Easy Sourdough Dinner Rolls With Active Starter (Beginner Friendly)
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These soft sourdough dinner rolls are made with active sourdough starter, simple ingredients, and no commercial yeast. They’re soft, fluffy, lightly sweetened with honey, and brushed with melted butter while they’re still warm from the oven.
You can make these sourdough rolls in one day or let the dough rest in the refrigerator overnight for a longer fermentation. They’re simple enough for a family dinner but also make a beautiful addition to a Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
If you’ve been looking for another easy way to use your active sourdough starter, this is one you’ll want to save!
Why You’ll Love These Sourdough Dinner Rolls
One of my favorite things about sourdough is learning how to take foods I would normally buy at the store and make them from scratch at home.
Dinner rolls are no exception.
These rolls use just a handful of simple ingredients and don’t require complicated shaping or techniques. A few sets of stretch and folds help develop the dough, and then you simply divide it into 12 pieces, shape, proof, and bake.
You can also choose the timing that works best for your family. Make them all in one day, or put the dough in the refrigerator overnight and finish the rolls the following day.
If you’re brand new to sourdough, start with my How to Make a Sourdough Starter From Scratch Without a Scale.
Active Sourdough Starter vs. Discard
This recipe uses active sourdough starter, rather than sourdough discard.
Active starter has recently been fed and is bubbly and rising. Because there is no commercial yeast in these rolls, the active starter is what ferments the dough and helps the rolls rise.
For best results, use your starter when it is active and around its peak.
Not sure if yours is ready? Read How to Know When Your Sourdough Starter Is Ready to Bake With.
You can also read my Active Sourdough Starter vs. Discard guide for a simple explanation of the difference.
Sourdough Dinner Roll Ingredients
Active sourdough starter – ½ cup. The starter naturally ferments the dough and provides the rise for these rolls. Make sure your starter is active and bubbly before making the dough.
Water – 1½ cups. Hydrates the flour and creates the soft dough. I like to use room-temperature or slightly warm water rather than very hot or cold water.
Salt – 1 teaspoon. Adds flavor and balances the slight sweetness of the honey. Favorite mineral salt.
Olive or avocado oil – 2 tablespoons. Adds fat and moisture to help create a soft, tender dinner roll. Either oil works well, so use whichever you keep in your kitchen.
Honey – 2 tablespoons. Adds a subtle natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with the sourdough flavor.
All-purpose flour – 3½ cups. Provides the structure for the rolls while keeping them soft and fluffy. I love using Sunrise Flour Mill all-purpose flour in our sourdough baking.
Butter – for brushing. Don’t skip this part! Brushing the hot rolls generously with butter gives the tops a beautiful shine and makes them extra soft and delicious.
How to Make Sourdough Dinner Rolls
1. Mix the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the active sourdough starter, water, salt, olive or avocado oil, and honey.
Add the all-purpose flour and stir until everything is combined and there are no large pockets of dry flour remaining.
The dough may look somewhat rough at this point. That’s okay! The texture will improve as it rests and you perform your stretch and folds.
Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rest for 1 hour.
2. Stretch and Fold
After the dough has rested, perform your first set of stretch and folds.
Grab one side of the dough, gently stretch it upward, and fold it over the center. Turn the bowl and repeat until you’ve worked your way around the dough.
Perform 4 sets of stretch and folds, 30 minutes apart, keeping the dough covered between each set.
The dough should gradually become smoother and stronger with each set.
If you’re new to this technique, don’t overthink it. Stretch and folds are simply an easy way to strengthen your sourdough dough without kneading it.
Same-Day or Overnight Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Once you’ve completed the stretch and folds, you have two options.
Same-Day Sourdough Dinner Rolls
If you’d like to bake your rolls the same day, allow the dough to rest at room temperature for another 1 hour before shaping.
Overnight Sourdough Dinner Rolls
For a longer fermentation, cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
The next day, remove the dough from the refrigerator and continue with shaping.
This option is especially convenient when I want fresh rolls for dinner but don’t want to make the entire recipe at once.
Shape the Dinner Rolls
Grease a baking dish with butter or oil. Pretty 9×13 baking dish.
Divide the dough into 12 approximately equal pieces.
Shape each piece into a smooth ball by gently pulling the edges toward the bottom and creating tension across the top of the dough.
Arrange all 12 rolls in the prepared baking dish, leaving a little room for them to expand.
Don’t worry about making every roll perfectly identical. Homemade is allowed to look homemade!
Let the Rolls Proof
Cover the baking dish and allow the rolls to proof at room temperature for approximately 1–2 hours, or until they look noticeably puffy.
Sourdough fermentation times can vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen and the strength of your starter, so watch the dough rather than relying only on the clock.
A warmer kitchen will generally result in a faster rise, while a cooler kitchen may take longer.
Bake the Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Bake the rolls for 25–30 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the rolls are baked through.
As soon as they come out of the oven, brush the tops generously with butter.
Serve them warm!
Tips for Soft and Fluffy Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Start with a strong, active starter. Because there is no commercial yeast in this recipe, your sourdough starter needs to be active enough to properly ferment and rise the dough.
Don’t add a bunch of extra flour simply because the dough feels slightly sticky. Adding too much flour can result in denser, drier rolls.
And remember that sourdough works on its own schedule. Use the times in the recipe as a guideline, but pay attention to what your dough looks like. During the final proof, you’re looking for rolls that have visibly increased in size and look soft and puffy.
Finally, brush them with butter while they’re still hot. It adds flavor and helps keep that beautiful golden crust soft.
Can I Make These Sourdough Dinner Rolls Ahead of Time?
Yes! The overnight option makes these rolls easy to prepare ahead.
Prepare the dough and complete your stretch and folds, then place the covered dough in the refrigerator overnight.
The next day, shape the dough into rolls, let them proof until noticeably puffy, and bake.
This is a great option for holidays because you can do much of the preparation the day before.
What to Serve With Sourdough Dinner Rolls
These rolls are delicious alongside almost any homemade dinner.
Serve them with soups and stews, roasted chicken, pot roast, pasta (Spaghetti or Alfredo), or your favorite family dinner. They’re also perfect for soaking up gravy at Thanksgiving or serving alongside Christmas dinner.
And, of course, a warm sourdough dinner roll with plenty of butter and a little honey is pretty delicious all on its own!
How to Store Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Allow leftover rolls to cool completely and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days.
You can warm them briefly before serving to soften them again.
For longer storage, freeze the cooled rolls in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw them at room temperature and warm them in the oven before serving.
reusable silicone gallon storage bag
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these with sourdough discard?
This particular recipe is designed for active sourdough starter. There is no commercial yeast in the recipe, so you need an active starter to ferment the dough and help your dinner rolls rise.
If you want rolls made with discard, try my Sourdough Discard Dinner Rolls.
How do I know when the rolls are done proofing?
The rolls should look noticeably larger, soft, and puffy. Remember that sourdough fermentation doesn’t always happen according to an exact timeline, so the appearance of the dough is more important than strictly following the clock.
Why are my sourdough dinner rolls dense?
Dense rolls can happen if your starter wasn’t active enough or the dough didn’t have enough time to ferment or proof.
If you regularly struggle with dense sourdough, read Why Is My Sourdough Bread Turning Out Dense?.
Do sourdough dinner rolls taste sour?
They can have a mild sourdough flavor, but these rolls aren’t overwhelmingly sour. The honey adds a subtle sweetness that balances the fermented flavor beautifully.
A longer overnight fermentation may develop more sourdough flavor than the same-day method.
More Easy Sourdough Recipes
Once you see how easy it can be to make bread at home, try some of my other beginner-friendly sourdough recipes:
Sourdough Discard Sandwich Bread
Sourdough Discard Dinner Rolls
Easy Sourdough Recipes for Beginners
Making bread from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated. These soft sourdough dinner rolls use simple ingredients and an easy process to make homemade rolls your family can enjoy with dinner.
Whether you make them all in one day or use the overnight fermentation option, they’re a great recipe to add to your regular sourdough routine.
Sourdough Dinner Rolls With Active Starter
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk together the active starter, water, salt, oil, and honey.
- Stir in the flour until combined. Cover and rest for 1 hour.
- Perform 4 sets of stretch and folds, 30 minutes apart, keeping the dough covered between each set.
- For a same-day bake, let the dough rest for another 1 hour. For a longer fermentation, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces and shape each piece into a smooth ball. Place the rolls in a greased baking dish.
- Cover and proof for 1–2 hours, or until noticeably puffy.
- Bake at 375°F for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.
- Brush generously with butter immediately after baking and serve warm.
