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Soft & Buttery Potato Rolls Recipe

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These homemade potato rolls come together surprisingly quickly. You can use leftover baked potatoes, or quickly cook potatoes in the microwave just for this recipe. These soft and buttery rolls are perfect for sandwiches or enjoy them as dinner rolls with a bit of butter.

Close up of basket of homemade potato rolls showing their round shape and buttery golden brown tops.

Homemade potato rolls are buttery and delicious. That mashed potatoes in the dough help to keep them really soft and melt in your mouth good.

When my friend Di sent over a recipe for these potato rolls, I just knew I had to make them.  The recipe is easier than you’d think and much quicker too!  It doesn’t call for two long proofs.

Ingredients including flour, potato, egg, milk, yeast, butter, salt, and sugar ready to be made into homemade potato rolls.

The total rise time in the whole recipe is only 15 minutes.  You read that right!  By the time your oven is preheated, the rolls are ready to bake!

The best part is they are delicious!  They are so soft, with a very subtle sweetness.  They have the perfect buttery texture as well.

We used them as Di does, as a base for some Porcupine Meatball Sliders.  Then we used the leftovers to make the best breakfast sandwiches.

They would make a great dinner roll and would perfect for lunch meat sandwiches as well!

Tips and Tricks

For a pull-apart rolls with softer sides, space the balls of dough closer together on the baking sheet.

For rounded, brown all-over, crustier rolls, keep more space the dough balls. That way they won’t touch while they are baking and they will maintain a more round shape.

If your kitchen is cool, there are ways to wake your yeast up and help your dough to proof. The easiest is to preheat your oven to 200°F then turn it off.

Cover the sheet pan of rolls with a damp tea towel. Stick it in the oven and allow it to proof for about 10 minutes.

They will continue to rise a bit as you preheat the oven. The warm pan will help keep them from getting too cold.

When forming the dough balls, place them seam-side down so that they rise with a smooth top.

I have not made these rolls using whole wheat flour. If you want to give it a go, I would start by replacing 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of white whole wheat flour. 

If you want to make the dough ahead of time, go ahead and mix it but instead of proofing it, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to bake. Pull the dough out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to form and bake the rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a potato roll?

Potato rolls are dinner rolls that have mashed potatoes in the dough. You can use some leftover baked potatoes potatoes or microwave a potato until it the center is soft enough to mash.

The potatoes give it a softer texture and slightly sweeter taste than a standard roll. You can also make them a little bit bigger and use them as a bun for sandwiches.

Basket lined with blue and white checked towel and filled with soft golden brown potato rolls.

What effect does adding potato to the dough have?

The starch in the potatoes contributes to the structure of the dough and holds more moisture than just wheat flour. Plus, it works without developing more gluten. So the end product turns out nice and light and tender.

It’s the same principle that keeps our potato dough cinnamon rolls so soft and delicious. That’s another recipe that you should definitely try.

Potato roll broken in half, showing soft center and buttery golden brown top.

More Great Homemade Dinner Roll Recipes

 If you like making homemade rolls, you should check out MiMi’s 3 day rolls. You can start the dough up to 3 days in advance and they are a holiday favorite.

We also love homemade Hawaiian rolls.  They are kissed with pineapple and have that hint of sweetness you’d expect.

What are your favorite kinds of homemade breads and roll recipes?

Close up of basket of homemade potato rolls showing their round shape and buttery golden brown tops.

Buttery Potato Rolls

Carlee
If you are looking to make soft, buttery homemade dinner rolls, you are in the right place. This easy potato roll recipe requires only 15 minutes of proofing, so they might just be the quickest and easiest homemade dinner rolls you have ever made.
5 from 7 ratings
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Rolls
Calories 156 kcal

Ingredients
 

Dough

  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 1 cup milk
  • Tablespoons dry active yeast
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons butter softened
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

For Finishing

  • 3 Tablespoons melted butter
  • salt

Instructions
 

  • Bake your potatoes by your favorite method, I just pierced mine with a fork and cooked them until tender in the microwave. Once they are cool enough to handle, scoop out the insides and mash slightly.
    2 medium potatoes
  • Warm the milk to lukewarm, about 90°F. It doesn’t have to me exact. It should be warm to the touch, but not so warm that you couldn’t leave a finger in it for a minute or two. Stir in the sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the top to activate it.
    1 cup milk, 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, 1½ Tablespoons dry active yeast
  • Place potatoes, butter, salt, and egg in your mixer bowl and mix to combine.
    2 Tablespoons butter, 1½ teaspoon salt, 1 large egg
  • Add the milk and yeast mixture, again mixing to combine.
  • Add the flour a cup at a time and mix until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be slightly tacky. You can adjust with a bit more flour or a small splash of milk until you get the desired consistency.
    3 cups all-purpose flour
  • Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until elastic. Divide the dough into 16 portions and roll each into a ball. Place prepared balls onto a greased baking sheet, leaving plenty of room between them.
  • Cover with a towel and allow to rise for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Remove towel and brush rolls generously with melted butter. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
    3 Tablespoons melted butter, salt

Notes

You can use leftover baked potatoes for this recipe if you have them.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 251mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
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Recipe Rating




Carlee

Thursday 9th of February 2017

We do too and these were so much easier to make than I would have expected!

Anonymous

Monday 6th of February 2017

Leftover mashed potatoes is an almost daily thing in my kitchen - I'll definitely try this recipe because my menfolk are bread lovers too! I came to visit you from Happiness is Homemade bloghop – hope you’ll make time to someday stop by my place & let me know you were there. http://www.lifeatthe4shoes.blogspot.ca Thank you from Mrs Shoes

Carlee

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

Oooh, then this is perfect for you!! I hope you love it!

Unknown

Sunday 5th of February 2017

Yum! These rolls look delicious. Who doesn't love soft warm rolls? Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.

Carlee

Sunday 5th of February 2017

Thank you! They are so quick and delicious!

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Saturday 4th of February 2017

It's just about time for my husband to be asking for homemade bread again. I think these will make him a happy man :)

Carlee

Sunday 5th of February 2017

These are so fast and good! I hope you love them!

Lita

Thursday 2nd of February 2017

These sound tasty! I adore fresh potatoes rolls. Pinned maybe for this weekend. Thanks.

Wishes for tasty dishes, Linda

Carlee

Thursday 2nd of February 2017

Ooooh, yay! I hope you love them!