Soft Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
These soft sweet Hawaiian rolls are quick and easy to make with simple pantry ingredients and a tropical twist from pineapple juice, resulting in pillowy, tender bread perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (one packet)
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp (57g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (180ml) pineapple juice, preferably fresh or 100% juice
- ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk, warm
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 tbsp honey
- Optional: sesame seeds for topping
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm milk (about 110°F/43°C), pineapple juice, and honey. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Add the softened butter, egg, and the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until the dough begins to come together.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add small amounts of flour if too wet.
- First rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 ½ hours or until doubled in size.
- Shape the rolls: Punch down the dough gently to release air. Divide into 12 equal pieces (about 2 ounces or 55g each). Roll each piece into a smooth ball and arrange in a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, close but not touching.
- Second rise: Cover the pan with a towel and let the rolls rise again for 30-40 minutes until puffy and nearly doubled.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake rolls for 18-20 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
- Finish with butter: Remove rolls from oven and immediately brush with melted butter.
- Cool and serve: Let rolls cool for 10 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
Use warm liquids between 105-115°F to activate yeast properly. Be gentle when punching down dough to keep airiness. Cover rolls with foil halfway through baking if browning too quickly. For gluten-free, use a yeast-friendly gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum if needed. For vegan, substitute milk and butter with plant-based alternatives and replace egg with flaxseed egg.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll (approx. 60g)
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 5
- Fat: 4.5
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Hawaiian rolls, sweet rolls, soft bread, homemade bread, pineapple juice bread, easy bread recipe, quick bread rolls