These Lion House rolls may have originated in Utah, but you can now make this recipe at home with the same soft, fluffy and buttery taste. The perfect indulgent dinner roll!

Basket of Lion House rolls with blue checked linen.

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Lion House Dinner Rolls

Lion House rolls may have started at the famous Lion House restaurant in Utah, but now you can easily make them at home! These rolls are unbelievably soft and fluffy with a rich buttery flavor. I love serving them at Thanksgiving or Easter, but they’re also perfect for any special occasion.

If I’m in charge of making rolls, this is always my go-to recipe. Fresh from the oven and brushed with melted butter, they’re absolutely irresistible. Once you’ve mastered this legendary recipe, try my other favorites like Hawaiian rolls recipe, Parker House roll recipe or Texas Roadhouse rolls recipe!

Recipe Ingredients

Yeast in a jar.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Flour: You can use bread flour or all purpose flour in this recipe. Learning how to measure flour accurately is key in baked goods!
  • Warm water: Not cold, not hot, just right at at 105 degrees F. Use a thermometer to measure accuracy if you are not sure.
  • Nonfat instant dry milk: Nonfat dry milk powder gives these rolls a tender texture and better rise.
  • Yeast: Active dry yeast is necessary for the rolls to rise.
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar is food for your yeast to properly activate.
  • Salt: Elevates the final taste of the rolls.
  • Butter: Softened butter will mix properly with the other dough ingredients. You will also need some to brush on the top of rolls after baking.
  • Egg: Binds your dough together and supplements the gluten, a necessary ingredient for an enriched dough.

How to Make the Dough

Bread dough rising in a glass bowl.
  • Proof the yeast. In the bowl of your electric mixer, combine water and instant milk powder until the milk dissolves. Sprinkle yeast on top, stir, cover with plastic and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes.
  • Mix together. Using a dough hook or dough whisk add sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2-3 cups of flour then mix on low speed until combined. Adjust your mixer to medium speeds and mix for 2 more minutes.
  • Continue to add flour. Add additional 2 cups more of flour and mix on low speed until combined, then mix on medium speeds for 2 minutes. Continue to add flour in 1/2 cup increments until dough is soft and pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Rise. Scrape your dough off the sides of the bowl and grease bowl with oil. To prevent sticking, turn your dough over so it is covered with oil on all sides. Cover with plastic and rise in a warm place until double in size for about 1 hour.

How to Shape Lion House Rolls

Shaping dough strips into Lion House rolls.
  • Roll the dough out to make a long horizontal shape, similar to the picture above. Divide the dough in half horizontally.
  • Make vertical cuts down the dough from one end to the other. This should make about 18 individual strips of dough that are 2-2.5 inches wide.
  • Shape each roll individually by taking the dough strip with both hands and stretching it out vertically. Then flip the dough around from the bottom up. You can also roll in crescent rolls shape.
Unbaked lion house rolls lined on a baking sheet.

Recipe Tips

  • Milk vs. dry milk powder: You may substitute instant dry milk with regular milk, however use 2/3 cup less water. 
  • Don’t kill the yeast. This means using the correct water temperature. You will be able to tell your yeast is alive as it will dissolve in the liquid then after about 5 minutes become foamy and float on top of the milk mixture. If your yeast has sunk to the bottom, it’s dead and you need to start over.
  • Check your yeast. Make sure it’s not expired. If it is, toss it and get some fresh to use!
  • Double batch: If you need more Lion House rolls for a larger crowd, it’s best to make multiple single batches as it will be very hard to double this in a home stand mixer.
Lion house rolls on a baking pan.

Serving Suggestions

This Lion House Rolls recipe already tastes like it could be for dessert, so why not take them over the top with cinnamon butter, slow cooker apple butter, orange butter or garlic herb butter.

Lion house rolls on pan.

Treat your family to these other homemade rolls including easy garlic knots, dinner rolls or French rolls.

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lion house rolls on pan

Lion House Roll Recipe

5 from 81 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Let Rise: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 24
These Lion House Rolls may have originated in Utah, but you can now make them at home with the same soft, fluffy and buttery taste. The perfect dinner roll!
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups warm water (about 105°F)
  • ⅔ cup nonfat instant dry milk
  • 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ⅓ cup softened butter , more for top
  • 1 large egg
  • 5-6 cups bread or all-purpose flour , more or less as needed
  • oil

Instructions

  • Proof yeast. In a large bowl of an electric mixer, combine 2 cup warm water and 2/3 cup milk powder and stir until the milk dissolves. Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons yeast on top, stir and then cover with plastic. Let it sit for 5 minutes, or until the yeast has started to proof. 
  • Add butter and egg. Next add 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/3 cup butter, 1 egg and 2-3 cups of the flour. Using a mixer with a dough hook (can also stir with a dough whisk), mix on low speed. Then turn to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. 
  • Add flour until dough develops. Stop the mixer and add 2 more cups of flour and then mix on low speed until the ingredients are wet. Then turn mixer on medium speed and mix for 2 minutes. Add approximately 1/2 cup of flour until the dough is soft and pulling away from the sides of the bowl. It should not be overly sticky or stiff. 
  • 1st rise. Scrape the dough off the sides of the bowl and add 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil around the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough over in the bowl so it is covered with the oil (this helps prevent the dough from drying out). Cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour).
  • Shape into rolls. Sprinkle the counter with flour or use a baking mat and put the dough on top. Roll out into a large rectangle. Brush with slightly melted butter if desired. Then cut into desired shaped rolls. For the lion house shape, divide dough into two and then roll each piece into a rectangle. Then cut smaller rectangles about 2×4". Then roll the dough up and place the tail on the baking sheet.
  • 2nd rise. Place on lightly greased baking pans. Let rise in a warm place until the rolls are double in size (about 45 minutes).
  • Bake. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until the tops and bottoms are lightly browned. Brush with melted butter when taken out of the oven.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

From THE LION HOUSE COOKBOOK. 
Milk: You may substitute instant dry milk with regular milk, however use 2/3 cup less water. 
Make ahead: These rolls can be made ahead. Simply roll them out and cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and place the fridge instead of rising. Then take out of the fridge 1 1/2 hours before baking to rise. Then bake as directed.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 240mg, Potassium: 101mg, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 51mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Why are they called Lion House rolls?

These rolls were made famous by Utah’s Lion House restaurant. They are well known in the region for their great food, but more famously known for these rolls!

Why didn’t my rolls turn out fluffy?

Common reasons are inactive yeast, not enough kneading, or skipping a rise. Make sure your yeast is proofed properly, knead until smooth and elastic, and give the dough enough time to double in size before baking.

Can you make these rolls ahead of time?

Yes! Simply roll them out and cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and place in the fridge instead of rising. When ready to bake, take them out of the fridge 1 1/2 hours before baking to rise. Then bake as directed.

How do you store Lion House rolls?

Keep the rolls in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature for 2–3 days.

Can I freeze Lion House rolls?

Yes! Wrap the rolls individually in foil, then place them in a freezer bag. For best taste, reheat and enjoy within a month. To reheat, keep them wrapped in foil and bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Remove the foil during the last couple of minutes if you’d like the tops to brown.

Lion house rolls on a baking sheet.