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Salted Honey Hawaiian Rolls
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5 from 3 votes

Salted Honey Hawaiian Rolls

These soft and fluffy Salted Honey Hawaiian Rolls are sweetened with a tropical pineapple twist! Perfect as dinner rolls or slider buns, these sweet and savory rolls can be served alongside just about any meal.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Resting Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 45 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Bread
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 Rolls
Calories: 289kcal
Author: Emily Laurae

Ingredients

Salted Honey Hawaiian Rolls

  • 2 tablespoons Warm water
  • 1 tablespoon Active dry yeast
  • ¾ cup Pineapple juice
  • ½ cup Brown sugar firmly packed
  • ½ cup Honey
  • ¼ cup Unsalted butter melted
  • 2 Eggs large
  • 1 Egg yolk large
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1.5 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon White vinegar
  • 4 cups All-purpose flour you may need a touch more or less
  • Extra honey, room temperature butter and flaky sea salt to garnish

Instructions

Salted Honey Hawaiian Rolls

  • Stir the warm water and yeast together in a large mixing bowl, then set aside until foamy - this should take about 10 minutes
    2 tablespoons Warm water, 1 tablespoon Active dry yeast
  • Add the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey, melted butter, eggs, egg yolk, salt, and vanilla and white vinegar whisking to combine.
    ¾ cup Pineapple juice, ½ cup Brown sugar, ½ cup Honey, ¼ cup Unsalted butter, 2 Eggs, 1 Egg yolk, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 1.5 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1 teaspoon White vinegar
  • Stir in the flour, about ½ cup at a time, until a stiff dough forms and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl
    4 cups All-purpose flour
  • Knead the dough until it passes the windowpane test (about 10 to 15 minutes by hand, 8-10 minutes if using a bread hook attachment
  • Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume (about 1 hour)
  • Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions (about 75 grams each).
  • Shape the rolls and place them in a 9x13-inch greased baking dish that's been greased and lined with parchment paper
  • Cover the rolls with a sheet of greased plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
  • Allow the rolls to rise in a warm place (if making overnight rolls, remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature first) until doubled in volume (about 1 hour).
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake the Hawaiian rolls until puffed and golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter, honey and flaky salt
    Extra honey, room temperature butter and flaky sea salt to garnish

Notes

Tips and tricks
  • Yeast not activating? If your yeast and water mixture isn’t foaming or bubbling after 10 minutes, that means your yeast is too old. I recommend starting over with fresh yeast so the buns rise.
  • Letting the dough rise - If you’re baking on a cold day, let the dough finish its first or second rises in the oven (turned off). This will speed up the process and should only take about 1 hour to double in size.
  • Plan ahead - Making Hawaiian rolls is super easy but does require some planning as you’ll need to let the dough rise twice. 
How to use Hawaiian bread rolls
  • Grab-and-go breakfast - Spread some butter, jelly, marmalade, jam (like this simple plum jam), or even scrambled eggs onto a bun for a quick breakfast.
  • Pork BBQ sandwich buns - Pulled pork sandwiched between Hawaiian bread practically melts in your mouth.
  • Hawaiian hamburger buns - Slice your roll in half, lightly grill both sides, and load it up with a juicy burger and all of the toppings.
  • Hawaiian slider rolls - Whether you’re in the mood for a cheeseburger or a ham and cheese, cold cut, meatball, or pulled pork sandwich, these slider buns always add a hint of extra exciting flavors to each bite.
Frequently asked questions
Do Hawaiian rolls taste like pineapple? The pineapple juice sweetens the dough with a tropical, tangy flavor. It’s a very subtle, yet pleasant sweetness.
What’s the best way to store and reheat homemade Hawaiian rolls?
  • Storing rolls - After cooling to room temperature, keep your rolls in an airtight container on the counter for 2 to 3 days. They’ll go stale and dry out much quicker in the fridge.
  • Freezing rolls - Wrap the rolls in a couple of layers of plastic wrap and a layer of foil (or a freezer-safe bag). Freeze for 2 to 3 months. Allow them to defrost at room temperature. 
  • Reheating - They’re tasty eaten at room temperature, but if you’d like to reheat the rolls, you can pop a few in a 315ºF oven for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg
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