Homemade Hawaiian rolls are soft and fluffy with a hint sweetness from pineapple juice. This easy copycat recipe is even better than the store bought version.
Prep Time: 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 15 minutesminutes
Rising Time: 1 hourhour30 minutesminutes
Total Time: 1 hourhour55 minutesminutes
Servings: 16
Ingredients
½cuppineapple juice, at room temperature
¼cupwarm water(about 110°F)
¼cupmilk , warmed (15 to 20 seconds in a microwave)
3Tablespoonsunsalted butter , melted, plus more for tops
1teaspoonvanilla extract, could also do half coconut extract
1teaspoontable or fine sea salt
3cupsall-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1largeegg yolk
2 ¼teaspoonsinstant dry yeast(1 packet)
Optional: Maldon sea salt for tops; Butter and jam for serving
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a bread hook (or dough hook), whisk together pineapple juice, water, milk, brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt.
Add 1 1/2 cups flour, egg yolk, and the yeast. Mix on medium speed until combined. Add 1/2 cup flour at a time and continue to mix on medium speed, until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides. You’ll know it’s ready when your fingers no longer stick to the dough but it's still soft.
Spread butter across the dough ball and sides of the bowl and cover the bowl with a warm towel. Set by the window and let rise about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
When the dough has risen, punch it down and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough 1 minute.
Cut dough into 4 pieces. Roll each section into 4 rolls. Place in a buttered 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with a towel and let rise 30 minutes, or doubled in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Brush rolls with egg wash, if desired (see notes). Bake 15 minutes, or until golden brown and the center is cooked through. Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter.
Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Egg wash: If you prefer the tops to have a shinier golden finish, brush an egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tablespoon of water) over the tops right before baking. Hawaiian flavor: If you want to amplify the Hawaiian flavor even more, try adding 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract and add a pinch of ground ginger. Storage:Keep any leftovers in an airtight container on the counter up to 5 days.Freezing instructions: You can freeze the baked dinner rolls by placing in a zip-top bag or freezer container. You can also place the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet and freeze. Transfer to a zip-top bag or freezer container. When ready to bake, place on a buttered 9x13-inch baking dish and let rise about 3 to 4 hours. Bake as directed.