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4.5 from 30 votes

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Our Hawaiian Sweet Rolls recipe makes light and fluffy dinner rolls that are slightly sweet and perfect for eating alone or stuffing with your favorite sandwich filling.Yield: 12 rolls (1 9x13 pan of rolls)

Prep Time
3 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
3 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 12 people
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Hawaiian

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c milk
  • 1/4 c (4 Tbsp) salted butter
  • 1/4 c water
  • 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1/2 c sugar (plus 1 tsp for activating the yeast)
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 c unbleached all purpose flour, divided
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg mixed with 2 Tbsp water (for brushing)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter, until the butter is melted. Set aside to cool to around 90F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix the water with 1 tsp sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over top and let set for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
  3. Add the cooled milk mixture, sugar and 2 eggs to the yeast mixture. Mix to incorporate.
  4. Mix in 1 cup of flour. Add the salt and another cup of flour. Mix until blended.
  5. Continue adding flour, a little at a time until the dough comes together. (You may not use all the flour.)
  6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, until the dough is soft and smooth, but not sticky. Add flour as you knead to keep the dough from sticking to the counter.
  7. Once your dough is kneaded, place it in a clean, greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let the doug hrise in a warm place until doubled, roughly 2 hours.
  8. Punch the dough down and let it rise again until doubled, roughly 1 hour.
  9. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Punch down your dough and divide it into 12 even pieces (roughly 2.5 oz each). Shape the pieces into tight balls and arrange them evenly in your greased baking dish.
  10. Beat one egg with 2 Tbsp water. Gently brush the rolls with the egg wash.
  11. Let the rolls rise a final time until puffy, 45 minutes – 1 hour.
  12. Near the end of rising time, preheat your oven to 350F.
  13. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden.
  14. Let the bread cool in the baking dish on a wire rack.

Notes

  • This recipe from 2016 was updated in 2022. We made these Hawaiian sweet rolls more authentic. Enjoy!