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    Home » Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

    Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

    Published: Nov 19, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These soft & fluffy whole wheat dinner rolls are lightly sweetened with honey and are rich and buttery. A healthier wheat roll to go with your favorite main dishes.

    front view of six Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls with butter and sea salt on top

    Fresh, homemade dinner rolls compliment just about every meal. They're a staple in our house for holiday celebrations, but I also make them throughout the year.

    These whole wheat dinner rolls are soft & fluffy, lightly sweetened with honey and are rich and buttery. They are a healthier wheat roll to go with your favorite main dishes, easy enough to make on a typical weekday or to enjoy for a special occasion.

    I especially like to use them to make the most delicious BBQ chicken sandwiches! YUM!

    overhead view of 12 Whole Wheat Rolls with melted butter and sea salt on top

    Whole Wheat Rolls: Ingredients & Substitutions

    Let's chat about possible substitutions that can be made in this recipe. If I don't mention an ingredient I don't recommend any substitutions.

    overhead photo of the ingredients in this whole wheat rolls recipe
    • Whole milk. possible substitutions include half and half, heavy cream or 2% milk. I don't suggest a lower fat content than 2% milk.
    • All-purpose flour. to keep this recipe light and fluffy we use a little bit of all-purpose flour. I don't recommend changing this. You can use bread flour, if desired.
    • Whole wheat flour. white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour can also be used.
    • Honey. sugar can be used in place of honey
    • Salted butter. There is no substitute for butter in these whole wheat rolls. You can use unsalted butter.
    • Fine sea salt. iodized salt can be used, just reduce the amount by half.
    overhead view of 9 Whole Wheat Rolls with melted butter and sea salt on top

    How to make Wheat Rolls

    Let's walk through how to make whole wheat dinner rolls step by step, and don't forget to watch the video.

    Note. I use a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook, but you can mix and knead by hand.

    Proof the yeast:

    Begin by combing water, honey and yeast in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

    two photos showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - proofing the yeast

    Make the dough

    Once the yeast is proofed add the butter/milk and egg and stir on low speed until combined.

    Then, add 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour and sea salt and knead with dough hook.

    two photos showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - adding wet and dry ingredients

    Next, add more flour ½ cup at a time until a slightly sticky ball forms. Transfer the sticky dough ball onto a floured surface and knead until it’s no longer sticky.

    two photos showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - forming dough into a ball

    Lightly grease a large bowl, put the dough inside and cover with a damp cloth. Put it in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

    Once the dough has doubled, flour your hands and squeeze it to remove the gas.

    two photos showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - the dough before and after rising in a bowl

    With floured hands, form 12, equally sized dough balls. (use a food scale to weight full batch of dough, then divide that number by 12 and make sure every dough ball weighs the same).

    Roll each dough portion into a smooth ball.

    overhead photo showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - weighing portions of dough & forming into balls.

    Place the dough balls into the prepared baking sheet evenly spaced into 4 rows of 3.

    Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 30-60 minutes). (do not let the towel touch the dough).

    two photos showing How to Make Whole Wheat Rolls - before and after rising in a baking dish

    Bake

    When you notice the rolls have risen about halfway, Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

    Place fully risen rolls into preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the rolls are golden-brown on the top and sound hollow when tapped with a wooden spoon. (Be very careful not to overbake).

    Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.

    overhead view of 12 Whole Wheat Rolls with melted butter and sea salt on top after baking

    Serve

    Serve warm with a slather of butter, or better yet, homemade cinnamon honey butter. They are a great Thanksgiving recipe or served alongside this balsamic pot roast on Christmas. You can use them to make sandwiches with this crockpot BBQ chicken.

    Store/freeze

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    overhead view of 9 Whole Wheat Rolls with melted butter and sea salt on top

    To make ahead & freeze:

     You can make these rolls ahead and freeze them for up to 3 weeks. Make the recipe as written, put the rolls in the baking pan and before the start ot rise cover them tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or a lid.

    Remove them from freezer and let the rolls come to room temperature and rise fully before baking.

    To bake frozen rolls

    Only use these instructions if you are baking frozen rolls. Remove the foil and plastic wrap from the rolls, then bake the frozen rolls at 325 degrees F for 25 minutes, then increasing the baking temperature to 375 and baking for 10 minutes longer. 

    overhead view of 5 Whole Wheat Rolls with melted butter and sea salt on top

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes, this recipe is easily doubled. Just bake it in one very large jelly roll pan or two 9x13" baking pans.

    Can I freeze these wheat rolls?

    Yes, you can freeze them before or after baking, instructions are given in the recipe card.

    a Whole Wheat Roll cut in half with butter spread over it and four other rolls around it.

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe

    Laura
    These soft & fluffy whole wheat dinner rolls so delicious! They’re slightly sweetened with honey and are rich and buttery. A healthier wheat roll to go with your favorite main dishes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Rising 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
    Course bread, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 Rolls
    Calories 169 kcal

    Equipment

    • KitchenAid Mixer
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • glass batter bowl
    • 9x13" baking dish

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup warm water
    • 2 TBS honey
    • 1 TBS active dry yeast
    • ¼ cup salted butter melted
    • 1 cup whole milk room temperature (or half and half)
    • 1 egg room temperature
    • 1 tsp fine sea salt
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 to 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour – 2 ½

    Instructions
     

    • Line a 9x13” baking pan with parchment paper, set aside.

    Proof the yeast:

    • Add water, honey and yeast to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the dough hook. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.

    Make the dough:

    • Once yeast is proofed add the butter/milk and egg and stir on low speed until combined.
    • Add 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour and sea salt and knead with dough hook. Add more flour ½ cup at a time until a slightly sticky ball forms.
    • Transfer the sticky dough ball onto a floured surface and knead until it’s no longer sticky.
    • Lightly grease a large bowl, put the dough inside and cover with a damp cloth. Put it in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
    • Once the dough has doubled, flour your hands and squeeze it to remove the gas.
    • With floured hands, form 12, equally sized dough balls. (use a food scale to weight full batch of dough, then divide that number by 12 and make sure every dough ball weighs the same).
    • Roll each dough portion into a smooth ball.
    • Place the dough balls into the prepared baking sheet evenly spaced into 4 rows of 3.
    • Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 30-60 minutes). (do not let the towel touch the dough).

    Bake

    • When you notice the rolls have risen about halfway, Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
    • Place fully risen rolls into preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the rolls are golden-brown on the top and sound hollow when tapped with a wooden spoon. (Be very careful not to overbake).
    • Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt.
    • Serve warm!

    Video

    Notes

    To make ahead & freeze:

     You can make these rolls ahead and freeze them for up to 3 weeks. Make the recipe as written, put the rolls in the baking pan and before the start ot rise cover them tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or a lid.
    Remove them from freezer and let the rolls come to room temperature and rise fully before baking.
    To bake frozen rolls
    Only use these instructions if you are baking frozen rolls. Remove the foil and plastic wrap from the rolls, then bake the frozen rolls at 325 degrees F for 25 minutes, then increasing the baking temperature to 375 and baking for 10 minutes longer. 

    Ingredient Substitutions 

    • Whole milk. possible substitutions include half and half, heavy cream or 2% milk. I don't suggest a lower fat content than 2% milk.
    • All-purpose flour. to keep this recipe light and fluffy we use a little bit of all-purpose flour. I don't recommend changing this. You can use bread flour, if desired.
    • Whole wheat flour. white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour can also be used.
    • Honey. sugar can be used in place of honey
    • Salted butter. There is no substitute for butter in these whole wheat rolls. You can use unsalted butter.
    • Fine sea salt. iodized salt can be used, just reduce the amount by half.

    Store/freeze

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1RollCalories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 243mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 173IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    The photos in this post were taken by Ginny from In Bloom Bakery!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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