Sweet Hawaiian Rolls Recipe (2024)

When you need a soft dinner roll, you can’t go wrong with this sweet Hawaiian rolls recipe. It’s great for first time bakers, they’ll turn out scrumptious every time and you can make the dough the night before and bake them the next day.

Hawaiian dinner rolls have become my go-to yeast roll, and one the girls always ask for when they come home to visit. You’ll find them to be light and fluffy with just a little sweetness which makes them a perfect roll for almost any dish you might be serving.

Of course they’re great for a holiday meal or to bring to a potluck, learn some tips for how to keep dinner rolls warm so you don’t have to stress about having them done at just the right time. But they’re too delicious to save just for the holidays, try serving them with a simple chicken and wine dinner, or with hearty short ribs.

Make them smaller and you have an awesome roll for sliders to use for your bourbon burgers or slow cooker carnitas.

Pro tip: If you don’t drink a lot of pineapple juice, I find it’s better to buy it in small cans so that you always have some on hand for when you want to make the best dinner rolls ever. If you bought a larger container, use the extra juice and make Hawaiian Cinnamon Rolls, or Slow Cooker Ribs, or you can freeze it.

Why you’ll love a Hawaiian roll

• The slightly sweet rolls make a delicious dinner roll
• They’re soft and fluffy
• The dough can refrigerate overnight
• You can freeze and re-heat them (learn some tricks)
• They’re great for a holiday meal
• Make them smaller for sliders

What you’ll need

• Yeast – you can use active dry or instant yeast
• Pineapple juice – it only takes a half a cup. Try buying this in the small cans or you can freeze it if you bought a large container.
• Pantry staples – Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, salt

How do you make this Hawaiian roll recipe

Step 1:

Dissolve the yeast in warm water until it’s foamy.

Step 2:

Add eggs, pineapple juice, sugar, vanilla, milk, and melted butter and combine.

Step 3:

Add flour and knead with a dough hook for about 10 minutes.

Step 4:

Let rise until double and divide into 16 balls.

At this point you can refrigerate overnight or let them rise one more time.

Step 5:

Bake and then brush with butter.

A nice addition to a savory meal. Perfect by themselves but as always, a little better with butter.

The best way for yeast dough to rise

There are a couple of different methods for getting the best rise from yeast dough.

• Since dough likes humidity, if you live in a hot humid climate, cover it and put it outside. But this is a little unpredictable and won’t work in the winter.
• My favorite way to let yeast dough rise is in the microwave. Place an oven proof bowl filled with water in the microwave and bring it to a boil, about 6 minutes. Leave it in there and keep the door closed. Scoot the bowl of water to the side and add the bowl of covered dough and shut the door. The microwave will be warm and humid and the perfect out of the way place to let your dough rise.
• The other tried a true way is to turn the oven to 200º. Cover the dough and place in the oven and turn the oven OFF.

What to serve with sweet Hawaiian bread rolls

• Not only are they a great dinner roll but the added sweetness makes them perfect for sliders with Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken.
• Steak Marsala, the slightly sweet roll compliments the marsala sauce
• Great for when you grill chicken with Peach Glaze
• Delicious with Short Rib Chili
• You can also use them as a bun for Smash Burgers

MORE bread options

Buttermilk Biscuits