Sometimes there are no words to describe a recipe, but we food bloggers still have to do our best to try. I mean, just look at these dinner rolls—the pictures say it all! You can see the buttery topping, the bits of garlic, the fresh herbs, the golden brown exterior, and you instantly know that these rolls are going to be fantastic. And fantastic they are! As if they weren’t mouthwatering enough as-is, you have the option of stuffing your dinner rolls with vegan cheese to make them even more irresistible. You don’t have to do this, but I totally recommend it, because the only thing better than a pillowy, garlicky dinner roll is a pillowy, garlicky dinner roll stuffed with melty plant-based cheese. (And yes, there are vegan cheeses that melt beautifully!) While I developed this recipe with holiday dinners in mind, you can make a batch and freeze them for later so you can enjoy homemade dinner rolls for a weeknight dinner, too. You might even want to make a meal out of these dinner rolls alone! No judgment here—they are that good.
Notes on Ingredients
Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions and the FULL recipe with amounts and details can be found DOWN BELOW (scroll to it) in the recipe card.
For the rolls:
All purpose flourGranulated sugar or liquid such as maple syrup or agave – This is what feeds the yeast; it doesn’t make the recipe sweet.Instant yeast – Here’s how to test yeast to make sure it’s still good.Sea saltVegan milk – Use any kind you like.Vegan butter, olive oil, or any oil – Here’s how to make your own vegan butter.Fresh parsleyVegan Parmesan cheese – I always use my own recipe because it takes 5 minutes, but you can by storebought too.Minced garlic Shredded vegan cheese – Any variety you like will work here, but make sure you choose a brand that melts well. Couple faves for melt – Nurishh, Miyokos, Violife, Follow Your Heart and Daiya. That way, when you pull apart the rolls, the cheese will stretch and ooze out. Yum!
For the garlic rub:
Vegan butterFresh parsleyMinced garlicVegan parmesan cheese
How to Make Vegan Garlic Parmesan Dinner Rolls
I promise – these are easier than you think. They just need time. You’ll need to allow some time to make these dinner rolls since they’re made with yeast and will need time to rise. Here’s how to make them: Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the butter and milk. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and slowly add the warm milk and vegan butter. Mix together with a spatula until just incorporated and the dough looks shaggy. Fold in the minced garlic, vegan parmesan, and parsley. Knead the dough. Use your dough hook to knead the dough for 5 to 6 minutes on the first or second speed. If the dough seems sticky, you can add up to 2 tablespoons of flour while kneading. The dough should be smooth, with slight dimples with a bit of tension formed. Let the dough rise. Lightly grease the bowl with additional oil and place the dough ball back into it. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough sit for at least 2 hours to rise, until it doubles in size. Form the rolls. Punch down the dough and fold over. Divide it into 15 portions and roll each into a ball. Use your fingers to pinch and pull the undersides to shape each ball. You can see exactly how to do this in my Instagram highlights! Add the cheese. If you want to make cheese-stuffed rolls, measure 3/4 cup of shredded vegan cheese. Divide the mixture evenly over the 15 rolls. Slightly open the centre of each before you’re about to pinch and pull the undersides, then stuff the vegan cheese. Pinch and fold tightly. Let the dough rise again. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with vegan butter and line up the rolls beside each other. Cover with a kitchen towel and let the rolls proof/rise for another hour. The dough balls will touch after rising, which is what you want! Begin preheating your oven to 400°F/200°C after 40 minutes so it’s warm and ready to go when the rolls are done rising. Make the garlic rub. Combine the butter, parsley, minced garlic, and vegan parmesan and brush some of it over the tops of the rolls. (You’ll use the rest later.) Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake the rolls for 15 minutes. When the rolls are done, brush them with the rest of the garlic rub. You can let the rolls cool in the pan, or move them to a cooling rack once the garlic rub is soaked in. The rolls will soften after resting for about 15 minutes.
Tips for Success
If you haven’t made homemade bread or rolls with yeast before, these tips can help!
Warming the milk. It’s best to use a thermometer so you can know precisely when the milk is warm enough. It should be somewhere between 110º and 120ºF. If you don’t have a thermometer, just know that the milk should be warm to the touch, but not hot. Too hot will kill your yeast.Letting the dough rise. If you live someplace cold, working with yeast can be tricky during winter! The dough needs to rise in a warm place, away from drafts. If your kitchen is chilly, place the dough in the oven with the pilot light on, which will provide enough residual heat for it to rise.Making evenly sized rolls. I like to weigh the dough, then take that number and divide it by 15. The resulting number will be the weight of each individual roll. Mine weighed about 48g-49g each, but definitely weigh your dough too.
How to Store
Store any leftover dinner rolls on your counter overnight, or tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can heat them up in the microwave until warmed through, in the air fryer for about 3-5 minutes, or pop them in a 350ºF oven for about 10 minutes.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Yes, you can freeze these rolls too! Line the rolls up on a baking sheet once fully cooled. Place in your freezer and flash freeze for about an hour. Once the hour has passed, you can stack the rolls in a freezer safe bag so they won’t stick. To thaw, bring to room temperature or thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then lightly toast in your toaster oven, in a 350ºF oven for around 10 minutes or in your air fryer. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Enjoy friends! If you make this Garlic Parmesan Dinner Roll recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
