Soft sourdough rolls baked golden and touching in a round pan.

Savory & Snacks - Active starter

Sourdough Rolls

Soft pull-apart sourdough rolls with honey or sugar — bake them the same day, refrigerate the proofed pan overnight, or freeze for later.

Total time
About 8 hr 25 min, or overnight
Hands-on
35 min
Yield
1 pan of rolls
Starter
Active starter
Difficulty
Intermediate
Heat
375°F / 191°C
Pan or vessel
Oiled baking pan

Gather first

Ingredients

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter (active and bubbly)
  • 1 cup milk (whole milk for the richest rolls)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing
  • 2 tbsp honey or 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 tsp salt

Method

Step by step

Part 1

Instructions

Mix & Rise
  1. Mix the sourdough starter, milk, melted butter, and your choice of honey or sugar together well.
  2. Add the bread flour and salt and start kneading the dough. If the dough is dry, add a little more milk (about 1/2 cup).
  3. Cover and leave the dough for 1 hour.
  4. With wet hands, do one stretch and fold.
  5. Cover and rest for 30 minutes, then do a second stretch and fold.
  6. If the dough still feels slack, rest it for another 30 minutes and do an optional third stretch and fold.
  7. Cover the dough and leave it for 2 hours.
  8. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface.
  9. Lightly oil a baking pan. Cut off pieces and shape them into balls, cinching the bottoms to create smooth tops.
  10. Place the rolls in the pan, cover, and let them rise for 3 to 4 hours, until puffy, nearly doubled, and touching each other.
    Set a check timer
    Choose when to check; the step's visual cues decide when it is ready.

Part 2

Baking

Same Day, Overnight, or Freeze
  1. Same day: Bake at 375°F for about 25 minutes, until puffy and golden.
  2. Overnight dinner rolls: After the 3-to-4-hour final rise, keep the pan covered and refrigerate it overnight. The next morning, bake at 375°F for about 25 minutes; chilled rolls may need a few extra minutes.
  3. Freeze: Freeze the proofed rolls instead of baking them. They can be baked from frozen at 375°F; allow extra time and bake until deeply golden and heated through.
  4. Brush the hot rolls with melted butter before serving.

For next time

My Kitchen Notes

Keep track of changes, room temperature, proofing cues, or anything you want to repeat next time.

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Finish well

After baking

Doneness, storage, and reheating notes for this recipe.

Doneness

Puffy, touching, and golden

Storage

Keep cooled rolls airtight for up to 2 days, or freeze them for longer storage.

Reheat or serve

Warm covered at 325°F / 163°C until soft and heated through.