Refrigerator Rolls

There’s something about a homemade dinner roll that is warm and comforting. Sure, you could snag a bag of dinner rolls at your local grocery store. But a warm, fluffy roll straight from the oven, made fresh with love? It really can’t be beat—especially when you can make them ahead of time. Whether it’s planning for a holiday like your Thanksgiving menu or Christmas dinner, or you simply are having guests over for a party, this recipe for refrigerator rolls is the perfect thing to have on hand for any occasion.

Ingredients for Refrigerator Rolls

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• Active dry yeast: This leavening agent gives the rolls an airy, bread-like quality. It’s our preferred type of yeast for baking bread.
• Milk: We prefer milk with some fat, like 2%, for flavor.
• Shortening: A butter-flavored shortening is our preferred fat for the tastiest results.
• Sugar: Helps to feed and activate the dry yeast. It also makes your refrigerator rolls even more light and fluffy.
• Egg: Adds fat and protein to the rolls’ structure.
• All-purpose flour: If you have a bread flour on hand, that could also work for these refrigerator dinner rolls.

Directions

Step 1: Form the dough

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In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add in the milk, shortening, sugar, salt, egg and 2 cups of flour. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, then stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Do not knead! Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once so the dough is greased on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Step 2: Shape the rolls

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The next morning, grease two baking sheet pans. Punch down the dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and divide the rolls into 12 pieces. Shape each roll into a ball, then place the rolls 2 inches apart on the greased sheets. Cover and let the rolls rise in a warm place until they have doubled, about 1- 1/2 hours.

Editor’s Tip: If you can’t find a warm spot, you can still proof bread dough even when it’s cold outside.

Step 3: Bake the rolls

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Bake the rolls at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove them from the pans to wire racks to cool.

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Recipe Variations

• Add in fillings: These rolls are versatile enough that you could add any fillings you want. For example, turn these rolls into cinnamon raisin with added raisins and cinnamon sugar, or make them spicy and cheesy with finely chopped jalapeño and shredded cheddar cheese. Feel free to get creative!
• Brush the tops with butter or honey: Want your rolls to have that glistening and golden finish? Brush the tops with butter or honey (or both!) for an elegant look to your refrigerator dinner rolls. An egg wash could work here as well.
• Sprinkle with seeds: Instead of adding fillings, you could sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds or poppy seeds for a tasty finish on these rolls. Be sure to brush the tops with butter or honey so the seeds stick while baking.

How to Store Refrigerator Rolls

To keep your refrigerator rolls from drying out and getting hard, wrap each roll individually in aluminum foil, then place them in an airtight container or a sealed zip top plastic bag. Too much moisture will cause them to dry out, so for best results, place them in the freezer. Then when you’re ready, pop the rolls you want to eat in the aluminum foil on a baking sheet to toast in the oven.

How do you reheat refrigerator rolls?

Place the aluminum-wrapped refrigerator rolls on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 350° for about 10 minutes.

Refrigerator Rolls Tips

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Should I remove my refrigerator rolls immediately from the pan?

Yes! The heat from the pan will cause for the rolls to continue to cook, and you don’t want overcooked, dry dinner rolls. Plus, the cooling pan might cause moisture buildup for your rolls, which will make them soggy. Placing them on a wire wrack helps them to get the proper amount of air to help dry out properly.

Can you store refrigerator rolls in the fridge?

Yes, technically you can store bread products in the fridge for up to 7 to 14 days. However, keep in mind that if the bread isn’t in a dry spot or properly wrapped, it will likely dry out. For the best results, we recommend storing them in the freezer.

What is the best way to keep rolls fresh?

Less air, less likely your bread will dry out! Wrapping them tightly with aluminum foil helps to seal them and keep the air out, making them last longer.