If you are like me, you may have very little self-control when it comes to homemade rolls. This copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls recipe is no exception.
If you have never had these yeast rolls, you are doing yourself a disservice. They are wonderfully pillow-like, buttery, sweet dinner rolls.
They are, in fact, the only reason I dine out at Texas Roadhouse. Well, that and the Texas Roadhouse Butter, butter blended with honey and cinnamon. But lucky for you, I created a copycat recipe so now you can make both at home!
Making Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Bread can be intimidating to make at home, but rest assured, they are much easier than they seem. Even more so if you have a stand mixer because it can do most of the kneading for you.
There are a few basic things to know about making a yeast based bread recipe.
- Don’t kill the yeast! Yeast thrives in temperatures between 105-110°F.
- Sugar feeds the yeast and helps it bloom.
- Proof the yeast, this simply means that you are making the yeast prove it is active. What for it to combine with warm water and sugar and allow it to get frothy and bubbly. This means its good and you can move forward.
- Yeast based bread doughs will rise between 70-80°F. Make sure it is in a warm place. Some ovens have a bread proofing setting to get the perfect temperature.
- Let the dough rise until doubled, do not rush this step. This gives the yeast time to work and makes the bread fluffier.
- Don’t skip scalding the milk.
- You don’t need a bread machine for fantastic bread.
Why Scald Milk for this Texas Roadhouse Bread Recipe
Why scald milk? The whey, aka protein, in milk can weaken gluten (the chewy part) and prevent the dough from rising properly. Scalding the milk deactivates the protein so this doesn’t happen.
Scalding the milk also intensifies the overall flavor of the bread. Skipping this step could result in your bread not rising properly or not achieving the proper flavor.
Keep that tidbit of information in your pocket for your next trivia night!
Texas Roadhouse Bread Rolls Ingredients
The ingredient list is pretty basic, the thing that holds these apart from other breads is the use of honey to sweeten.
- Active yeast – I don’t like using instant yeast for this recipe, instead I buy active dry yeast and let it bloom myself.
- Unsalted Butter – The best thing about warm rolls is arguably all the butter you slather on them, right? This roll recipe uses it in both the rolls and on top. I always use unsalted butter when baking. Salt can also prohibit yeast from activating, so while a little is okay, too much is a problem.
- Sugar – If this is your first time enjoying Texas Roadhouse Rolls, you should be aware they are slightly sweet. Hence the sugar, but also to help the yeast bloom.
- All purpose flour – No need to use bread flour for these soft rolls. All purpose flour works just fine.
- Eggs – As with lots of baked goods, the eggs help to bind everything together and leaven.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt is a great way to amplify the flavor of baked goods. We just need a touch.
- Honey – These are honey rolls, after all, so we need to add another element of sweet with honey. This is what makes these rolls stand out from the rest.
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Allow yourself plenty of time if you haven’t made bread before. Of course, these is more time allotted for rising.
- Warm milk. Start by bringing the milk to a low simmer and then allowing to cool to room temperature. This is the process of scalding the milk.
- Bloom the yeast. In a stand mixer with the bread hook attachment, combine yeast, warm water, and some of the sugar. Let the yeast bloom in a warm place until foamy and fragrant.
- Make the dough. Add the rest of the sugar, honey, scalded milk, and half of the flour to the yeast mixture and beat together in a large bowl. Add half the melted butter, eggs, and salt and continue to knead, slowly adding remaining flour until mixture is fully blended, slightly sticky and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Let dough rise. Put the bread dough into a greased bowl so it doesn’t stick, turning once to cover it with cooking spray. Cover with a moist towel or plastic wrap and leave in a warm environment. After the first rise, bread should have doubled in size. Punch down and turn out the soft dough onto a very lightly floured work surface.
- Roll dough. Using a rolling pin or clean wine bottle, roll the roll to a thickness of the dough is about 1/2 inch. Fold over in half, on top of itself, Roll again, fold one more time on a floured surface.
- Cut dough. Using a pizza cutter or pastry wheel, cut the dough into 2×2 inch squares, transferring to a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Cover the cut dough with a damp towel and allow to rise for 30 more minutes. This second rise is important to get fluffy rolls.
- Bake. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove and immediately baste with remaining melted butter. Serve hot with our homemade cinnamon butter recipe.
If you love salt, like me, feel free to sprinkle the tops with a flakey sea salt or Maldon salt while the basted butter is still tacky.
What to serve with this Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe
These rolls are so versatile that they pair well with nearly any meal, but if you are staying in the Texas Roadhouse theme, try pairing them with a pan fried steak using our steakhouse seasoning.They are also fantastic with my Baked Chicken Thighs and Marry Me Chicken Pasta. Crock Pot Pork Chops and creamy apple pork chops are also winners.
Use them to make sliders. deli sandwiches or a killer breakfast sandwich the next day.
Storing and Freezing Texas Roadhouse Bread
How to Reheat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
These delicious rolls can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Reheat gently in the oven or wrapped in a paper towel on 50% power for 10-15 seconds in the microwave.
What Can I Do With Leftover Texas Roadhouse Rolls?
They aren’t just perfect for the dinner table either. Make breakfast bread and sandwich bread for lunch. Think a runny egg with ham or bacon, my famous avocado breakfast sandwich or even ham and cheese sliders or a cuban.
Can I Freeze Texas Roadhouse Rolls?
They also freeze well. Store in the in an airtight plastic bag, being mindful to get as much air out as possible, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and then gently heat.
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls FAQs
They are basically the same thing, just the Texas rolls are laced with honey and made famous at Texas Roadhouse.
Yes, Texas Roadhouse Rolls contains eggs. It gives them some of their signature deep yellow color, but also adds richness and helps to leaven.
Yes! While nearly all breads are best freshly baked, these rolls can be stored in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. Wrap it in a paper towel and microwave at 50% power for 15 seconds to activate the gluten and soften.
There are two common reasons that dinner rolls aren’t light and fluffy. The first is that the yeast did not work or the time allowed for rising was not adequate and the second is that the dough was overworked, making them dry and pushing air out instead of leaving it in for them to puff up.
If when you add the yeast, it doesn’t bloom, then the yeast is no good. Yeast can expire and go bad.
No, brush them after baking. Butter has milk solids that will burn the tops if baked with them on.
More CopyCat Restaurant Recipes
- Peter Luger Steak Sauce
- Fogo de Chao Brazilian Cheese Puff Bread
- Hot Honey Recipe (Mike’s Hot Honey)
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe
Yum Yum Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
Copycat Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil Recipe
Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water , between 105-110°F
- 2 cups whole milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted and divided
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar , divided
- 7 1/2-8 cups flour
- 2 eggs , lightly whisked
- 2 teaspoons coarse Kosher salt
- 3/4 cup honey
- Texas Roadhouse Butter
Instructions
- Place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low simmer, just steaming, and remove from the heat immediately, scalding the milk. Allow to cool.
- Melt the butter in the microwave, set aside. In a stand mixer with the bread hook attachment, combine the yeast, warm water, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Let the yeast bloom until foamy and fragrant.
- Add the remaining sugar, honey, scalded milk, and half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Beat for two minutes.
- Add 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, eggs, and salt. Continue to knead, slowly adding remaining flour until mixture is fully blended, slightly sticky and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Knead for an additional 5-8 minutes.
- Lightly coat a large mixing bowl with cooking spray. Turn the dough into the bowl, turning once to coat the whole exterior. Cover with a moist towel in a warm, draft-free place for 1 hour.
- After one hour, the dough should have doubled in size. Punch down and turn out onto a very lightly floured rolling surface.
- Roll the dough to a 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Fold over in half, on top of itself, Roll again, fold one more time.
- Cut the dough into 2×2 inch squares, transferring to a lightly coated baking sheet. Cover cut the dough with a moistened towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until tops are very lightly browned. Remove and immediately baste with the remaining 3 tablespoons of melted butter.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
These are gorgeous! Yes, bring on that cinnamon honey butter…drool!
I haven’t really mastered the art of making amazing rolls, but this sounds like a fabulous recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Those look soo good! I think it would be amazing with honeybutter on it!
They look wonderfully light and airy. Great job Jessica!
We always love these rolls when we eat at the Texas Roadhouse! Yum!
I’ve never been to that restaurant and those buns sound fantastic. I am going to try this recipe soon as it sounds like something the kids and I would love!
Whipped Cinnamon Honey Butter is haunting me. I’m afraid I will be sleep walking into the kitchen tonight!
Haha! I guess there are worse things to be haunted by?
The family loves to have rolls with their dinner. I am going to have to show this to hubs or just whip up a batch and see how they like them.
Texas Roadhouse rolls are good, though a touch sweet for my taste. We will be trying this recipe out for sure.
Making them at home, you can always add less honey to make them perfect for your taste buds!
I love the rolls at Texas Roadhouse. I can’t wait to make them at home.