Soft and Pillowy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

If you are searching for a dinner roll recipe to serve in the fall or for Thanksgiving dinner, these soft and pillowy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls would be a wonderful choice. Buttery and sweet in flavor, these rolls are a beautiful pumpkin color and they have a wonderfully fluffy crumb. These dinner rolls can be served as part of a dinner, particularly a fancier dinner with roast turkey or chicken along with creamy mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetable side dishes. To make the dinner rolls, whisk the flour with the salt and yeast in one bowl and the wet ingredients (pumpkin puree, sugar, egg, and milk) in another bowl. Then, stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture before kneading it until completely combined. The next step is to fold in the butter before allowing the dough to rise at room temperature for 2 hours. Once the dough is shaped into balls, it needs to rise for another hour before being baked. Brushing the pumpkin rolls with some butter while still warm adds a glossiness and buttery flavor.

What are Pumpkin Dinner Rolls?

Many types of dinner rolls exist all over Europe, and include different types of flours, seeds and nuts, cheese, and more. They also vary in textures with some buns being crustier and others being quite fluffy. These pumpkin bread rolls are a variation that includes pumpkin puree, resulting in an extremely fluffy textured dinner roll.

Often, dinner roll recipes are served on their own or used as a base for sandwiches including various cheese and meats. The sweet and buttery taste of these pumpkin rolls make them an excellent choice for sandwiches with ham and Swiss or fried egg, cheddar cheese, and bacon.

Whether you would like to smother these pumpkin rolls with pats of butter or use them for sandwiches, this recipe will likely become a keeper.

Pro Tips

• Make sure your yeast is fresh before starting to make these pumpkin rolls. To test it, add some yeast into a cup of warm water; if it foams within 10 minutes, the yeast is active.
• Place the dough in a warm spot in the kitchen to ensure it rises. If your kitchen is quite cool, you can place it in an oven (that is off) so it has an insulated place to rise.
• To ensure the dinner rolls are even sizes, weigh the dough and divide that number by 20 so you know what weight each roll should be.
• Make sure the milk isn’t too hot or it may kill the yeast. The ideal temperature for the liquid is around 37°C/100°F.
• Kneading the dough helps produce tender and fluffy dinner rolls. You will know the dough has been kneaded enough if you can stretch out a piece of dough until it is thin enough to see through without it breaking.
• Line the baking pan with parchment paper so you can easily remove the rolls from the pan.
• You will know the pumpkin bread rolls are baked when they are golden in color on the tops and bottoms, and when they spring back when pressed with a finger.

What to Serve with Pumpkin Bread Rolls?

The complex taste of these pumpkin bread rolls make them perfect on their own, but slicing them open and spreading them with butter takes them over the top. Feel free to use them as a base for your favorite sandwich fillings or serve them as a side dish with your preferred roast dinner.

Can I Use Pumpkin Pie Filling?

While it could work, it isn’t ideal as it has other ingredients in it including cinnamon and nutmeg. For pure pumpkin flavor, it is best to use pure pumpkin puree.

Can I Use Homemade Pumpkin Puree?

Yes, you definitely can! When you roast your pumpkin or boil it, both are good options in this pumpkin bread rolls recipe. Just make sure that your puree doesn’t have too much water in it or else the rolls might be too dense in texture.

How Can I Tell if Dough is Kneaded Enough?

You will know that your pumpkin bread dough is kneaded enough when it seems quite stretchy and doesn’t tear when you stretch a small piece out until it is almost see-through. Another way to test is if you indent the dough with a finger; if the indentation remains, the dough requires more kneading whereas if the dough springs back, it has been kneaded enough.

How to Tell the Pumpkin Dinner Rolls are Done Baking

The pumpkin bread rolls will be done when they are golden on top and increased in size. You can also tell they are done by inserting an instant-read thermometer into one; when it reads 88°C/190°F, you will know they are done.

How to Store Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

These pumpkin dinner rolls can be stored in a sealable bag at room temperature for up to 2 to 3 days. However, they are the best on the day they are baked. If you would like to store the rolls for longer, you can place them in the freezer where they will stay fresh for up to 3 months.

How to Make Soft and Pillowy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

In a bowl, whisk the flour with the salt and yeast.

In another bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree with the sugar and egg until combined.

Whisk in the milk.

Stir in the flour mixture until almost combined, and then knead the mixture until a smooth dough forms.

Fold the butter into the dough until combined. Allow it to rise for 2 hours.

Punch down the dough once it has risen.

Divide the dough into smooth balls.

Arrange the balls in a parchment-lined baking pan. Allow them to rise for 1 hour.

Brush the buns with egg wash.

Bake the dinner rolls at 180°C/350°F for 25 minutes or until golden.

Brush the baked rolls with melted butter.

Serve the dinner rolls warm or allow them to cool before serving.