Festive Christmas Dinner Rolls with Brown Butter and Rosemary

Sneak Preview: Add these Christmas Dinner Rolls with Brown butter and Rosemary (mixed in a bread machine) to your holiday menu. Directions for shaping into a wreath are included.

wreath of browned butter and rosemary yeast rollsPin

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Are you looking for something easy but festive for a holiday gathering? Although homemade yeast rolls issue an aromatic, come-hither statement on their own, I guarantee this simple wreath configuration will make them memorable.

Don’t fret if you aren’t Mr. or Ms. Bread-Baker-of-the-Year. Here is a list of various ways to create these Browned Butter and Rosemary Dinner Rolls for your holiday table.

As usual, this recipe uses the bread machine on the DOUGH cycle to mix the dough, then shape the dough by hand and bake the bread in your conventional oven after the final rise. If you don’t have a bread machine, use your stand mixer or mix and knead the dough by hand. See the recipe notes for details.

Happy Cooks Speak Up

“My whole family enjoyed these. I substituted one cup of flour with whole wheat just to make them a little more healthful, and they were delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Really good as sandwiches with baked ham.” PAM

Four Ways To Use This Holiday Bread Recipe

  1. No time or too many bread-baking insecurities? Use store-bought frozen bread dough.
  2. No desire and/or time to mix and knead bread dough by hand? Use a bread machine or a heavy-duty stand mixer to do the job. You could even use a bread machine mix from the grocery store.
  3. Already have a favorite roll recipe but want to dress it up? After letting your dough rise, start with the instructions for shaping the rolls in step 5 and proceed as directed.
  4. Not sure about the wreath, but want to try the rolls? (They make great slider buns.) Skip the whole wreath idea and put dough balls into two eight or 9-inch pans as seen here, and start from step 5 in the recipe.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out this video for instructions on making perfect little balls with yeast dough. No fancy twisting, knotting, or similar frustration is required.

Related Post: 18 Popular Holiday Dinner Rolls

Two Ways To Form a Wreath Out of Christmas Dinner Rolls

ring of dough balls before and after risingPin
I  used a 13-inch pizza pan. Brush rolls with butter. Sprinkle them with herbs and salt immediately before placing them in the oven.

Here’s another option, only because I’m having fun with this recipe.

Christmas dinner wreath made with rolls and whipped butter in the middlePin

As you can see in the picture below, I put an oven-safe measuring cup in the middle to maintain the wreath shape.

alternate configuration of wreath of rolls with Christmas bread rollsPin
Left: Before rising; Right: After rising, ready to bake

Don’t miss the video below if you need help forming little round dough balls

Parting thoughts: If you love rosemary as I do, you might be interested in this Rosemary Bread Machine Recipe with Dried Cranberries and Pecans or my Bread Machine Rosemary Parmesan Foccacia.

Credits

The idea of the wreath comes from Martha Stewart Living.

Recipe adapted from my favorite bread cookbook, One hundred years of bread: Classic Breads from your bread machine(paid link) by Sidney Brockman Carlisle.

Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.

BROWNED BUTTER AND ROSEMARY DINNER ROLLS--on platter ready to servePin
Yield: 15 rolls

Christmas Dinner Rolls with Brown Butter and Rosemary Recipe

You’ll find this festive ring of rosemary yeast rolls difficult to resist. They also make wonderful slider buns for leftover ham, turkey, or roast beef.

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5 from 15 votes
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Video

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Mixing & Rising Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Total time: 3 hours

Ingredients
 

  • ¼ cup (57 g) butter
  • ¾ cup (173 g) milk
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 (50 g) large egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper optional
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2-1/2 cups (300 g) bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast

Instructions

  • Melt 1/4 cup (57 g) butter on the stove and turn it to the lowest temperature. Allow it to turn golden brown. (Careful not to go too far and let it burn.) Or, see my discussion about doing it in the microwave above. Let it cool a bit before adding it to the bread machine pan.
  • Heat 3/4 cup (173 g) milk in the microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Add to the bread machine bowl along with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 (50 g) large egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, 2-1/2 cups (300 g) bread flour, and 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast in the order given.
  • Select the DOUGH cycle and start.
  • When the DOUGH cycle completes, the dough should double. If not, allow to sit in the machine until it does.
  • Remove the dough to a floured surface. Divide dough into 15 equal pieces and make it into smooth balls. Arrange on a round pizza pan 13-inches or larger, in a single or double circle as illustrated in the pictures above. Cover and allow to rise until almost double.
  • If desired, brush with melted butter and chopped rosemary. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
  • Bake in preheated 375˚F (190˚C) oven for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

Notes

If using frozen bread dough, let rolls come to room temperature and start with step 5.
Directions for making bread with a stand mixer or by hand:
  • To make this recipe in a heavy-duty stand mixer:  Add ingredients to the bowl in the same order. Turn on LOW to mix until all ingredients are moistened. Then, using a dough hook, turn the speed to 2 or 3. Continue beating/kneading until dough becomes smooth and elastic (about 5-10 minutes). Cover and allow to rise in a warm place. Deflate dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.
  • If making by hand: Combine all ingredients into a shaggy ball in a large bowl. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead with your hands until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Kneading will likely take 10-20 minutes, depending on your experience. Place the dough ball into a greased bowl. Cover and allow to rise until double. Deflate the dough gently and shape as indicated in the recipe.
  • Please note: You can substitute active dry yeast for instant yeast. Dissolving it first is optional. Active dry yeast tends to rise slower initially but will catch up eventually.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 178mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

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20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a lovely shaping technique. Will definitely try it for Christmas dinner. …Susan

  2. 5 stars
    I made these last night for dinner. Oh, my! Wonderful, flavorful, pretty, easy and, best of all, delicious! Thank you for the inspiration to get back into bread-making.

  3. Stephane in Alaska says:

    Sooo pretty! I’m going to give them a go. BTW, I see you all over Pinterest! ; )

  4. 5 stars
    What a lovely shaping technique. Will definitely try it for Christmas dinner. …Susan

  5. TheKitchenWitch says:

    Paula,

    That wreath is so pretty! And since you can use store-bought dough, I’m in!

  6. My whole family enjoyed these. I substituted one cup of flour with whole wheat just to make them a little more healthful, and they were delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Really good as sandwiches with baked ham.

    1. Glad to hear you like them Pam. I can imagine they were fabulous with the whole wheat flour. Thanks for reporting back.

  7. Absolutely wonderful. I can smell Christmas already. Delicious. Thanx Paula.

  8. Absolutely gorgeous, Paula! I can imagine the smell of these beauties while baking! And your Christmas themed presentation is gorgeous!
    BTW, I love your videos! Very useful, and very well done!

  9. Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says:

    I love the wreath- so pretty for a party!

  10. Pretty neat idea there about he cup in the middle of the rolls before rising. Great photos too 🙂

  11. Beautiful and delicious I’m sure! Love this!

  12. Great post, Paula, and I love the tip about the measuring cup. Beautiful photo.

  13. Happy Cook / Finla says:

    They look absloutleysuper beautiful and double delicious, love the flavours in those rolls.

  14. 5 stars
    I made these last night for dinner. Oh, my! Wonderful, flavorful, pretty, easy and, best of all, delicious! Thank you for the inspiration to get back into bread-making.

    1. Already? Wow! Glad you liked them. Thanks for reporting back. Paula

  15. I’ve made the rosemary dinner rolls before and they are delicious. I love that you made a beautiful wreath with yours and that you left it edible! LOL
    Thanks so much for the mention and the link-back to my site. So nice of you and I appreciate it.

    PS Very good tutorial on how to make yours.

  16. The Café Sucré Farine says:

    Oh my Paula, I have just gained 5 pounds by looking at your pictures! I’m so glad to have you as my scapegoat! 🙂 These look incredibly delicious!

  17. cocidodesopa says:

    I just have a question: could I use instant yeast instead? I don’t live in America and I’m afraid I won’t be able to find the type of yeast you mention to use to make this bread.

    It looks yummy, beautiful, and even easy to make.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers!

    1. Yes! Instant yeast will work beautifully.