Sweetened with molasses and perfect for breakfast and dinner, these Whole Wheat Rolls are soft, flavorful, and a wholesome addition to any bread lover's recipe collection.
Are you a begginer bread baker? I have a list with my best bread hints and tips for you to get any recipe right the first time!
Ingredient and Substitutions
Molasses. You can swap the molasses for honey for sweeter rolls. I use molasses for its earthy richness, but honey adds a mild sweetness that’s also delicious. You can try this recipe with my apple vegan honey for a twist.
Butter. I use unsalted, melted butter for this recipe. You can substitute with any vegetable, sunflower or canola oil. Olive oil also works, but leaves a strong taste.
Milk. I use whole wheat when making these rolls, but partially skimmed and skimmed milk also work. You can substitute with any plant based milk for a dairy-free version.
Instant Yeast. You can substitute with active dry yeast, just make sure to activate it with some of the milk, warmed, and molasses, before adding to the dough.
How to make them
If bread baking feels daunting, whole wheat bread might seem even trickier. You can often get dense and tough rolls when trying whole wheat bread at home.
These rolls are different: they’re easy to make, and I’ve included a step-by-step video to walk you through the process. Baking is always easier with a bit of guidance, right?
Step 01. In a medium bowl, whisk together the lukewarm milk, molasses, melted butter, and the egg until the ingredients are well combined.
Step 02. In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and yeast. Add the wet mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
Step 03. If using a stand mixer, with the dough hook, knead on low speed for about 6 minutes. If kneading by hand, work the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 12 minutes. The dough should feel smooth and elastic by the end.
Step 04. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour and a half, or until it has doubled in size.
Tip: Try not to add more flour than the recipe calls for, especially if you're using the metric measurements. A wetter dough makes fluffier dinner rolls.
Step 05. After the first rise, divide it into portions based on your preferred roll size. For large rolls, divide into 8-9 portions. For medium rolls, divide into 12-14 portions. For small rolls, divide into 18-20 portions.
Step 06. Shape each piece into a ball by stretching the dough over itself and pinching the edges together. Place the rolls close to each other in a lined baking sheet, covering and letting them rise for 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Step 07. Preheat your oven to 350°F, and just before baking, in a small bowl, mix the remaining melted butter with 1 teaspoon of molasses. Brush this mixture lightly over the tops of the rolls.
Step 08. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown on top. Let the rolls cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Resist adding extra flour: Stick to the recipe to avoid tough rolls. Only add more flour if your dough is too wet to work with. Watch the video for more visual guidance.
- Don’t let the rolls over-proof: keep the second rise to an hour or less.
- If the tops brown faster than you’d like, simply place a piece of foil over them to finish baking without over-darkening.
Storing and Freezing
Once cooled, keep the rolls in an airtight container at room temperature. Stored properly, they stay soft and fresh for 3 to 5 days.
These rolls freeze well. After they’ve cooled, place them in a sealed freezer bag, and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm them in a preheated 300°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or in the microwave for about a minute.
More Dinner Rolls
Have you tried these Whole Wheat Rolls? Please leave a 🌟 star rating in the recipe card below, I'd love to know how it went!
📖 Recipe
Soft Whole Wheat Rolls
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Dough
- 240 g whole wheat flour
- 210 g all-purpose flour
- 7 g fine sea salt
- 7 g instant yeast
- 236 g whole milk lukewarm
- 60 g molasses
- 1 large egg
- 45 g butter melted and unsalted
Wash
- 15 g butter
- 20 g molasses
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the lukewarm milk, molasses, melted butter, and the egg until the ingredients are well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), combine the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, and yeast. Add the wet mixture, stirring until a shaggy dough forms.
- If using a stand mixer, with the dough hook, knead on low speed for about 6 minutes. If kneading by hand, work the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 12 minutes. The dough should feel smooth and elastic by the end.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour and a half, or until it has doubled in size.
- After the first rise, divide it into portions based on your preferred roll size. For large rolls, divide into 8-9 portions. For medium rolls, divide into 12-14 portions. For small rolls, divide into 18-20 portions.
- Shape each piece into a ball by stretching the dough over itself and pinching the edges together. Place the rolls in a lined baking dish.
- Cover the shaped rolls and let them rise for 40 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F, positioning a rack in the lower-middle of the oven.
- In a small bowl, mix the remaining melted butter with 1 teaspoon of molasses. Brush this mixture lightly over the tops of the rolls. If you prefer, save half to brush on after baking for extra flavor and shine.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown on top.
- Let the rolls cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Resist adding extra flour: Stick to the recipe to avoid tough rolls.
- Mind the second rise: Don’t let the rolls over-proof—keep the second rise to an hour or less.
- If the tops brown faster than you’d like, simply place a piece of foil over them to finish baking without over-darkening.
Elaine
This is THE way rolls should be. Delicious, easy to make and so puffy. I would love to create a big batch of these over the weekend and enjoy throughout the week!
Tammy
I loved watching you make these! Beautiful dinner rolls...I've been really into bread making lately...these came out so perfect and soft! 😀
Veronika
Love this recipe! I can't believe they are so easy to make! They will be perfect for breakfast or a mid-day snack!
Anna
Love how light and fluffy these rolls look! So much better than any shop-bought ones! A question, can I replace molasses with anything else?
Milk and Pop
Hi Anna! You can replace it with honey and get a very similar result!
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli
So many great tips for making bread (especially whole wheat)! Love the texture of your breakfast rolls!
Milk and Pop
Thank you! I'm so glad you both like it 😀
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Mmmm look how billowy and soft these rolls look!!! I can almost smell them. I'll take 2...no, make it 3 with some honey butter! Pinning so I can make these later! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing!
Milk and Pop
I hope you like them! They're fantastic to have at breakfast 😀