as grilled burgers, lentil stew, or beef stew, or simply as a bread basket staple at dinner.

Why This Recipe Works

• Versatile: These rolls can be used for sliders, dinner rolls, or breakfast sandwiches.
• Balanced texture: A mix of whole wheat and bread flour keeps the rolls light while retaining whole-grain flavor and nutrients.
• Make-ahead friendly: Bake in advance and store for the week—they reheat nicely.

These rolls are simple and delicious—enjoy!

What Makes Great Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls?

Using only whole wheat flour can make rolls heavy and dense. The best results come from combining whole wheat flour with bread or all-purpose flour. The blend keeps the texture soft and light while preserving some whole wheat character and nutrition.

Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour: Adds fiber and a nutty flavor.
• Bread flour or all-purpose flour: Bread flour gives extra structure, but all-purpose works fine.
• Neutral oil: Keeps rolls tender.
• Honey: Adds gentle sweetness and helps with browning.
• Evaporated milk (or whole milk): Adds richness and a soft crumb.
• Eggs: Improve texture and color.
• Active dry yeast: For rise; instant yeast can be substituted if needed.
• Salt: Essential for flavor.
• Lukewarm water: Activates the yeast.

See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

How To Make Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

• Warm the evaporated milk until lukewarm (about 110°F / 43°C). Combine with lukewarm water in a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
• Whisk in the eggs, oil, honey, and salt until combined.
• Add the whole wheat flour and bread flour. Mix until the dough begins to form.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. A slightly tacky dough is fine—avoid adding too much extra flour.
• Divide the dough into 18 equal pieces. Shape each portion into a ball and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Cover and let the rolls rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. (Tip: turning your oven on for 1 minute, then turning it off creates a warm environment for rising.)
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for about 20 minutes, until golden brown on top.
• Optionally brush with melted butter after baking for a glossy finish and added flavor.

Serving

These rolls pair beautifully with soups, stews, and grilled sandwiches. Try them with chicken noodle soup, beef stew, lentil stew, or as a side for meatballs.

Suggested Pairings

Quick Chicken Noodle Soup

Beef Stew Without Wine

Lentil Stew

Chicken Meatballs

Other Bread Recipes You Might Love

• Easy Sandwich Bread
• Easy Milk Bread
• Chocolate Bread
• Easy Dinner Rolls

If you make this recipe please leave a star rating. Your feedback helps others find the recipe and I love hearing from you. Thank you!