Fluffy, Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls Recipe

When I’m juggling three energetic kids and a calendar that looks like an intricate game of Tetris, I want soft sourdough dinner rolls that taste amazing but don’t demand my constant attention.

These rolls pair perfectly with a weeknight soup or roast, but they also work great for sloppy joes, cheeseburger sliders, and simple lunchmeat sandwiches.

What truly sets these dinner rolls apart is the tangzhong method—a simple technique that creates a soft texture while extending freshness for days. And it’s easy, so don’t panic.

Even better? These rolls freeze beautifully, meaning fresh-tasting bread is always just minutes away.

Why You’ll Love These Sourdough Dinner Rolls

• Easy timeline: I’m a big fan of an overnight fermentation. I can mix the dough after my kids are in bed, shape the next morning (before or after they go to school), and bake later that day. Check out the baker’s timeline later on in this post.
• Fluffy and soft, yet substantial: These rolls are so soft, yet they still have the substance of a good dinner roll. I’m stoked about this perfect balance!

• Resists staling: thanks to the magic of tangzhong, these dinner rolls can stay stored on your counter in a bag for days before staling.
• Not too sour: the stiff sweet starter used to leaven these rolls cuts down on traditional sourdough tanginess. The rolls have excellent flavor, but you won’t be overwhelmed by a sour flavor profile.
• Recipe tested to perfection: I went through many recipe drafts and bakes of the perfected recipe to ensure it’s a success every time. A huge shout-out to the dozen bakers who also provided notes and feedback.

The Recipe Testing Journey

I have a reputation for doing in-depth recipe testing, often needing 6 or 7 rounds to get the recipe just right.

These dinner rolls cut me some slack and only required a few major variations to get them just right.

Here’s what I discovered:

• Choosing a stiff sweet starter: I didn’t want the rolls to be sour, but I like using a regular sourdough starter for simplicity’s sake. Unfortunately, it was a no-go – way too tangy. I tried a sweet starter, but the final roll was still a bit too sour. Opting for a stiff, sweet starter was perfect – still a lovely, light sourdough flavor but not overly tart.
• Egg white wash: A standard egg wash was causing some recipe testers to get little pockets of cooked egg between their dinner rolls. No bueno. I found that removing the egg yolk stopped this from happening and provided a golden, shiny finish.

• Delaying the butter: In my first few tests, I mixed all of the ingredients together at the same time. However, I found that delaying the butter really is key to making a strong dough. Butter inhibits gluten formation, so by delaying it for about 30 minutes, I gave the main dough a chance to develop strength. There’s a reason all of those brioche recipes out there delay the butter!
• Adding an egg: The dough initially didn’t include an egg, but the final result felt a little too fluffy and “loose.” It was nice, but it didn’t have the structure and density of a proper dinner roll. Not that these rolls are dense by any means – they just have a little more substance.
• Increased initial oven temperature: Finally, tweaking the oven temperature and times helped better achieve the perfect golden dinner roll tops. A steady, moderate temperature in initial tests left the rolls a bit pale. By starting out hot and reducing the temperature partway through, we got the best coloring.

Baker’s Timeline

These times are not exact – they’re just suggestions. Don’t feel bound to them.

An hour or two in any direction will be just fine; this dough is extremely forgiving and is built to be flexible.

The timeline here works great in a 73°F (23°C) home.

Day 1
9 am	Make stiff sweet starter & tangzhong
9 pm	Mix dough until windowpane
9:45 pm	Mix in butter, cover and let rise on the counter overnight
Day 2
9 am	Shape rolls; let proof on the counter Note: you can transfer the shaped rolls to the fridge at this point to hold them for later baking.
2pm	Bake rolls

How to Make Sourdough Dinner Rolls (Step by Step)

Here’s an in-depth guide to making these sourdough dinner rolls.

Step 1: Prepare your stiff sweet starter.

Mix 5g sourdough starter, 5g honey, 17g water, and 34g bread flour in a half-liter jar.

Tip: At this time, I also set out my 4 tbsp of butter so it can soften. That way, it’s ready by evening, and I don’t have to resort to last-minute butter softening tactics.

Once the sweet starter mixture forms a ball, remove it from the jar and knead until smooth.

Return to the jar and let ferment until evening (about 10-12 hours).

At peak, this style of starter should have the following attributes:

• About triple in size
• Slightly domed on top
• Rippled, bubbly surface
• Sweet, yeasty aroma

Step 2: Prepare your tangzhong.

Whisk together 25g bread flour and 125g whole milk in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl.

If using the microwave, heat in 20-30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the mixture thickens (reaching about 150°F or 65.5°C).

If using the stovetop, heat over medium while whisking constantly until thickened. Cool in the refrigerator until evening.

Tip: You can make your tangzhong up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready. You can also make it right before you mix your dough; just cool it down in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes so the heat doesn’t kill your sourdough starter.

Step 3: Mix your dough.

In a stand mixer bowl, combine the cooled tangzhong, stiff sweet starter, egg (from the fridge), cold milk, bread flour, honey, and salt.

Mix on low speed for 7-10 minutes, or until the dough passes the windowpane test (when you can stretch a small piece of dough thin enough to see light through without tearing).

If mixing by hand, knead the dough until it passes the windowpane test. If your arms get too tired, cover the dough and let it rest for 20-30 minutes. Then, come back and resume.

This step develops the gluten structure that gives your rolls their perfect texture.

Once fully mixed, put the dough and your softened butter in the fridge for 30 minutes.

We don’t want the dough or the butter too warm, or we risk the butter melting and separating in the dough. But we also need the butter to be soft enough to integrate. I found this “flash chilling” method worked perfectly.

Step 4: Add the butter and mix again.

After chilling the dough and butter for 30 minutes, add the softened butter in four portions, allowing each to incorporate fully before adding the next.

This step takes 3-5 minutes and results in a shiny, smooth dough that’s slightly tacky but not sticky.

Step 5: Bulk ferment overnight.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl (I use the bits left on the butter wrapper to grease my bowl), cover, and let rest at room temperature for 8-12 hours.

The dough should have visibly risen with bubbles around the edges and bottom of the bowl.

If you lightly touch the top of the dough, it’ll feel airy and springy.

Step 6: Shape the rolls.

Gently turn the dough onto your surface and divide into 12 equal pieces (about 77g each).

You don’t need any flour during shaping. This dough is soft and smooth, not sticky. It is slightly tacky, but not enough to warrant introducing flour to assist with shaping.

Shape each piece into a taut ball by pulling the edges out and folding them like a book. Keep doing this until the dough forms a ball shape. Pinch the bottom seam together.

Optionally, you can then use your bench scraper to gently create more surface tension. This isn’t essential, but it does create perfect-looking rolls.

This video shows exactly how to do all of this, since it’s a little difficult to explain:

Creating tension helps the rolls rise upward rather than outward.

Step 7: Second proof on the counter.

Arrange the shaped rolls in a greased 9×13 baking dish. I use the USA Pan baking dish, which doesn’t need to be greased.

If your dish isn’t nonstick, coat it with a light spritz of oil.

Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until they’ve expanded to touch one another and feel puffy and aerated when gently touched.

This typically takes about 6 hours at 73°F, but watch the dough, not the clock.

Step 8: Brush on egg white wash.

Whisk one egg white with a teaspoon of milk and gently brush over the tops of the proofed rolls.

This creates a beautiful golden-brown finish without leaving those pesky yellow egg yolk pockets between the rolls.

Step 9: Bake and finish with butter.

Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 325°F for 10 more minutes until the tops are beautifully golden and the internal temperature reaches 200-210°F.

Brush the hot rolls with butter immediately after removing from the oven for a soft, glistening finish that enhances both flavor and texture.

How to Store Dinner Rolls

These rolls stay fresh at room temperature for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag. The tangzhong helps them resist staling much longer than traditional bread.

For longer storage, allow the rolls to cool completely, then place in a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm individual rolls in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

Stale rolls can be revived and softened by warming them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes or by giving them a quick 10-second zap in the microwave.

Similar recipe: Sourdough Wonderbread Copycat Recipe – So Soft!

Conclusion

Whether you’re serving them alongside your Sunday roast, using them for sliders, or packing them in lunchboxes, these versatile rolls are sure to become a staple in your baking rotation.

If this is your first time working with sourdough or tangzhong, don’t be intimidated! The detailed instructions and forgiving nature of this dough make it an excellent entry point for new bakers.

I’d love to hear how these rolls turn out in your kitchen!

Related: Overnight Sourdough Hot Dog Buns (Super Soft & Easy)