Bring a taste of the islands to your table with Hawaiian Dinner Rolls! Their soft texture and subtle pineapple sweetness make them the perfect choice for any dish.
Hawaiian dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet rolls that bring a tropical flair to any meal. Enriched with pineapple juice, a touch of brown sugar, and coconut extract, these golden rolls have a tender texture and a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with any meal.
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls would be the perfect complement to Maple Dijon Roasted Chicken and Vegetables, Instant Pot Pulled Pork, or our family favorite Blackberry Dijon Ham. They are fluffy, sweet, and so good!
Table of Contents
Reasons to Love These Hawaiian Rolls
- The subtle pineapple sweetness adds a delightful twist that distinguishes these rolls from typical dinner bread.
- They taste just like the ones you buy at the grocery store but without all the added ingredients.
- These Hawaiian Dinner Rolls keep nicely when stored properly, maintaining their texture and flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
- Pineapple Juice: This ingredient infuses the rolls with a mild, tropical sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, aromatic sweetness.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk adds a slight tanginess that balances the sweetness of the rolls. Its acidity also helps in leavening and tenderizing the dough that makes the rolls fluffier.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Alternative Sweetener: Swap brown sugar with coconut sugar to maintain a rich sweetness.
- Flour Variation: Opt for bread flour instead of all-purpose flour to enhance the chewiness of the rolls.
How to Make Hawaiian Dinner Rolls
Step 1: Heat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
Step 2: In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl (or a 2 cup glass measuring cup), combine the butter, buttermilk, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. Heat in the microwave until the mixture is hot and the butter is almost melted (it took about 1 minute 40 seconds on HIGH in my microwave). Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes on the counter until it cools and reaches approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), then add the extracts.
Step 3: Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the 3¾ cups of flour, yeast, salt, and ground ginger. Using the paddle attachment, turn the mixing speed on low and slowly pour in the wet ingredients. Continue mixing while adding the eggs and egg yolk. A sticky dough will begin to form. Switch to the hook attachment and knead the dough for 7-8 minutes, adding ¼ cup more of flour if necessary. Do note that this is a very sticky dough, so don’t add any more than 4 cups of flour in total! Once the dough has been kneaded, form it into a ball and place it in a large metal or glass bowl that has been lightly greased. Cover with a clean towel, turn OFF your oven, place inside, and allow to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled.
Step 4: Once the dough has doubled, remove and gently deflate. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll into circles and place in a parchment-lined 9×13 pan or ¼ baking sheet. Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). Generously butter the tops and sides of each roll. Place a clean kitchen towel over the top. Turn OFF your oven and place the covered rolls inside to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled.
Step 5: Remove the rolls from the oven and turn ON your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Once heated, bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown in color.
Step 6: Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining butter. (SEE NOTES)
Expert Tips
- Oven Placement for Rising: Place the bowl with the dough in a slightly warmed, but turned-off, oven. This provides a draft-free, warm environment, ideal for encouraging yeast activity and dough rise.
- Handling Sticky Dough: Lightly oiling your hands will help when working with this wet, sticky dough. Spray your hands with some cooking spray or rub some vegetable oil on them before you roll out the dough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brush the tops of your rolls with some honey butter for added sweetness.
Yes, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low speed for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Storage Info
You can store these Hawaiian Sweet Rolls at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days or refrigerated for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the rolls in a sealed bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw if frozen, then warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. Microwaving for a few seconds is also an option if you prefer a quick warm-up, though oven reheating is recommended to preserve their texture.
More Delicious Bread Recipes You’ll Love
Hawaiian Dinner Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter - cubed
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup pineapple juice*
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp coconut extract
- 3 ¾ – 4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 2 eggs + 1 yolk - room temperature
Instructions
- Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
- In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl (or a 2 c. glass measuring cup), combine the butter, buttermilk, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. Heat in the microwave until the mixture is hot and the butter is almost melted (it took about 1 minute 40 seconds on HIGH in my microwave). Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes on the counter until it cools and reaches approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), then add the extracts.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the 3¾ cups of flour, yeast, salt, and ground ginger. Using the paddle attachment, turn the mixing speed on low and slowly pour in the wet ingredients. Continue mixing while adding the eggs and egg yolk. A sticky dough will begin to form. Switch to the hook attachment and knead the dough for 7-8 minutes, adding ¼ cup more of flour if necessary. Do note that this is a very sticky dough, so don't add any more than 4 cups of flour in total! Once the dough has been kneaded, form it into a ball and place it in a large metal or glass bowl that has been lightly greased. Cover with a clean towel, turn OFF your oven, place inside, and allow to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled.
- Once the dough has doubled, remove and gently deflate. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll into circles and place in a parchment-lined 9×13 pan or ¼ baking sheet. Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). Generously butter the tops and sides of each roll. Place a clean kitchen towel over the top. Turn OFF your oven and place the covered rolls inside to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled.
- Remove the rolls from the oven and turn ON your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Once heated, bake the rolls for 22-25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown in color.
- Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining butter. (SEE NOTES)
Fresh out of the oven, they tasted better than store-bought Hawaiian rolls.