Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Bloom yeast
- Combine whole milk, warm water, active dry yeast, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl; let stand 5 minutes until foamy.
- Visual cue: the mixture should look creamy with bubbles on top before you continue.
Make the dough
- Add remaining sugar, egg, melted butter, salt, and all-purpose flour, then knead 8 minutes until soft and smooth.
- Visual cue: the dough should become elastic and no longer look shaggy.
First rise
- Cover the dough and let rise 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Visual cue: it should puff up and look noticeably larger and airy.
Shape the rolls
- Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle, fold in half, and cut into 2-inch squares.
- Visual cue: keep the squares even so they bake uniformly.
Second rise
- Place the squares on a parchment-lined sheet, cover, and rise 1 hour until puffy.
- Visual cue: the tops should look swollen and soft, not flat.
Bake and brush
- Preheat oven to 350F and bake 12-15 minutes until golden.
- Visual cue: edges will turn lightly brown while the centers stay tender.
- Brush the hot rolls with the remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter.
- Visual cue: the surface should look glossy as the butter soaks in.
Make the cinnamon honey butter
- In a bowl, whip softened butter, powdered sugar, honey, and ground cinnamon until fluffy.
- Visual cue: the mixture should lighten in color and hold a light, spreadable texture.
Serve
- Serve the warm rolls with the whipped cinnamon honey butter.
- Visual cue: split rolls should show a fluffy interior where the butter melts.
Notes
Pro tip: warm the milk to 110F so the yeast blooms quickly—if it’s too hot, the foam may not form. Store baked rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days, rewarm to restore softness; freeze up to 2 months for best texture. For a lighter option, use an equal swap of reduced-fat butter (flavor slightly softer) in both dough and cinnamon honey butter.
