Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

17 Comments 4.7

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

Simple and soft dinner rolls made with whole wheat flour. Whole Wheat Rolls are delicious spread with warm butter and served with any main dish.

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Can you think of a more appetizing aroma than freshly baked rolls?

This version of my classic Buttery Dinner Rolls uses whole wheat flour instead of white. You’ll love the boost of nutrients and the sweet nutty flavor of honey and grain.

Save The Recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

These rolls freeze beautifully too! Make a big batch and stash leftovers in the freezer so fresh homemade whole wheat rolls are always just minutes away.

Whole Wheat Rolls

These dinner rolls are delicious on their own or spread with butter. They’re seriously amazing with this Whipped Maple Pecan Butter too.

We enjoy these rolls as a side dish to just about any meal, but especially with soups, like this Beef Barley Soup.

If you’re lucky enough to have some leftover BBQ Beef Brisket in your house, I suggest you stack it into one of these rolls asap.

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls are a favorite for Sunday dinner.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Dinner Rolls

Proof the yeast first.

Sprinkle your active dry yeast over warm water before adding other ingredients to the dough. It should get foamy and puffy within a few minutes. If it doesn’t, discard the yeast and try again with a fresh packet.

Knead well.

To get soft whole wheat rolls, make sure to knead the dough until it’s smooth and stretchy. You should be able to stretch the dough several inches without it breaking.

Use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook OR knead by hand on a floured surface.

Storing Leftover Rolls

If you manage to resist eating all of them warm right out of the oven, Leftover Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

They taste best if eaten within a day or two of baking. The fresher the better!

For longer storage, transfer baked rolls to freezer bags and store in the freezer. Enjoy thawed and re-warmed within 2 months.

This recipe makes 24 rolls. For my family, that means we have enough to serve with dinner one night, then use as sandwich rolls for lunch the next day!

Buttery Whole Wheat Rolls

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe

  1. In a large bowl, proof the yeast in the hot water. Whisk in the honey and melted butter and salt. Stir in the whole wheat flour enough a soft dough forms. You may need to use a bit more or less flour.
  2. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Placed the dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until double in size.
  3. Punch the dough down and knead for about a minute. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, tucking the ends under. Place the them into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan or into 2 greased 10 inch baking pans. Cover and let them rise again until double.
  4. While they are rising, preheat the oven to 375 F. Bake at 375 F for 20-25 minutes or until baked through and lightly browned. Brush them again with melted butter while they are hot if desired. Serve warm.
Buttery Whole Wheat Rolls

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

4.72 from 7 votes
Simple and soft dinner rolls made with whole wheat flour.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 rolls

Ingredients 

  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 1 3/4 cups hot water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 4 3/4 cups whole wheat flour divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, proof the yeast in the hot water. Whisk in the honey and melted butter and salt. Stir in the whole wheat flour enough a soft dough forms. You may need to use a bit more or less flour.
  • Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Placed the dough in a greased bowl. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until double in size.
  • Punch the dough down and knead for about a minute. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, tucking the ends under.
  • Place the balls of dough into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan or into 2 greased 10 inch baking pans. Cover and let them rise again until double.
  • While they are rising, preheat the oven to 375 F. Bake at 375 F for 20-25 minutes or until baked through and lightly browned. Brush them again with melted butter while they are hot if desired. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll
Tried this recipe?Mention @chocolatewithgrace or tag #chocolatewithgrace!

{originally published 2/3/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/24/21}

Whole Wheat Rolls

Here are a few more great rolls to try:

Awesome Cheesy Herb Rolls from Oh, Sweet Basil

Crusty Homemade Pretzel Rolls from Gather for Bread

And don’t forget to try my all time favorite Buttery Dinner Rolls too!

Easy, Buttery Homemade Dinner Rolls can be made ahead and are perfect for Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner.

These Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns are another favorite roll if you’re in the mood for a sweeter roll.

Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns (1)
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Filed under: , , ,

Related Posts

Reader Interactions

17 Comments Leave a comment or review

    Rate & Comment

    Recipe Rating




  1. Tasha J says

    5 stars
    Thank you for such a great recipe. I used half whole grain 100% whole wheat flour and half bread flour with Hodgson Mill Active Dry Yeast. These rolls tasted like rolls that I used to purchase from a bakery in my neighborhood when I was a child. This recipe is a keeper for me.

  2. Andrea says

    4 stars
    Thanks for this recipe! I finally tried them tonight and they were delish!
    I did have a few issues though…after 30 minutes in a 375 oven the tops were very brown yet the rolls were not 100% cooked through. I did cover them with foil around the 25 minute mark but I don’t think it helped.
    I just ended up cutting off the bottom uncooked part and using another cut bun as the bottom 🙂 Tasted great.
    I will try them again!
    Also, for the last comment asking how long to let them rise, the first rise I did was about 45 minutes and the second about 2 hours (only because I was out of the house).
    Thanks again!

  3. Sophia says

    5 stars
    It’s fall in Los Angeles now (June, 2018) and we live a few miles from the beach and i had the first dough rise for an hour and another hour after i formed it into small pieces and turned out great. Thank you for this recipe. I have longed given up on making bread and one day i came across your recipe and tried again thinking something healthy for my toddler without the preservatives and refined sugar. It worked so well and we all loved it. The fluffiest i have worked on so far xo

  4. Mash says

    Wow this looks yuummmmm cannot wait to try – can you tell me the yeast quantity in spoon measurement because I buy a bottle of yeast

  5. Kelli says

    I made as directed but my dough was tough and did not rise after the first rise and being shaped. As I looked over the recipe it says 4 3/4 c flour divided. Was I only supposed to use 4 cups and the additional 3/4 was for kneeding dough after 1st rise. I assume because it’s whole wheat and I ground my own wheat that it would be denser but they were no way soft at all. I did use a little sugar to activate the yeast but I’m at a loss for why they did not rise at all after shaped. They tasted excellent my family loved them but they were just so dense.

  6. Sara says

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. Even with modifications it comes out amazing. I used half honey half sugar, half oil and half butter, half white wheat and half bread flour (what I had). Doubles great.