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Breads & Rolls | November 23, 2019

Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

New in 2019 – ABK’s Free Thanksgiving Ebook, with printable timeline checklist, grocery list, more recipe links for ABK Thanksgiving favorites and additional Thanksgiving tips to help you keep everything running smoothly! 

Perfect for  any occasion, these Overnight Refrigerator Rolls can be made ahead and chilled in the fridge until the day of serving. They’re soft, fluffy, absolutely irresistible, and are perfect for anything from holidays to Sunday dinners.

Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

 

 

Overnight Rolls for the win

If you know me, you know Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s a time for family, making memories, and delicious food. SO much food.  But all of that cooking on one day can be overwhelming, especially when family and friends are coming to visit.
 
 
I don’t like spending all of my time in the kitchen, so I plan and try to make recipes ahead for our Thanksgiving meal. These Overnight Refrigerator Rolls  save the day! They’re easy to make ahead and bake on the day of serving. Sometimes, make-ahead means a compromise in flavor or quality, but not so with this roll. It is one of the best roll recipes, ever!
 
 
 
Easy Overnight Refrigerator Rolls
Best Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

 

Overnight Refrigerator Rolls are a Holiday Essential

Rolls are essential to any holiday meal. That warm, fluffy texture and buttery flavor go perfectly with anything, from jams and jellies to turkey and gravy. Overnight Refrigerator Rolls are my  go-to for weekend and holiday gatherings.
 
One less thing to prepare, and they are melt in your mouth delicious! I know you’ll love this recipe too. And trust me, your family and friends won’t be able to get enough of these.
 
 
Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

 

Homemade is ALWAYS Better.

If you’ve ever made homemade rolls, this recipe for Overnight Refrigerator Rolls is calling your name. They’re perfect for topping with butter or stuffing with gravy and turkey, not to mention a wonderful after Thanksgiving snack. My favorite is this Day after Thanksgiving Sandwich!
 
And don’t worry, if you’re big on making everything the day of, here are some great roll recipes that I make during the holiday season as well:
Lion House Rolls, Maddox Ranch Rolls, and My Mother-in-Law’s Rolls. Because everything tastes better homemade. And everything tastes better when you’re surrounded by loved ones.
 

4.91 from 11 votes
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Overnight Rolls

Overnight Rolls can be made ahead and chilled in the fridge until the day of serving. Soft, fluffy, absolutely irresistible rolls that melt in your mouth!

Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword overnight, rolls, thanksgiving
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Rising Time 2 hours
Servings 16

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast Instant or rapid rise
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup warm tap water*
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 4 1/2 cups flour* plus more for rolling out
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter for rolling out

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle yeast and sugar over 1/4 cup of warm water. Let stand for 10 minutes or until foamy. 

  2. Beat eggs and melted butter into 1 cup of warm water in a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer.  The butter may separate a bit, this is not a problem. Add yeast mixture to egg the mixture. 


  3. Add 4 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons salt to the liquid mixture in large bowl.  Mix with the paddle attachment or a large wood spoon or spatula. Add 1/4 cup  remaining flour to make soft dough if needed*. Cover with plastic wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight.

  4. Three hours before baking, remove dough from fridge, and split dough in half.  Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, one at a time. 

  5. Spread  melted butter over rolled out dough, and cut each circle into 8 even pieces per circle. Starting with large end, roll up and set on a lightly greased jelly roll pan or 2- 9×13 pans. Repeat with remaining half of dough. 

  6. Cover with light cloth and let rise for 2 hours in a warm place*. 

  7. Bake at 375 in oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Recipe Notes

  • The water for softening yeast and the water added to the eggs should be warm, but not hot. The water should be about the same temperature as you would use to bathe a baby!
  • I use all purpose flour for this recipe. Th flour should be at room temperature. If you store your flour in the fridge or another cool place, let it come to room temperature before using in this recipe. 
  • The amount of flour added will depend largely upon the climate (dry or humid) the size of the eggs, the temperature overall of the wet ingredients when added to the dry ingredients in bowl. Start with 4 cups and add more if needed. The dough should be slightly stick, but not wet.
  • A “warm place” is an area in the kitchen free of drafts. The kitchen temperature should be at least 70-72 degrees. Do not set the rolls directly on a counter top made of stone, always use a cloth underneath so the pan will not get chilled from the stone surface. 
  • This recipe may also be made with out refrigerating overnight. Simple make dough, let rise in bowl for 1 hour in warm place, covered. Then roll out, let rise for about 45 minutes to 1 hour,  and bake as directed. 

30 thoughts on “Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

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Recipe Rating




  1. Your recipe did not tell how many eggs, I’m assuming 2

    After rolling out the dough, no instructions about cutting it into pieces that roll up.

    Please instruct

  2. No eggs noted in the ingredient list! Is it 2 large eggs?
    PS – I love love love your recipes and have made many of them. Thanks for sharing! And I love your tips that go along with the recipes! I’m going to give this recipe a try as well.

  3. 4 stars
    Making these today (prepped yesterday!) as I host my in laws for Thanksgiving! First time doing everything solo and finally feel like a grown up at 27;) Thanks for all the recipes on our menu!

    1. Thanks Steph!
      That’s no small accomplishment!! Glad you were able to use some of the recipes on ABK!
      Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
      xo
      Si

  4. 5 stars
    How do you keep your ends from popping away from the toll when they cook? Mine always spread away like they want to unravel…???

    1. Hi Jess, Make sure to tuck the end of the roll UNDER when forming. This helps with the roll not unraveling. If it does during the rising process, just carefully pick up the roll and place the end under, gently place back on cookies sheet. Thanks for reading ABK!
      xo
      Si

  5. 5 stars
    I loved this recipe for rolls because of the fact you can do the dough the night before. So easy for Sunday morning prep with 2 little kids. I love the buttery inside and flaky texture. So yummy.

  6. 5 stars
    Delicious and easy enough to turn out perfectly on my first attempt at rolls. Recommend this re Joe 100%!

  7. I want to try these! I’ve made other rolls but these look delish! My boys have severe allergies to egg. Any suggestions to adapt this recipe?

    1. Hi Elizabeyth, I would replace the egg with mashed potatoes. You would use 1/4 cup for each egg. The mashed potatoes will keep the bread airy and light in texture. Hope this helps and thanks for asking!
      xo
      Si

  8. 5 stars
    This recipe is my absolute go-to every Sunday. They rise so well—I often make them without the overnight refrigerating…but for a big event where I’m prepping a lot of other dishes—it’s so helpful to have the dough made the night before. They hit the spot for Thanksgiving today and I have a hard time imagining they will be replaced with any other recipe any time this decade. Thanks Si!

  9. 5 stars
    This recipe is soo stinking good and incredibly easy. It was my first time making rolls and they made me look like a professional to my family 😆 I’ll be making them again today but a bit smaller to go further. 10/10 would recommend.

  10. 5 stars
    Just made these and they were amazing! Do you think they could be shaped differently or smaller to feed more. Mine at least turned out huge and yummy, but trying to feed a crowd.

  11. 5 stars
    Mine are not nearly as beautiful as yours, but they taste amazing! Thank you for this recipe and all the instructions! I was always intimidated by making rolls, but this recipe simplifies it and produces the most delicious dinner rolls! My family and I thank you!

  12. Can you freeze these? If so how would you do it? Have you tried freezing them before? What instructions would you suggest? I’ll be with my in-laws for Thanksgiving but I want to potentially freeze some for my side of the family to have.

    1. Hi Hannah!
      Yes you can make ahead and let rise once, then shape and freeze immediately When thawing, let the rolls come to room temp and let rise then bake. Allow 3-4 hours for thaw, rise and bake.
      Happy baking!
      XO,
      Si