Soft, sweet, and pillowy buns made right at home!
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked Homemade Sweet Hawaiian Rolls filling your kitchen. Similar to King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, these are soft, buttery, and lightly sweet, these rolls are the perfect addition to any dinner table or holiday spread. What makes this recipe truly special is its use of the tangzhong (water roux) method, a simple technique that keeps bread irresistibly fluffy, moist, and fresher for longer. If you’ve ever wondered how bakeries achieve pillowy rolls that stay soft for days, tangzhong is the secret.
Despite their bakery-style taste and texture, these Hawaiian rolls are surprisingly easy to make at home. The dough comes together with everyday ingredients like bread flour, milk, pineapple juice, sugar, and butter. The pineapple juice not only adds a subtle tropical sweetness but also gives the rolls their signature Hawaiian flavor. Combined with the tangzhong starter, the result is bread that’s airy yet rich, with a tender crumb that practically melts in your mouth.
Perfect for family dinners, cookouts, or as sliders for pulled pork or ham, these rolls are versatile and always a crowd-pleaser. They’re also freezer-friendly, so you can make them ahead and enjoy homemade Hawaiian rolls anytime.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned baker, this recipe will walk you through each step with ease. From making the tangzhong starter to shaping and baking golden, buttery rolls, you’ll be amazed at how simple the process is. One bite of these soft, fluffy Hawaiian rolls and you’ll never want to go back to store-bought again.
Bake a batch today and enjoy homemade rolls that are perfectly sweet, deliciously buttery, and made to impress. They might say it’s better than the King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls recipe!
Grocery List for the Sweet Hawaiian Rolls Recipe
For the Tangzhong:
- 2 tbsp whole milk
- 2 tbsp bread flour
- 2 tbsp room-temperature water
The Dough:
- 4 ½ cups bread flour, sifted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp instant or active dry yeast
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ cup pineapple juice (heated to 105°F)
- ½ cup whole milk (heated to 105°F)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
A Simple Egg Wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp milk
How to Make Sweet Hawaiian Rolls at Home
Description
Learn how to make soft, fluffy, and buttery Homemade Sweet Hawaiian Rolls with tangzhong. Easy to follow, irresistibly delicious, and better than store-bought!
Ingredients
For the Tangzhong
For the Dough
For the Egg Wash
Instructions
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Make the Tangzhong: In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, water, and flour. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens into a paste. Remove from heat and let cool.
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Activate the Yeast (if using active dry): In a bowl, combine warm milk and pineapple juice (105°F) with 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp of honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. If using instant yeast, skip proofing.
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Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine bread flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, egg, egg yolk, tangzhong, yeast mixture, and butter. Mix until dough forms.
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Knead: Knead dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. If sticky, add a little flour as needed.
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First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours, or until doubled in size.
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Shape the Rolls: Punch down the dough and divide into 12–15 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball and place in a greased baking dish.
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Second Rise: Cover and let rise again for 45–60 minutes until puffy.
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Prepare Egg Wash: Whisk egg yolk with milk and gently brush over the rolls.
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Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown on top.
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Cool & Serve: Brush with melted butter if desired. Serve warm and enjoy soft, fluffy Hawaiian rolls!
