Homemade Whole Wheat Rolls

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Anyone whose been to a restaurant always sees the option for fresh bread or to enjoy with your dinner. Although we would love to take some home for later because of the delicious taste, I have a recipe you can make right at home, so you can have it whenever you want. This Whole Wheat Rolls recipe is a great roll recipe to share with friends and family.

The whole what rolls in a weaved basket.

Whole Wheat Rolls

This Whole Wheat Rolls recipe is so delicious! These rolls are so soft, airy, and fluffy. You can enjoy these for any occasion. If you decide to prepare a big dinner with a bunch of food for your loved ones, I highly recommend this wheat roll recipe as it would be a great addition. You can use these rolls in place of Hawaiian rolls in Ham and Cheese Sliders Appetizer or Pepperoni Pizza Sliders. Or you can serve them with my Mississippi Pot Roast recipe!

Ingredients

  • Water- This will be mixed with your yeast and sugar.
  • Bread Flour– This will be used for the forming of your dough.
  • Milk- You can use whole or 2% milk.
  • Sugar- This will be mixed in with water before adding the yeast.
  • Yeast- This will allow your bread to rise in the oven.
  • Shortening- This will help with the moisture and volume.
  • Salt- This will bring out the flavors in your bread.
  • Applesauce- This will give you the flavoring for the bread.
  • Eggs- Use eggs at room temperature.
  • Flour- You will need to use whole wheat flour for this recipe.
  • Butter- Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in the recipe.

How To Make Whole Wheat Rolls

Ready to make the best dinner rolls ever? Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients in a saucepan.

Bread Starter

  • Add the water, bread flour, and milk into a saucepan and cook at medium heat until the mixture forms into a pudding-like texture.

Take away from the heat and let the mixture cool.

The frothy yeast in a small bowl.

Yeast Mix

  • Put the sugar and water into a small bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Add in some yeast and continue to whisk the mixture.
  • Allow the mixture to sit until it becomes frothy.

Dinner Rolls

Put the milk and shortening into a large heat-safe bowl, place into the microwave for 30 seconds until warm.

Shortening and milk in a small bowl.

Add to a mixer bowl, then put in the applesauce, sugar, eggs, salt, and bread mix and whisk lightly to combine.

Adding more ingredients into the dough mixture.
  • Pour in the yeast and combine.
  • Mix the bread flour and whole wheat flour.
  • Use a dough hook to combine 1/3 of the flour into the mixer bowl.
Adding the two mixed flours into the dough mixture.
  • Add the rest of the flour and continue to knead for an additional 5 minutes or more if needed. You will need a softer dough that is not too sticky.
  • Grease a large bowl and put the dough inside, flip the dough once to coat in the grease. Place some plastic wrap on top and set aside to let the dough rise. It will double in size in about 1-1 1/2 hours.
Letting the dough rise and double in size in a large bowl.
  • Set the oven to 325 degrees.
  • Remove the plastic wrap and use your fist to punch the air out of the dough.
  • Begin to shape into rolls, you should be able to make about 3 dozen rolls.
The dough separated into 5 mounds.
  • Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet and arrange the rolls about 1/2 apart from each other.
  • Cover the sheet pan with plastic wrap and let the dough rise again to double in size.
  • Place the rolls into the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes until they are light brown in color.
  • Take out of the oven, allow the rolls to cool for 10 minutes on the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack.
The buttered rolls in the sheet pan.

Melt some butter and brush on top of the finished rolls, then continue to cool before serving.

Enjoy!

Two rolls on a serving plate.

Does Whole Wheat Flour Cook Differently?

Wheat flour works differently in a recipe but it affects flavor, taste, and texture. However, it does not cook differently in a recipe. You can easily substitute one for another.

What’s the Difference Between Wheat Flour and Bread Flour?

There is one big difference between bread and wheat flour. Bread flour is meant to support yeast action and also, it will make the dough more elastic. The classification and composition of both flours are different, wheat flour and bread flour work differently for different recipes.

The rolls in a basket on top of a striped gray and white cloth.

More Bread Recipes

Homemade Whole Wheat Rolls
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Whole Wheat Rolls

Whole Wheat Rolls are soft, light, and airy with a rich, buttery flavor. They make a wonderful addition to any holiday dinner table. Even if you've never worked with yeast before, this recipe is simple and straightforward, with no special skills required.
Servings: 36 rolls
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Rest Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total: 3 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

Bread Starter

Dinner Roll Recipe

  • ½ C Water warm
  • 1 ½ tsp Sugar
  • 4 ½ tsp Yeast
  • 1 C Milk
  • ½ C Shortening
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 C Sugar
  • 1 C Applesauce
  • 3 Lg Eggs
  • 5 C Bread Flour
  • 1 C Whole wheat flour
  • 3 tbsp butter melted

Instructions

Bread Starter

  • Mix the water, bread flour, and milk
  • Cook over medium heat on the stovetop until it reaches a pudding-like texture. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Yeast Mix

  • Whisk together sugar and water in a small bowl until mixed well.
  • Sprinkle yeast on top while continuing to stir.
  • Let sit until the mixture becomes frothy.

Dinner Rolls

  • Add milk and shortening to a large glass mixing bowl.
  • Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warm.
  • Pour into the mixer bowl and add applesauce, sugar, eggs, salt, and bread starter mix.
  • Whisk lightly.
  • Add the yeast mixture to the mixer bowl.
  • Combine the bread flour and whole wheat flour.
  • Add 1/3 of the flour to the mixer bowl and mix with a dough hook.
  • Now add the remaining flour and knead for approx. five minutes, adding more flour as needed. The dough will be soft but not overly sticky.
  • Place the dough ball into a large greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. About 1-1½ hrs.
  • Preheat oven to 325°
  • Punch down the dough to release air and shape it into rolls. You should get about 3 dozen rolls.
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper and place rolls on a sheet. Rolls should be about ½ inch apart.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise again until double.
  • Bake at 325° until rolls are a light golden brown (approximately 10-15 minutes).
  • Remove from the oven, cool for about 10-minutes in a pan, and then remove rolls to cooling racks.
  • Brush the top of rolls with butter and allow to cool.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 48IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg

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