Published: Feb 6, 2019 · Modified: Nov 17, 2023 by Zerrin & Yusuf

Homemade Rolls without Yeast

Looking for an easy bread roll recipe? No time for baking with yeast and for proofing dough? We got you covered! Make these Homemade Rolls without Yeast! They are super easy and quick to make. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Dinner rolls in a basket shot from top view.

If you don’t have time to make homemade yeast rolls, look no further. This recipe will guide you to make quick and easy dinner rolls without yeast. Plain yogurt, oil and baking powder will do all the work.

This method is great for people who love homemade breads but can't eat yeast or don't have it at home. Also, yeast-free rolls are quicker to make. They are a good choice for anyone who wants tasty rolls without waiting too long.

Today, we will show you how to make delicious no yeast rolls easily. It is really quick to make them, even on busy weeknights. And if you like quick bread recipes like this, check out our no yeast bread too!

Jump to:

Can You Make Dinner Rolls without Yeast?
About The Ingredients
How To Make The Recipe
Expert Tips
Why Are My Dinner Rolls Not Soft?
Variations
Serving Options
Frequently Asked Questions
More Thanksgiving Recipes
More Bread Recipes
📖 Recipe

No yeast quick dinner rolls served in an oval pan on a white background.

Can You Make Dinner Rolls without Yeast?

Absolutely! Not only is it possible to make dinner rolls without yeast, but it's also a straightforward and time-saving alternative. It is a fantastic option for those who either can’t consume yeast or don't have it on hand.

Here's how it works: Instead of yeast, you can use baking powder, which is a chemical leavening agent. When mixed with acidic ingredients like buttermilk or yogurt, these agents react and create bubbles of carbon dioxide. This reaction helps the dough to rise, similar to what yeast does, but much faster.

The texture of no yeast rolls might be slightly different – they tend to be denser and have a more biscuit-like feeling. However, they are still soft, delicious, and perfect for accompanying a meal.

Plus, they have the advantage of being much quicker to prepare since you don’t need to wait for the dough to rise. This makes yeast-free dinner rolls an ideal solution for busy days or last-minute meal planning.

Why This Recipe is Convenient

No Yeast Needed: This is great if you can't find yeast or don't want to use it.
No Proofing: There's no waiting for the dough to rise. This saves a lot of time.
No Kneading: This makes it easier and less work.
One Bowl Only: You only need one bowl to mix everything. No extra dishes or a stand mixer required.
Quick to Make: The whole process is fast. You can have fresh homemade rolls without yeast in no time.

About The Ingredients

Flour, olive oil, yogurt, salt, sugar, baking powder in separate bowls on a grey background and an egg accompany.

The basic ingredients for these easy and quick dinner rolls are as follows:

Baking powder: It is the substitute for yeast in this quick dinner roll recipe. When you bake with baking powder, you don’t need to let the dough rest and rise. The final texture of baking powder bread is not as airy as yeast bread rolls, but it is still satisfying.
Plain yogurt: Homemade yogurt or Greek style yogurt works best. When baking powder is combined with the acidic structure of yogurt, it reacts even better. If you don’t have yogurt on hand, you can use milk, buttermilk or a mixture of milk and mayonnaise or vinegar too.
Oil: Just like in our flourless cornbread recipe, we use olive oil in this recipe too. We use it in most of our bread recipes as it helps softness. You can use softened or melted butter as a substitute if you want.
Flour: We use either all-purpose flour or a mixture of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. As you can guess, they are softer when we make them with all-purpose flour only.
Sugar: It is totally optional. You can leave it out if you don’t want any sweetness at all or increase the amount of it if you want your no yeast bread rolls sweeter.
Egg yolk: We use it to brush the tops of rolls to give them a shiny golden top. You can leave it out and skip the egg wash step. If you still want your rolls to shine, you can brush the tops of the rolls with melted butter right after you remove them from the oven.

How To Make The Recipe

You will learn how to make quick and easy homemade dinner rolls without yeast with this recipe and won’t get stressed again about making your own rolls for special dinner occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter Dinner.

A collage of pictures showing how to make dinner rolls.

Combine baking powder, yogurt, oil, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
Gradually add the flour into the wet mixture. If everything holds well after adding 4 cups of flour, stop there and don’t add the rest of the flour. If it is still too sticky, add the rest of the flour and combine well.
Roll it into balls and place on a baking sheet that is greased or lined with parchment paper. You can wet your finger tips when shaping the dough balls. So the dough doesn’t stick to your hands. Brush their top with beaten egg yolk.
Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown, for about 20 minutes.

Expert Tips

Make sure yogurt is at room temperature. This is very important. If you use it cold, the rolls won’t rise well.
If the yogurt you use is too thick, you might need to add some milk or water. But again, they must be at room temperature.
Use all purpose flour in the dough if you want really soft no yeast dinner rolls. When you use a combination of all purpose flour and whole wheat flour, they are not as soft, but still fine.
If you want to use a mixture of all purpose flour and whole wheat flour, whisk them together first.
Try not to use too much flour. Although these no yeast rolls turn out fine with the measurements in the recipe, add the flour gradually until everything holds together. It's okay if the dough is a bit sticky. Use a little oil (olive oil in my recipe but you can use whatever oil you like) to wet your hands and make small balls from the dough.
Wet your finger tips with water or oil when taking a piece of dough and roll it into a ball.
These homemade rolls without yeast are great on the day when they are baked. We love them cold too on the next day but if you are after soft rolls, we suggest you reheat them in the oven or microwave so that they get as soft as they are on the first day.
You can roll the dough into balls and store in the refrigerator overnight and bake them the next day right before serving.
If you don’t want to use egg yolk on the top, just bake the rolls without it and brush their tops with melted butter after they are baked.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Making no yeast rolls is easy, but sometimes things can go wrong. Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them:

Overmixing the Dough: If you mix the dough too much, your rolls can become hard. Mix just until the ingredients are combined. The dough should be a bit sticky.
Oven Temperature Is Wrong: If your rolls are not cooking properly or burn, your oven temperature might be off. Use an oven thermometer to check and adjust the temperature as needed.
Not Using Fresh Baking Powder: Old baking powder won’t work well. Make sure your baking powder is fresh for the best rise.
Rolls Are Too Dry or Too Wet: If your dough is too dry, add a little milk or water. If it's too wet, add a bit more flour. Make adjustments slowly and in small amounts.

Why Are My Dinner Rolls Not Soft?

Cold Liquids

The most common mistake made when making these easy bread rolls with no yeast is using cold liquids. In our recipe, we use yogurt. And it has to be at room temperature or a bit warm.

So you had better remove it from the fridge at least 1 hour before you start making the dough. Let it sit on the counter to reach room temperature.

If you are in a hurry or don't want to wait, you can heat it a bit over boiling water.

Baking Time

Another mistake is about the baking time. If you over-bake the rolls, they will become hard. So it is always good to check once their top gets golden (in about 15 minutes).

Check whether their bottoms are firm enough. You can remove them from the oven if they are golden on the top and firm on the bottom without waiting the baking duration to end.

Pro Tip: Cover the baking sheet with a damp kitchen towel right after you remove it from the oven. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes and then transfer the rolls onto a cooling rack.

Yeast free bread rolls with melting butter

Storing and Reheating Yeast-Free Rolls

Proper storage and reheating keep no yeast bread rolls tasty for longer. Here's how to do it:

Storing:

Let the rolls cool completely before storing. This prevents moisture build-up. Put the rolls in an airtight container or a plastic bag. Store them at room temperature if you'll eat them in 2-3 days.

If you need to keep them longer, put them in the fridge. They can last up to a week.

You can freeze the rolls for up to a month. Wrap them well to avoid freezer burn.

Reheating:

Reheat in the oven for the best texture. Preheat to 350°F (175°C) and warm for about 3-5 minutes.

For a quick warm-up, use the microwave. Heat them for 10-20 seconds. Be careful not to overheat as they can get hard.

If you've frozen the rolls, let them thaw first. Then reheat as above.

Variations

Add some chopped herbs like fresh dill or parsley and minced garlic or garlic powder in the dough to give these baking powder dinner rolls more flavor.
You can stuff these with some cheese if you want. You will end up with stuffed buns like Turkish pogaca.
You can place the dough balls in a greased muffin tin and then bake.

Serving Options

These easy no yeast rolls can be served in several ways. Here are some ideas:

Breakfast Treat: We love them warm with butter and plum jam, or honey. They go well with coffee or tea.
With Soup or Stew: These rolls are perfect for dipping into soups like red lentil soup, cabbage beef soup or roasted garlic tomato soup. They help soak up all the flavors when served with stews like Turkish Beef Stew or Meatball Stew with Vegetables.
Side for Dinner: Serve them with any main dish. They're especially good with Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole or Stuffed Chicken.
As a Snack: Enjoy them as a snack. Add feta cheese or a spread like sun dried tomato sauce for a quick bite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mayonnaise instead of yogurt?

Yes you can! If you don't have yogurt, you can use a combination of milk and mayonnaise. To adjust this recipe with these ingredients, use 1 and ¾ cup milk and ¼ cup mayonnaise. Make sure they are at room temperature.

Can I use self rising flour?

Yes! You can easily turn this recipe into a 3-ingredient quick bread because self rising flour already contains baking powder, salt and flour.

Can I use gluten free flour?

Yes, you can use any gluten free flour with xanthan gum in it for this recipe. You might need to increase the amount of the flour though.

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