For Heather Wuebben from Albany, Ill., the smell of homemade dinner rolls baking is more than just a comforting aroma—it’s a reminder of holidays spent around the family table, laughter shared, and generations of tradition handed down.
In fact, Heather’s recipe, Our Favorite Dinner Rolls, submitted to The Kewanee Voice Holiday Recipe Contest, isn’t just a favorite for its buttery softness and fluffy texture; it’s a piece of her family’s history.
Heather’s grandma was the one who first introduced her to the joy of baking these soft, golden rolls.
“I learned this recipe firsthand at the elbow of my grandma in her kitchen,” Heather recalls fondly. “From the stained handwritten recipe card to the vintage apron, it was a favored recipe of the entire family.”
Heather remembers the joy of being with her cousins and how excited they were to help with each step of the recipe.
“Grandma let me and my cousins take part in the process—scalding the milk, mixing, kneading, rolling, and baking alongside her,” she said. “Each batch is not just the perfect fluffy, buttery roll, it’s a piece of family history, connecting generations and bringing back moments of laughter and learning.”
For Heather, baking these rolls is about more than just the end result; it’s about the memories that are created along the way.
“It’s a treasured tradition, a recipe filled with warmth, love, and memories of family. Every time you bake these, you’re sharing in grandma’s legacy and passing that love forward one roll at a time,” said Heather.
This recipe is requested for every holiday gathering, and Heather is happy to continue her family tradition.
From Heather’s kitchen to yours — enjoy!
Makes 60 Rolls
Ingredients:
Directions:
-In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, salt, yeast, and 3 cups of flour.
-In a medium saucepan, scald the milk. Add the water and butter, stirring to help the butter soften. Once the mixture is lukewarm, add the milk mixture and eggs to the flour mixture.
-Using an electric mixer, beat for about 5 minutes to help the dough come together.
-Stir in the remaining flour gradually to form a soft dough. Use a wooden spoon for this step.
-Sprinkle a small amount of flour on a cutting board and place the dough on it. Knead until smooth and elastic—about 5 minutes.
-Place the dough in a greased bowl and grease the top. Cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
-Once the dough has doubled, punch it down. Divide the dough into five equal sections.
-Roll each section into a round circle and lightly butter the surface of the dough. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12 triangular pieces (like pizza slices). Starting at the wide end of each triangle, roll the dough into crescent shapes, tucking the end under.
-Place the rolls on a greased cookie sheet and cover with a towel. Let them rise for about 1 hour.
-Bake the rolls at 350°F for 10-14 minutes.
-As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, butter the tops.
