Ahhh, soft milk bread rolls 😍—pillowy, tear-apart fluffy, and slightly sweet. This is a bakery-style recipe that stays soft even the next day.
Soft Milk Bread Rolls (Ultra Fluffy)
🕒 Time
About 2½ hours (mostly rising)
Makes 12 rolls
Ingredients
- 3½ cups (440 g) all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 2¼ tsp (1 packet) instant yeast
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, very soft
For brushing
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Optional: warm milk or honey butter
Instructions
1️⃣ Activate the yeast
Mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2️⃣ Make the dough
Add egg and salt.
Gradually add flour and mix until shaggy.
Knead 8–10 minutes (or 6 minutes in mixer) until smooth, soft, slightly tacky.
Add soft butter slowly while kneading until fully absorbed.
3️⃣ First rise
Place dough in a greased bowl.
Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours, until doubled.
4️⃣ Shape the rolls
Punch down dough.
Divide into 12 equal pieces.
Shape into smooth balls and place in a greased baking dish (touching for extra softness).
5️⃣ Second rise
Cover and let rise 35–45 minutes, until puffy.
6️⃣ Bake
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F
- Brush tops lightly with milk
- Bake 18–22 minutes, until lightly golden
7️⃣ Finish
Brush with melted butter immediately.
Cover loosely with a cloth for 10 minutes → ultra soft 🥹
Pro Tips for Maximum Fluff
- Use warm, not hot milk
- Dough should feel soft, not stiff
- Let rolls touch in the pan
- Don’t overbake (they should be pale!)
Storage
- Room temp: 2–3 days (covered)
- Freeze up to 2 months
- Reheat with a damp paper towel → microwave 10–15 sec
Variations
- 🧀 Cheese-stuffed
- 🍯 Honey butter rolls
- 🌱 Dairy-free version
- 🧄 Garlic milk rolls
Want me to adapt it for stand mixer, bread machine, or overnight fridge rise?
