There's something magical about those warm, pillowy texas roadhouse rolls that arrive at your table with that incredible cinnamon butter. I've been perfecting this copycat recipe for years, and I'm thrilled to share that you can recreate these restaurant-style beauties right in your own kitchen. Whether you're planning a holiday dinner or just craving that signature soft, sweet flavor, these homemade texas roadhouse rolls are easier than you think.
The best part? You don't need fancy equipment or professional baking skills to nail these texas roadhouse rolls. With simple pantry ingredients and a little patience while the dough rises, you'll have golden, buttery rolls that rival the original. Trust me, once you master these texas roadhouse rolls, your family will be begging you to make them every week!
Background & Why These Rolls Are Worth Making
The fame of texas roadhouse rolls didn't happen by accident. These sweet, fluffy dinner rolls became legendary because they strike the perfect balance between soft bread and dessert-like sweetness. What makes them stand out is the combination of honey in the dough and that signature cinnamon honey butter served warm on top. It's comfort food at its finest, and now you can skip the restaurant wait and make them whenever the craving hits.
I've tested dozens of copycat versions, and this recipe nails the texture and flavor that makes texas roadhouse rolls so addictive. The secret lies in the milk-enriched dough that creates an incredibly tender crumb, plus just enough sugar to give them that subtle sweetness without overpowering the buttery flavor. These rolls are perfect alongside any meal, from weeknight dinners to Thanksgiving feasts, and they're guaranteed to disappear fast.
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Ingredients
For the Rolls:
- Warm whole milk (110°F)
- Active dry yeast (1 packet)
- Granulated sugar
- Egg, room temperature
- Unsalted butter, melted
- Salt
- All-purpose flour
- Honey
For the Cinnamon Honey Butter:
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Honey
- Ground cinnamon
For Brushing:
Melted butter
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1: Activate the Yeast and Mix the Dough
- Pour the warm milk into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Add 1 tablespoon of the sugar and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add the remaining sugar, melted butter, honey, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Gradually add 3½ cups of flour, one cup at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon or dough hook until a soft dough forms.
- If the dough is still sticky, add the remaining flour, 2 tablespoons at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl sides but remains soft and slightly tacky.
Step 2: Knead and Let Rise
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should bounce back when poked.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat all sides with oil.
- Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm spot for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- While waiting, prepare your baking pan by greasing a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Step 3: Shape and Second Rise
- Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then turn it out onto your work surface.
- Divide the dough into 12-15 equal pieces using a bench scraper or knife. Roll each piece into a smooth ball by tucking the edges underneath.
- Place the balls in your prepared pan, leaving small gaps between them for expansion.
- Cover again and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy and touching each other. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step 4: Bake and Finish
- Bake the texas roadhouse rolls for 15-18 minutes until the tops are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 190°F.
- Remove from the oven and immediately brush the tops generously with melted butter.
- While the rolls cool slightly, whip together all the cinnamon honey butter ingredients until light and fluffy.
- Serve the warm rolls with the cinnamon butter on the side for spreading. Watch them disappear!
Expert Cooking Tips
Getting your texas roadhouse rolls perfect every time comes down to a few key techniques that I've learned through trial and error.
- Temperature matters for yeast activation. Always check your milk with a thermometer; too hot kills the yeast, too cold won't activate it. Aim for 105-115°F, which should feel like warm bathwater on your wrist.
- Don't over-flour your dough. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky, not stiff. Sticky dough creates those pillowy soft rolls we're after. If you add too much flour, your rolls will be dense instead of fluffy.
- Create a warm rising environment. Turn your oven on for just 1 minute, then turn it off. Place your covered dough bowl inside with the door cracked; this creates the perfect 75-80°F environment for rising.
- Use the windowpane test for proper kneading. Stretch a small piece of dough between your fingers. If it stretches thin enough to see light through without tearing, you've kneaded enough. This develops the gluten structure that gives rolls their soft texture.
- Room temperature ingredients blend better. Cold eggs and butter don't incorporate smoothly into the dough. Take them out 30 minutes before starting, or quick-warm the egg in warm water for 5 minutes.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
This versatile recipe adapts beautifully to different dietary needs and flavor preferences while maintaining that signature texas roadhouse rolls quality.
- Whole wheat version: Replace up to half the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour for added fiber and nutrition. You may need to add 2-3 tablespoons more liquid since whole wheat absorbs more moisture. The rolls will have a nuttier flavor and slightly denser texture, but they're still delicious.
- Dairy-free adaptation: Use your favorite plant-based milk like oat or almond milk, and substitute vegan butter in both the dough and the cinnamon butter topping. The texture stays remarkably similar, though the flavor will be slightly less rich.
- Bread machine shortcut: Add all dough ingredients to your bread machine in the order recommended by your manual, select the dough cycle, then shape and bake as directed. This saves about 15 minutes of hands-on time and guarantees perfect kneading.
- Make-ahead freezer option: Shape the rolls and place them in the pan, then freeze uncovered for 2 hours. Once solid, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, let them come to room temperature and rise for 45 minutes, then bake as usual.
- Flavor variations: Add ¼ cup of dried herbs like rosemary or thyme to the dough for savory dinner rolls. Or fold in ½ cup of raisins or dried cranberries for a sweeter breakfast version that pairs perfectly with coffee.
Equipment Recommendations
Having the right tools makes baking these texas roadhouse rolls much easier and ensures consistent results every time.
- Stand mixer with dough hook (optional but helpful): While you can knead by hand, a stand mixer like a KitchenAid saves your arms and kneads more evenly. Mix on low speed for 1 minute to combine, then knead on medium-low for 5-6 minutes.
- 9x13-inch baking pan: This size gives you the perfect spacing for 12-15 rolls that bake up soft and pull apart easily. Metal pans create crispier bottoms, while glass or ceramic pans bake more gently.
- Instant-read thermometer: Takes the guesswork out of both milk temperature (for yeast activation) and doneness checking. Rolls are perfectly baked at 190-195°F internal temperature.
- Pastry brush: Essential for brushing that gorgeous butter coating on top. Silicone brushes are easiest to clean, but natural bristle brushes hold more butter for better coverage.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
Proper storage keeps your homemade texas roadhouse rolls fresh and delicious for days, and the dough is incredibly freezer-friendly for advance preparation.
- Room temperature storage: Place cooled rolls in an airtight container or resealable bag with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. They'll stay soft for 2-3 days at room temperature. Reheat individual rolls in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
- Refrigerator storage: While not ideal (refrigeration dries out bread faster), you can store rolls in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Warm them in a 300°F oven wrapped in foil for 10 minutes to restore softness.
- Freezing baked rolls: Cool completely, then wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 1 hour, or warm frozen rolls in a 350°F oven for 12-15 minutes wrapped in foil.
- Make-ahead dough prep: After the first rise, you can refrigerate the dough overnight in a covered bowl. The next day, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then shape and continue with the second rise. This actually develops more flavor!
- Cinnamon butter storage: The honey butter keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Bring it to room temperature 30 minutes before serving, or soften in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it spreadable again.
Grandma's Secret That Changed Everything
Want to know what separates good rolls from absolutely mind-blowing texas roadhouse rolls? It's all about the butter brushing technique. Instead of a quick swipe after baking, I brush melted butter on the rolls twice: once immediately when they come out of the oven, and again 5 minutes later after the first layer soaks in. This double-butter method creates that signature glossy, buttery top that makes these rolls irresistible.
Here's another game-changer: add 1 tablespoon of honey to your melted butter before the final brush. This creates a subtle sweetness and gorgeous golden sheen that makes your texas roadhouse rolls look like they came straight from a professional bakery. Your guests will think you spent hours perfecting them, but this simple trick does all the work for you in seconds.
FAQ
What makes Texas Roadhouse rolls so good?
The incredible texture of texas roadhouse rolls comes from the enriched dough made with milk, butter, honey, and eggs. This combination creates an ultra-soft, tender crumb that stays pillowy for days. The signature cinnamon honey butter served warm adds the perfect sweet, buttery finish that makes these rolls absolutely addictive.
What are Texas Roadhouse rolls made of?
These texas roadhouse rolls are made with simple ingredients: all-purpose flour, milk, active dry yeast, butter, honey, sugar, eggs, and salt. The dough rises twice for maximum fluffiness, then gets baked until golden and brushed with melted butter. The accompanying cinnamon honey butter combines softened butter, powdered sugar, honey, and cinnamon.
Can you buy Texas Roadhouse rolls to bake at home?
Unfortunately, Texas Roadhouse doesn't sell their rolls or dough for home baking. The good news is that this copycat texas roadhouse rolls recipe recreates them perfectly using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Many people actually prefer making them at home because they're fresher and you can make them anytime without the restaurant wait.
What flour is best for these rolls?
All-purpose flour works perfectly for texas roadhouse rolls and gives you that ideal soft, fluffy texture. Bread flour has too much protein and creates chewier rolls, while cake flour is too delicate. Stick with standard all-purpose flour (10-12% protein) for authentic restaurant-quality results every single time.
Let's Get Rolling!
Now that you've mastered the art of making texas roadhouse rolls at home, your dinner table will never be the same. These buttery, pillowy rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any meal, and making them fresh means you get to enjoy them warm from the oven anytime you want. The best part is watching your family's faces light up when they tear into that soft, sweet bread and slather on the cinnamon honey butter.
Once you've conquered these texas roadhouse rolls, why not try expanding your breakfast bread game? My Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders Recipe takes sweet rolls to the next level with savory breakfast fillings that are perfect for weekend brunch. And if you're looking for something completely different, the Breakfast Egg Rolls Recipe offers a crispy, portable morning meal that'll have everyone asking for seconds. These texas roadhouse rolls are just the beginning of your homemade bread journey!
With love from my kitchen to yours,
Taylor Monroe
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this texas roadhouse rolls recipe:
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer with dough hook Optional but makes kneading easier
- 9x13 inch baking pan Greased for baking rolls
- Pastry brush For brushing butter
- Instant-read Thermometer For checking milk and baking temperatures
- Mixing bowl Large enough for dough to rise
Ingredients
For the Rolls
- 1 cup warm whole milk 110°F, for activating yeast
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 1 packet
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg Room temperature
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter Melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3½–4 cups all-purpose flour Start with 3½ cups and add more if needed
- 2 tablespoons honey Adds sweetness and softness
For the Cinnamon Honey Butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter Softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For Brushing
- 3 tablespoons melted butter For brushing baked rolls
Instructions
- Activate yeast in warm milk with sugar until foamy.
- Mix wet ingredients and add flour gradually.
- Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
- Let dough rise until doubled in size.
- Shape into 12–15 rolls and place in pan.
- Let rolls rise again until puffy.
- Bake at 350°F for 15–18 minutes until golden.
- Brush with melted butter and serve warm.
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