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Home Recipe Index Baked Goods Bread Machine Recipes

Bread Machine Wheat Rolls

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Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 1/26/23Updated: 1/17/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

With the help of a bread machine, you can make homemade wheat rolls at home. Follow our detailed instructions and pro tips for fluffy, moist, and delicious Bread Machine Wheat Rolls. Perfect for holidays or to stock the freezer!

If you want a version of this recipe without the wheat, hop over to our Bread Machine Dinner Rolls.

Bread machine wheat rolls stacked in a basket with a linen napkin lining it. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • Why Use a Bread Machine to Make Rolls?
  • “What Bread Machine Do You Use?”
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Bread Machine Wheat Rolls
  • Tip: How to Make The Rolls Extra Smooth on Top
  • How to Make Rolls Ahead of Time
  • What Goes Well With Wheat Dinner Rolls?
  • Bread Machine FAQ
  • Bread Machine Wheat Rolls

Why Use a Bread Machine to Make Rolls?

Delicious rolls can be made without a bread machine. It’s true.

But, you’ll love the convenience of dumping ingredients into the machine, pushing a button, and having perfectly prepped dough ready for rolling and baking.

This is one of the many reasons I love using a bread machine for recipes like our Cinnamon Rolls and Panini Bread.

Polly Conner with her bread machine.

“What Bread Machine Do You Use?”

I don’t need a bread machine with a lot of bells and whistles. I need a quality, reliable bread machine. I’ve found this Oster brand to work great for the recipes I use.

Learn More

Ingredients

Bread Machine Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Ingredients measured out in bowls and labeled.

I tested this recipe over and over… and over and over again to really nail down what made the best roll recipe.

Here is what you need:

  • Unsalted butter – If you have salted butter, it’s ok. But when adding in salt, only use 3/4 tsp instead of the 1 teaspoon called for.
  • Dry active yeast – Quick rise will work too. Dough will rise more quickly if using this though.
  • White Whole Wheat flour – This is different than down the pipe whole wheat flour. White whole wheat yields fluffier results.

*Note: Although the image above mistakenly shows milk as an ingredient, there is no milk in this recipe. Sorry about that!

How to Make Bread Machine Wheat Rolls

Here’s a step-by-step overview to scan before you get started. The full recipe is below.

Step 1: Make the Dough

There are 3 steps to making the dough.

  1. Add the ingredients to the bread pan, ending with flour.
  2. Run the dough cycle. Every machine is different but this should be around 90 minutes. Dough should be soft and puffy at the end.
  3. Remove the bread pan and punch the dough down. (Kids love helping with this!) This helps air escape.
Dry ingredients in bread machine insert.
Bread dough rising out of the bread machine pan.
Bread machine dough punched down.

Step 2: Roll the Dough into Balls & Let Them Rise

Working with one roll at a time, round the dough into smooth, taut balls. Aim for them to be about the size of golf balls.

Tip: How to Make The Rolls Extra Smooth on Top

After rolling a portion of the dough into a ball, pull the outer edges up and towards the center of the dough, all around. Gently pinch the pulled edges together. Turn the ball over so that the seam side is facing down, unseen on your baking sheet.

Cover the dough balls loosely with plastic wrap or a tea towel and let them rise in a warm environment for about 1 hour until they are light and fluffy. They should double in size.

Timing will be a bit different depending on the temperature and humidity.

Dinner roll dough on a baking sheet after rising for 1 hour.

Step 3: Bake the Rolls

Once the rolls have almost doubled in size, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Bake the rolls for about 15-17 minutes or until starting to brown on top. Remove and let cool a bit before serving.

Baked bread machine wheat rolls on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

How to Make Rolls Ahead of Time

There are many times you may want to prep the dough ahead of time. Then you simply need to let them do their second rise on the counter and bake them.

These make-ahead options are especially helpful if you want fresh-baked rolls for Easter lunch, Thanksgiving, Birthday dinner, or on Christmas.

To Prepare Dough for the Fridge:

After the dough is made and shaped into the rolls, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to one day.

A few hours before you need them, remove the rolls from the refrigerator and allow to rise on the counter for about 1-2 hours before baking.

To Prepare Dough for the Freezer:

Follow the make-ahead instructions and instead of refrigerating overnight, freeze the rolls in a baking pan. Once frozen you can place them in a freezer bag. To prepare from frozen, let them thaw and rise for about 4-5 hours, then bake.

_____________________

To Freeze Baked Rolls:

You can also freeze the baked dinner rolls. This is a great option for the leftovers you don’t eat. Simply place baked rolls in a freezer bag, seal, and freeze.

To Prepare Frozen Rolls:

Let rolls thaw at room temperature. You can also place them in the oven on low to reheat prior to the meal.

Frozen bread machine dough balls in a freezer bag.

What Goes Well With Wheat Dinner Rolls?

These Bread Machine Wheat Rolls with pair well with so many recipes. Here are a few ideas!

Mini meatloaf muffins lined up on a platter ready to serve.

Meatloaf Muffins

A large pot of chicken tortellini soup ready to serve.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Chicken and wild rice soup in a white bowl with a spoon.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Carved turkey breast on a serving platter with gravy boat on the side.

Roasted Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy

Bread Machine FAQ

What Pound Setting Should I Select?

Many machines allow you to specify how big of a loaf you are wanting to make. (1 lb., 1.5 lb., 2 lb., etc.) Since you are only using the dough cycle, specifying this won’t change how it is made in the machine so any size should work.Add image

What if My Dough Doesn’t Rise?

There could be a few reasons for this.
1.) Your yeast is expired. Check the date!
2.) The environment isn’t warm enough. I sometimes turn on my oven for 2-3 minutes to make it warm. Turn it off, place the dough in the oven, and let it rise in there.

Can I Use Quick-Rise Yeast?

Yep! This recipe was tested with Dry Active Yeast but I do know quick rise will work as well. Just keep an eye on the dough as it will rise faster.

bread machine wheat rolls piled up

Check out some other yummy bread machine recipes we have in our recipe index!

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Bread machine wheat rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 8 reviews

Bread Machine Wheat Rolls

If you need a “go to” whole wheat roll that is perfectly soft and flavorful, this is the one to try. We love using these for sandwiches, as a side item, or to stick in the freezer.

Yield: 20–25 rolls 1x
Prep: 3 hoursCook: 16 minutesTotal: 3 hours 16 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later [socialpug_share networks=”email” networks_labels=”Email” show_labels=”yes” overwrite=”yes”]
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup water, lukewarm (about 110°F)
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon dry active yeast*
  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour (sub: 1 cup whole wheat + 1 cup all purpose flour)

*Quick rise yeast will work as well, but keep an eye on the dough as it will rise faster. 

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Add ingredients to your bread machine in the order listed. Run on the dough cycle. It should be around 90 minutes for reference.
  2. Punch the dough down and then remove from bread maker.
  3. Roll dough into balls (a little bigger than the size of a golf ball) and place on a greased baking sheet. Loosely cover with plastic wrap (or a thin dish towel).
  4. Let dough balls rise in a warm atmosphere for 1 hour.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until starting to brown on top.

Freeze For Later: Bake rolls as stated in recipe. Let cool completely. Place rolls in air-tight, freezer bag or container. Freeze up to 1 month for best quality.

Prepare From Frozen: Let rolls thaw on the counter or in refrigerator overnight.

To Freeze Before Baking: Follow the steps all the way up to baking. Freeze the rolls of dough on a baking pan. Once frozen you can place them in a freezer bag. To prepare from frozen, let them thaw and rise for about 4-5 hours, then bake.


Notes/Tips

  • There is no need to activate the yeast prior to adding it to the machine.
  • If you have more questions, be sure to read the article above.
© Author: Thriving Home
Cuisine: American Method: Bread Machine

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. Ron Ames says

    Posted on 1/27/25 at 7:50 pm

    Simple and delicious

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/28/25 at 8:46 am

      Glad you liked these Ron. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  2. Kayla P says

    Posted on 5/10/24 at 12:39 am

    I’ve made these buns twice. They were fantastic!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 5/10/24 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Kayla. So glad you are enjoying these rolls. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  3. TERRI A EIFF says

    Posted on 1/13/24 at 11:24 am

    Made these for New Years eve, and they came out fantastic! Love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/15/24 at 1:08 pm

      Glad to hear it Terri. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

      Reply
  4. Aimee says

    Posted on 12/7/23 at 3:04 pm

    Soo good all my gang loved them!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 12/7/23 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Aimee. So glad your gang enjoyed them!

      Reply
  5. Dorothy says

    Posted on 10/8/23 at 8:03 pm

    These look beautiful. One question, will bread machine yeast work?

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 10/9/23 at 9:30 pm

      Hi Dorothy! I am unfamiliar with what bread machine yeast is so I can’t confidently say.

      Reply
  6. Jamie says

    Posted on 10/3/23 at 8:19 pm

    My whole family devours these and they are so easy!! I cut the sugar down to 3 tablespoons and used coconut sugar instead…delish!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 10/5/23 at 11:53 am

      Hi Jamie! Thanks for letting us and others know what alterations/substitutions worked for you.

      Reply
  7. Janny says

    Posted on 2/14/23 at 1:51 pm

    These. Are. Soooooooo. Delicious!!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 2/14/23 at 2:17 pm

      Thanks Janny! So glad you like them.

      Reply
  8. Sarah says

    Posted on 1/16/23 at 6:00 pm

    Easy to make and tasty! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/17/23 at 9:41 am

      So glad you like them Sarah! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  9. c says

    Posted on 4/3/19 at 3:06 pm

    Are adjustments needed to make the yummy best wheat rolls without a bread machine????

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      Posted on 4/5/19 at 9:06 am

      We have not tested these outside the bread machine, so I’m sorry that I can’t give more instruction to you about that.

      Reply
  10. Ronda says

    Posted on 1/30/19 at 7:31 pm

    Can you substitute milk for the powdered milk?

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      Posted on 2/1/19 at 6:21 pm

      I’m not sure. We haven’t tested it without the powdered milk. Sorry that I can’t help.

      Reply
  11. Tricia says

    Posted on 8/29/16 at 8:59 pm

    Made these tonight for sliders….they were wonderful. Freezing the rest, and almost can’t wait to make them again. Have you ever frozen the dough before baking?

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      Posted on 8/31/16 at 9:20 am

      Awesome! We’ve only tried freezing after baking, but should work to freeze before. Just thaw in fridge and let rise on counter.

      Reply
  12. kristie says

    Posted on 10/9/14 at 3:57 pm

    Sorry! I just read the text above the recipe. 🙂 Please feel free to delete my question!

    Reply
  13. kristie says

    Posted on 10/9/14 at 3:56 pm

    Have you ever frozen these rolls? Baked or in dough form?

    Reply

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