Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (2024)

Published: Last Updated: by Marye 1162 words. | About 6 minutes to read this article.

Classically soft potato rolls rise high and very light. They are lightly sweet, mild in flavor, and are exactly right for any dinner. Double up -- they disappear fast.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Rising Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Jump to Recipe

The softest old fashioned dinner roll recipe ever!

Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (1)
Table of Contents
  • 🗝️ Key takeaways
  • Ingredients
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

Skip the line at your local restaurant and make this fried shrimp po boy sandwich recipe is theultimate casual dining or game-day food! It's sure to make any party complete.

I've reworked this vintage potato rolls recipe to make it so easy to make that there's no reason not to have homemade dinner rolls often!

They are so buttery, light, and airy that each bite fairly melts in your mouth. If you have a minute grab some coffee and I'll share the recipe... plus my tips for making it!

Ingredients

  • Active dry yeast is my choice but you can use the rapid rise in the same amount if you prefer.
  • Ginger helps to activate the yeast - think of it like coffee for sleepy yeast colonies.
  • Sugar gives the yeast something to eat and keeps it alive.
  • Water should always be around 110F. If you live where the water has a lot of minerals or chemicals you might want to use spring water - sometimes city or well water can inhibit the yeast growth.
  • All-Purpose flour. I used to use bread flour but I think this is easier for those of you who haven't made much bread before.
  • Salt helps to control the growth of the yeast and gives the dough flavor.
  • Butter adds moistness and flavor - it helps the rolls stay fresh longer.
  • Nonfat dry milk powder increases the lightness and adds protein.
  • Instant mashed potato flakes are my secret. They lighten the rolls and give flavor without adding too much moisture which can make them heavy and hard to work with.

🥫 Storage

Potato rolls can be placed in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze for longer storage.

To Freeze (up to 3 months)

You can either -

  • make them, let them rise, shape them, and freeze unbaked OR
  • bake them and freeze them... OR
  • bake them just until they are done but not browned and finish them the day you plan to serve them like brown and serve rolls.

To Freeze Unbaked

After they are shaped place on a baking sheet and put in the freezer until frozen solid. Put in a freezer container in layers with parchment paper between the layers.

Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as directed.

To Freeze Baked

Bake as directed then place in freezer containers as above.

For Brown n Serve

Bake as directed but just until barely done. Don't let them brown. Remove from oven, cool, and freeze as above.

When ready to serve bake until golden brown. No need to thaw.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Can you make potato rolls ahead of time?

Yes! You can either make them and put the dough in the fridge overnight for the first rise or let the dough rise, then shape it, then put the shaped rolls in the fridge to rise overnight.

Can you freeze potato rolls?

Yes! They freeze very well baked or unbaked.

I love dinner rolls, how about you? They freeze well so make them in big batches and freeze so you can have them anytime.

  • Clover Leaf Rolls are light and fluffy, buttery, and slightly sweet plus you can pull them apart so that there are more inside edges to hold all of that melting butter.
  • Country Style Whole Wheat Rolls are tender, light, and buttery because of the buttermilk in the recipe. If you love the regular buttermilk dinner rolls but want more whole grains in your diet? This is the roll for you.
  • 30 Minute Rolls take a little less than 30 minutes start to finish. 30 minutes, y’all.
  • Cheese Dinner Rolls are tender and buttery with bursts of flavor from sharp Cheddar and cracked black pepper.
Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (2)

📞 The last word

These are some of my favorites. You use potato flakes and dry milk -- it makes the rolls really airy and light.

I have been making this for years (ahem... decades) and I think I got the recipe out of a vintage Farm Journal cookbook but I honestly can't remember. I do know that it makes the best rolls ever... EVER.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (3)

4.67 from 18 votes

Best Potato Rolls

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Classically soft potato rolls rise high and very light. They are lightly sweet, mild in flavor, and are exactly right for any dinner. Double up -- they disappear fast.

Course Bread

Cuisine Amercian Heritage

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Rising Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings:16

Calories:183

Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 pinch powdered ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup water , 110F
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, all-purpose
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup butter, melted (divided use)
  • ¼ cup nonfat dry milk powder
  • ½ cup instant potatoes flakes, Just the dry flakes - don't make mashed potatoes. Make sure they're the plain kind and not the flavored kind.

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Add the yeast, sugar, and ginger to the bowl of a stand mixer.

  • Add ¼ cup of lukewarm water and let stand until frothy, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the remaining water, salt, and 1 cup of the flour and mix until blended.

  • Mix in the milk, potato flakes, and ¼ cup melted butter.

  • Add the additional flour a little at a time until the a soft dough is formed and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

  • Knead for 5 minutes with the dough hook attachment on medium speed - or as recommended by the manufacturer.

  • Form the dough into a ball, grease the top with some melted butter, and place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise until dough doubles -- about 1 ½ hours.

  • Punch down, form into equal size rolls, and place in a pan with sides touching.

  • Brush with butter, cover rolls with a kitchen towel, and let rise until the rolls are puffy, about 45 minutes to an hour.

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.

  • Gently brush the rolls with butter, again.

  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or just until lightly golden.

  • Do not over bake.

  • Remove from the oven and brush with remaining butter.

Notes

To Make Ahead:

  • You can mix and knead the dough and then put the it in the fridge overnight (oil the dough and cover with plastic wrap) for the first rise
  • You can also let the dough rise, then shape it, then put the shaped rolls in the fridge to rise overnight. Be sure to brush with oil and cover with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.

To Freeze:

  • make them, let them rise, shape them, and freeze unbaked OR
  • bake them and freeze them... OR
  • bake them just until they are done but not browned and finish them the day you plan to serve them like brown and serve rolls.

You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

First published November 2015. Last updated October 17, 2021 for editorial and structural improvements.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Charissa

    Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (8)
    It's true regarding the dry milk and potato flakes. The rolls are very tender and worth the time. I used quick yeast and saved a lot of time. I rate all receipes 1-10. These are a 10 plus!

    Reply

  2. Dasme

    Can this recipe be done in a bread machine with the same great results?

    Reply

    • Marye

      I don't have a bread machine and have never used one so I can't really say.

      Reply

  3. L.R.

    Can these be made without a stand mixer? I have a hand mixer. I have also just mixed bread with a spoon and a little muscle then kneading.

    Reply

    • Marye

      You can hand knead them.

      Reply

  4. Janice

    These looks amazing! Is there any way to make them without sugar?

    Reply

    • Marye Audet

      you can make them with honey or maple syrup or agave if you prefer. OR, you can leave the sweetener out totally. It will change the flavor and texture some and the rise time will be longer.

      Reply

  5. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats

    Those are some gorgeous rolls Marye! The perfect addition to any holiday meal!

    Reply

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Homemade Potato Rolls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between potato rolls and regular rolls? ›

Because potatoes contain potassium, the buns rise quicker than those breads with only wheat inside. The moist texture comes from the potato starch and its ability to absorb more water. The potato also gives it a longer shelf life, as the starch molecules protect it from going stale.

What makes a potato roll? ›

Potato rolls contain plain mashed potato, water, all-purpose flour, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and yeast. The mashed potato replaces some of the white wheat flour and the liquid that would normally go into rolls. It not only lends a softer, sweeter taste than flour, it also holds more moisture.

What are the ingredients in Martin's potato rolls? ›

Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Nonfat Milk, Reconstituted Potatoes (From Potato Flour), Yeast, Sugar, Cane Sugar Syrup, Wheat Gluten, Sunflower Oil, Contains 2 Percent Or Less Of Each Of The Following: Salt, Butter, Dough Conditioners ( ...

Why are potato rolls so soft? ›

It's all about the starch

So when you add potato to your bread dough you're upping the dough's starch content, effectively increasing the resulting loaf's total liquid retention — which translates to bread with soft, moist texture and a long shelf life.

Why are Martin's potato rolls so good? ›

The potato flour in Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread gives the product a sweet taste and pillowy texture. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania is a beautiful all-American town that is home to farmland and orchards. If you are able to visit, you can take a tour of Martin's Visitor Center; The Golden Roll.

Are potato rolls healthier than white bread? ›

It depends: adding potatoes to bread dough increases the potassium, fiber, folate, and vitamin E, along with smaller amounts of zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium compared to regular white bread. However, potato bread is often made with a lot of butter, sugar, and milk.

What are Martin's potato rolls? ›

“Martin's rolls are marshmallow-soft and sweet and magically made [with] potatoes. There's nothing better for sandwiching a charred burger patty with a slice of tomato, lettuce and onion. (Sorry, fancy brioche and squat English muffins)…”

Why is potato bread so good? ›

This homemade potato bread is a soft and fluffy loaf of bread made with mashed potatoes! The potatoes add moisture and starch to the bread, which makes it moist and tender. Potato bread is a great choice for sandwiches, toast, or just eating plain.

What are Subway potato buns made of? ›

The Potato Bun Sidekicks, made with Canadian-grown potatoes, are a delicious and affordable new addition to our value menu that celebrates our commitment to Canadian sourcing," said Janna MacMullin, Senior Director of Marketing.

Do potato rolls have eggs? ›

Mix milk, mashed potatoes, shortening, sugar and salt together in a bowl. Add yeast mixture and egg. Stir in 2 cups flour until incorporated.

What is a sweet potato roll made of? ›

Creamy roasted sweet potato, fresh avocado and crunchy tempura flakes wrapped in nori and sushi rice. Sushi chefs may train for years to make the perfect sushi, but you don't need perfection to make delicious sushi at home - no raw fish required!

Can I substitute potato flour for all-purpose flour? ›

Substitute potato flour 1:1 by volume, for the all-purpose, whole wheat, or bread flour called for in the recipe. We don't advise substituting more than 1/4 cup potato flour in a typical bread or roll recipe calling for about 3 cups of flour.

Why are my homemade rolls so dense? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

How is potato bread different from regular bread? ›

Potato bread is a form of bread in which potato flour or potato replaces a portion of the regular wheat flour. It is cooked in a variety of ways, including baking it on a hot griddle or pan, or in an oven. It may be leavened or unleavened, and may have a variety of other ingredients baked into it.

Are potato buns better for you than regular buns? ›

Potato bread can be a healthier option compared to traditional white bread. Potato bread often contains a mix of wheat flour and potato flour or mashed potatoes, which can add some nutritional benefits such as additional fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Are potato rolls healthier than regular rolls? ›

Either way, the potatoes boost the overall nutritional value, making it comparable to whole-wheat bread for fiber and nutrients such as zinc and iron. Potato bread has about the same calories and protein, but it provides significantly more potassium than either white or whole-wheat bread.

Does potato bread taste different than regular bread? ›

It is a type of bread that is made with mashed potatoes added to the dough. This bread is typically made with the same basic ingredients as other types of bread, such as flour, water, yeast, and salt, but the addition of potatoes gives it a denser texture and a slightly sweet flavor.

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