These soft and fluffy yeast rolls are made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator overnight before baking the next day.

soft Overnight Refrigerator Rolls


 

Overnight Refrigerator Yeast Rolls

I found this super easy recipe for Overnight Refrigerator Yeast Rolls in my grandma’s recipe box titled “Myrtle’s Refrigerator Rolls”. I never had the pleasure of meeting Myrtle but I’ve got to tell you she made some pretty awesome yeast rolls!

These make ahead yeast rolls are made the night before you need them and placed in the refrigerator overnight. The next day you remove the dough from the refrigerator, portion it out into individual rolls and let it rise for a few hours while you go about cooking and/or cleaning.

Then you pop them in the oven for 20 minutes and they come out golden brown on top, hot, fluffy, and perfectly tender on the inside. Add a pat of butter and you’ll be in heaven!

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brushing butter on warm Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not an amazing baker so when I tell you these dinner rolls are easy to make I mean it. The dough comes together easily and I love that you make them the night before so you have one less mess to clean up while you’re working on getting your holiday dinner on the table!

How to Make Overnight Refrigerator Yeast Rolls:

  1. Sprinkle yeast over ½ cup of warm water letting it sit for about 5 minutes. 
  2. While the yeast dissolves place the shortening and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and cream them together. 
  3. Add the beaten egg, 2 cups of warm water, salt, and yeast to the bowl and begin to mix. 
  4. Add flour 1 cup at a time continuing to mix until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and your dough is formed. 
  5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a large ball. Place it in a large bowl lightly greased with vegetable oil or olive oil. Rub a little of the oil over the top of the dough to keep it from drying out.
  6. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight. 
  7. When ready to use shape the dough into 3 oz small balls and place them in a greased baking pan. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 3 hours. 
  8. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes

Tip: Myrtle had one piece of advice for this recipe, make sure you sift the flour and fill right up the the 1 cup line.

soft Overnight Refrigerator Rolls for the holidays

Can You Freeze Yeast Rolls?

Yes! Bake the rolls and then let them cool to room temperature before wrapping them in plastic wrap and packaging them in a freezer bag before placing them in the freezer.

When you’re ready to use them remove from the freezer and place on a baking sheet. Heat the oven to 325 degrees F. and bake for 15 minutes or until warmed through.

If the rolls begin to brown too much cover them loosely with a piece of aluminum foil.

These will last for up to 2 months in the freezer.

easy Overnight Refrigerator Rolls with butter for the holidays

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Servings: 30
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Chill & Rise Time:: 15 hours
Total Time: 15 hours 40 minutes

Overnight Refrigerator Rolls

These soft and fluffy yeast rolls are made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator overnight before baking the next day.
buttery Overnight Refrigerator Rolls
Print Recipe
4.78 from 18 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 package Dry active yeast
  • ½ cup Warm water
  • ½ cup Shortening
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg, beaten
  • 2 cups Warm water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Salt
  • 8 cups All-purpose Flour, sifted

Instructions

  • Sprinkle yeast over ½ cup of warm water letting it sit for about 5 minutes.
  • While the yeast dissolves place the shortening and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and cream them together.
  • Add the beaten egg, 2 cups of warm water, salt, and yeast mixture to the bowl and begin to mix.
  • Add flour 1 cup at a time continuing to mix until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and your dough is formed.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat it into a large ball. Place it in a large bowl lightly greased with vegetable oil or olive oil. Rub a little of the oil over the top of the dough to keep it from drying out.
  • Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  • When ready to use shape the dough into 3 oz small balls and place them in a greased baking pan. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 3 hours.
  • Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes

Notes

Note: Make sure you sift the flour and fill right up the the 1 cup line.

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll, Calories: 167kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 120mg, Potassium: 40mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 8IU, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dinner roll recipe, homemade dinner rolls, homemade yeast rolls, yeast roll recipe, yeast rolls
Handwritten signature for Kat & Melinda