Make your own copycat version of Hawaiian Rolls at home with this easy, made-from-scratch recipe that makes soft and fluffy Hawaiian sweet rolls!
Hawaiian rolls are quite possibly the most delicious rolls ever. They are soft and buttery and sweet.
They can be made into smaller dinner rolls or buns for slider, or they can be made into larger, bun-sized rolls. They pair well with everything from burgers to ham, which makes them perfect for baked ham and Swiss poppy seed sandwiches.
“This is my new go-to dinner roll recipe! Very easy to make and everyone loves them. It’s also very easy to cut the recipe in half when I don’t need so many. I love this recipe!” – Julie
Why you’ll love these rolls
- They’re soft! The rolls are soft and fluffy.
- They’re tasty! The rolls are sweet and buttery with a bit of sweet pineapple flavor thrown in.
- They’re easy to make! The rolls are simple and don’t require much hands-on time.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Pineapple Juice: I use the mini cans of pineapple juice that come in a 6 pack. However, any 100% pineapple juice should work.
- Yeast: An equal amount of instant yeast will also work. Just skip proofing the yeast and continue with the recipe as written.
- Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe.
- Flour: I’ve also made these rolls with all-purpose flour when I didn’t have any bread flour. I had to add about 1/2-1 cup additional flour for a total of 6-6 1/2 cups of flour.
How to make homemade Hawaiian rolls
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe is given below.
Step 1: Grease 2 9×13-inch pans. Set aside.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, heat pineapple juice over medium-low temperature until juice reaches about 105 F.
Step 3: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together yeast and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Step 4: Once the pineapple juice is at temperature, add to the bowl. Stir, and let the yeast mixture stand for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
Step 5: Once the yeast is foamy, add the remaining sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs; stir to combine.
Step 6: Switch from the paddle attachment to the dough hook, and add 3 cups of flour and salt. Stir on low.
Step 7: Continue adding flour ½ cup at a time until dough clears the sides of the bowl. The dough will feel slightly sticky. It takes 5 ½ cups of flour for my rolls.
Step 8: Once the dough comes together and clears the sides, continue to knead for about 1 minute.
Step 9: Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel, and let it rise until dough has doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours.
Step 10: Shape dough into rolls. If you would like smaller, dinner-sized rolls, shape into 24 rolls. If you would like larger, bun-sized rolls, shape into 12-18 rolls depending on desired size. Place half of the rolls in each pan.
Step 11: Cover rolls with plastic wrap, and let rolls rise until doubled, about 1 ½ hours.
Toward the end of the second rise, preheat oven to 350 F.
Step 12: Bake rolls for about 20 minutes (for dinner-sized rolls), or until rolls are golden brown. Immediately brush rolls with butter.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Tips!
- Freezing the rolls: To freeze the baked rolls, let them cool to room temperature. Wrap the rolls tightly in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze the baked rolls for up to 1 month.
- Gluten Free: While I haven’t tried it, I have heard from people who have successfully used measure-for-measure gluten free flour in this recipe.
Storage
The rolls should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll keep for up to 3 days when properly stored.
More delicious roll recipes!
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Hawaiian Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pineapple juice
- 4 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar divided
- 1/2 cup butter at room temperature, plus extra for brushing rolls
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 5-6 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Grease 2 9×13-inch pans. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, heat pineapple juice over medium-low temperature until juice reaches about 105 F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together yeast and 2 tablespoons of sugar.
- Once the pineapple juice is at temperature, add to the bowl. Stir, and let the yeast mixture stand for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
- Once the yeast is foamy, add the remaining sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs; stir to combine.
- Switch from the paddle attachment to the dough hook, and add 3 cups of flour and salt. Stir on low.
- Continue adding flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clears the sides of the bowl. The dough will feel slightly sticky. It takes 5 1/2 cups of flour for my rolls.
- Once the dough comes together and clears the sides, continue to knead for about 1 minute.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rise until dough has doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours.
- Shape dough into rolls. If you would like smaller, dinner-sized rolls, shape into 24 rolls. If you would like larger, bun-sized rolls, shape into 12-18 rolls depending on desired size.
- Place half of the rolls in each pan.
- Cover rolls with plastic wrap, and let rolls rise until doubled, about 1 ½ hours.
- Toward the end of the second rise, preheat oven to 350 F.
- Bake rolls for about 20 minutes (for dinner-sized rolls), or until rolls are golden brown.
- Immediately brush rolls with butter.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Flour: I’ve also made these rolls with all-purpose flour when I didn’t have any bread flour. I had to add about 1/2-1 cup additional flour for a total of 6-6 1/2 cups flour.
- Nutrition facts are estimates.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Originally published April 8, 2013.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Mel {MamaBuzz} says
Mmmm, I love Hawaiian Sweet Rolls; they’re so de-lish. Definitely pinning these to make them in the future.
kateheartseating says
They really are! Thanks so much for pinning and for stopping by!! =)
Rachel says
I love homemade rolls! I’m featuring these at my link party, Terrific Tuesdays. Thanks for linking up!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much! That’s awesome!! =)
Jessie says
Oh wow! I LOVE Hawaiian rolls and these look amazing! Pinning and passing on to my mom who will freak for the recipe :) Thanks so much for sharing with us at Weekend Wonder! Hope you’re having a lovely day!
kateheartseating says
Thanks! I love hearing things like that!! Thanks so much for stopping by and for leaving such a sweet comment! =)
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker says
these buns sounds wonderful. I bet they would be great for sliders! Pinned this! Thanks for sharing these on Two Cup Tuesday at Pint Sized Baker I hope to see ya again on Monday night!
kateheartseating says
They are! We love them with ham and cheese sandwiches, too. Thanks so much for hosting, pinning, and stopping by! =)
Printabelle says
I like the idea of the pineapple juice, I’m sure they taste way better than the store bought ones, which I love!
Carla says
These look seriously amazing–I can’t wait to try them! I’m pinning the recipe!
kateheartseating says
Thanks for coming by and for pinning! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!! =)
Becky says
Your rolls are gorgeous!! Perfect! Thanks for sharing at Foodtastic Friday!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much! And thanks for hosting!! =)
Satine says
Hello :) I tried another version of this with ham and cheese inside :D Soooooo yummy ! You can see pics here : https://satinesdelights.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/hawaiian-buns/ . Sorry, my recipes are all in french though. Thanks for inspiring me with this great idea :)
kateheartseating says
The ham and cheese sliders with the Hawaiian rolls are awesome! The link to recipe for the baked ham and cheese sandwiches is in orange right above the roll recipe if you’d like to try it. Thanks so much for stopping by! =)
Tiffany@VintageMarigold says
This sounds amazing! I wounder if they taste like the bread I was served at WDW’s Polynesian resort. I ate that bread 8 years ago on my honeymoon and still remember it! Tiffany
kateheartseating says
Isn’t it amazing how food can bring back great memories! If they do, please come back and let me know. I’m sure other people would be interested to know. Thanks so much for stopping by to check the recipe out! =)
Mackenzie says
Kate these look amazing! We are headed to Hawaii this Summer so I can’t wait to make these as our vacation draws near!
Mackenzie :)
kateheartseating says
Thanks! I’m so jealous!! That will be so fun! I went to Oahu a few years ago and loved it. You guys will have a blast!! =)
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Beautiful! Can’t wait to try this recipe out :) Pinned and shared on Facebook! Have a great weekend!
kateheartseating says
Thanks so much (for the compliment and for the shares)!! I hope you and your family enjoy the rolls as much as we do! You too!! =)
Christie - Food Done Light says
Your rolls are calling to me to make. I love the idea of the pineapple juice in them. I have to make them soon. I saw them on Simple Living!
Janice says
Oh my !! These sound grand ! I only hope that I can make them pretty and
rounded as yours are. I can’t wait too try them. About how many do you get
out of this recipe ? Just asking . Thank-you
kateheartseating says
Thanks! I make a dough ball and then kinda tuck the sides under to make it smooth and round. I hope that made sense! You will get 24 smaller, dinner sized rolls or about 18 larger (slider) sized rolls. Hope you enjoy! =)
Lori @ A Bright and Beautiful Life says
These look and sound so tasty. We love Hawaiian rolls but I’ve never made them. They sound easy enough ~ so I’m going to give them a try. Thanks.
kateheartseating says
Thanks! They really are easy to make. I hope you enjoy them! =)
Crystelle Boutique says
I love love love Hawaiian rolls, and your recipe looks a LOT simpler than mine… Awesome!!!
I am going to try them… :)
Pinning!
hugs x
Crystelle
kateheartseating says
We do, too! My son asks for them at least once a week. I hope you enjoy them! =)
Debbie @ madefrompinterest.net says
Man cannot live by bread alone. OH yeah? I could live off of these rolls! They look amazing and I can’t wait to try them. Thanks for sharing! Debbie @ madefrompinterest.net
kateheartseating says
Haha! We could, too!! Thanks!! I hope you enjoy them! =)
Jody D says
I can’t remember the difference from bread flour and regular flour. Can I use regular flour to make these?
kateheartseating says
Bread flour has more gluten, but it substitutes at a 1:1 ratio. I prefer bread flour because I think it ends up with a little lighter roll, but don’t go out and buy some just for these rolls. You can use all-purpose flour, and they should still be good. =)
rhonda says
Please send recipe
kateheartseating says
Hi! Are you looking to email the recipe? Under the recipe there is an envelope icon. If you click on that, you should be able to email the recipe.
Pat says
Is there a way to mix this dough in a bread machine
kateheartseating says
I’m not sure because I haven’t tried it. I would imagine that you could, but I’m not sure. If you try it, please let me know how it works out! =)
Pat says
Is there a way to mix the dough in a bread maker machine?