Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Why This Recipe Works

• The rolls are versatile. We have enjoyed these rolls in various forms from making burgers with them to using them for breakfast sandwiches.
• They are not too dense. With a combination of whole wheat flour and bread flour, you get rolls that incorporate whole wheat flour but they’re not too heavy.
• They are great for meal prep. Make these rolls ahead and save them to enjoy all through the week.

Hope you enjoy them too! They are worth making again!

What Makes Great Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls?

We have found that using only whole wheat flour to make dinner rolls results in rolls that are super dense. So to make great whole wheat dinner rolls, use a blend of whole wheat flour and all-purpose or bread flour.

That way, the rolls are not dense at all. They are super soft and they still have a bit of texture and the nutrients from the whole wheat flour.

Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour: Provides fiber and nutrients.
• Bread flour or all-purpose flour: Use bread flour if you can but all-purpose flour works as well.
• Neutral Oil: For softer rolls.
• Honey: For sweetness
• Evaporated milk: For flavor and richness. Whole milk would work as well.
• Eggs: For richness.
• Active Dry Yeast: To help the rolls rise. You could use fast rising yeast as well in a pinch.
• Salt: For flavor. Don’t skip the salt and it brings out the flavors well.
• Lukewarm water: To activate the yeast.

For the full list of ingredients with measurements, check out the recipe card below.

• Yield: 18 servings
• Prep: 10 minutes
• Cook: 30 minutes
• Total: 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 oz evaporated milk, 1 1/2 cups
• 1/2 cup water, lukewarm
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 cups bread flour

Method

1. Warm milk to be lukewarm. The milk should be only slightly warm to the touch, about 110 degrees Fahrenheit (around 43 degrees Celsius).
2. Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl. Add in the lukewarm water. Add the active dry yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes for the yeast to activate.
3. Add in the eggs, oil, honey and salt. Whisk everything with a whisk to combine.
4. Add in the whole wheat flour and all purpose flour. Use your fingers to mix to form a dough. Transfer the dough to clean surface sprinkled with flour and knead until smooth for about 5 minutes, sprinkle more flour as needed. Don't sprinkle on too much flour. It is okay if the dough is slightly sticky.
5. Divide the dough into 18 equal parts. Shape each part into a ball and place on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Keep the rolls in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour until doubled in size. (To make the rolls rise we usually turn our oven on for 1 minute then turn if OFF and place the rolls in the warm oven. It works every time!)
6. After the rolls have risen, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake rolls in preheated oven for about 20 minutes until golden brown on top.
7. Brush the baked rolls with melted butter if desired.