Pillow Soft Gluten-Free Rolls (2024)

Look no further for the best gluten-free rolls recipe. These fluffy, airy, soft dinner rolls not only have a superior texture, but are easy to make, and ready to serve in one hour! Learn the secret trick to making the best gluten-free dinner rolls ever.

best recipe for gluten-free dinner rolls

Gluten-free dinner rolls recipe has earned a special place in my gluten-free bread Hall of Fame. Not only were there delectable oohs and ahhs from me, enjoying these buttery, golden brown pillows, but my non-gluten-free family couldn’t stop singing the praises as well!

These easy gluten-free rolls meet an unprecedented taste and texture standard, similar to this highly-reviewed gluten-free bread recipe. To meet that level, it had to incorporate all these criteria:

• Easy to make!It mixes together in one bowl, has one short rise, and bake.
• Simple ingredientsI have stocked and ready at all times
• Quick and effortless– No one wants to spend all day making yeast rolls. These are ready to enjoy in one hour.
• Most important –Tastes BETTER thananygluten-free roll recipe out there. Seriously.

Ingredient Notes and substitutions

• Gluten-free flour – Using a good gluten free flour makes or breaks the quality of GF baked goods. Cup4Cup gluten-free flour is what I recommend in my gluten-free cookbook and use for all my baking. For more info and alternatives see, the Recommended Gluten-Free Flour section.
• Potato Starch (not flour) – Secret ingredient to make gluten-free rolls soft and fluffy, just like these gluten-free hot dog buns. Instead of relying on additional flour to structure the dough, I substituted another gluten-free starch. Use for best results, but tapioca starch or additional GF flour may be substituted.
• Psyllium Husk Powder – Helps maintain moisture and prevents the rolls from becoming crumbly. It also mimics gluten, allowing pull-apart rolls to be shaped.
• Baking powder – I like to couple baking powder with yeast to assist the rise and make a light, airy texture, which is harder to achieve in gluten-free breads.
• Instant (Rapid Rise) Yeast – I would suggest buying this is bulk and storing in your refrigerator. It doesn’t require mixing with warm liquids to proof and can be mixed right into dry ingredients. See Best Yeast to Use for how to substitute active dry yeast.
• Butter – Melted butter flavors the dough and is brushed on before and after baking. I typically buy unsalted butter, so I add salt to the butter before brushing. This mimics the taste of famous Parker House rolls. If making gluten-free dairy-free rolls, substitute vegan butter, but cut the total amount of salt in half.
• Milk – Used to elevate taste, especially when mixed with butter and salt. For dairy-free rolls, substitute non-dairy milk, such as almond or soy milk.

how to make gluten-free rolls

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Begin by heating the oven to 200ºF. Once it reaches temperature, turn it off. This will serve as an extra warm place for the rolls to initially rise.
2. As the oven is preheating, make the roux. Combine 2 tablespoons flour with milk and water in a small saucepan. Whisk constantly over medium heat, until a trail separation appears at the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and turn oven off.
3. In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, prepare the dough mixture. Combine the GF flour, potato starch, sugar, psyllium, yeast, baking powder and salt using a paddle attachment on low speed.
4. Add the warm milk, egg, melted butter, and roux. Combine on low speed until well blended. Increase to high speed and beat for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl once or twice. The dough will be stiff, but still sticky.
5. Portion out the dough into 2 ounce portions using a food scalewith a greased piece of plastic wrap on top. Alternatively, scoop out with a greased 1/4 measuring cup.
6. Place in greased 8X8-inch baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in warmed oven for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let sit at room temperature for 20 more minutes while the oven preheats to 350°F.
7. Gently brush the tops with salted butter. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned and internal temperature with an instant read thermometer measures 195-200ºF. Immediately brush with remaining butter and serve warm.

shaping yeast rolls

When making soft, gluten-free rolls, there is a balance between adding enough gluten-free flour blend to make the dough elastic and easy to shape, yet still a yield fluffy, airy texture.

As to not toughen crumb, I add less flour than other gluten free dinner rolls recipe and rely on nonstick cooking spray and a measuring cup to shape the buns. This is similar to the technique used in gluten-free hamburger buns.

Spray a measuring cup liberally with cooking spray, along with your hands. Scoop out a little less than 1/4 cup, which yields about a 2 ounce dough portion. Dump the dough into greased hands and roll into a smooth ball.

Alternatively, use a greased silicone baking mat or parchment paper to dump the dough onto, flatten, then pinch up into a ball. Smooth the top and place pinched ends down in a greased baking pan.

recommended gluten-free flour

I had already rigorously tested the best-performing gluten-free flour blend through many gluten-free baking recipes and when developing this perfected gluten-free sandwich bread. Therefore, when making dinner rolls I reached for my preferred brand, Cup4Cup.

As far as taste, Cup4Cup was the clear winner.There was nothing “gluten free” tasting about the bread.It was soft, squishy, and slightly sweet.

Although a lot of gluten-free bakers work with Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 GF Flour, I find it to have an unpleasing aftertaste and a denser crumb. On the plus side, it is affordable and easy to work with.

why use a roux for GF Rolls

Before beginning the recipe a small amount of flour is combined with water and milk and warmed to make thick paste. It’s an extra step, but it’s quick, easy, and I assure you, makes such a difference in texture with these dinner rolls and in gluten free cinnamon rolls!

Since gluten-free flours do not absorb liquids as well, the roux helps pre-saturate some of the flour, aiding in absorbing more liquid. This makes the texture soft and fluffy, rather than dense and gummy.

It also prevents having to add excess flour to make the dough shapable and elastic. Adding the least amount of flour is key to keep yeast breads light and airy.

best yeast to use

Instant rapid rise yeast, either Red Star or Fleishman’s brand is best. Instant yeast has smaller granules so it does not have to be proofed before using.Just be sure the milk is warm enough to activate the yeast while mixing.

If you only have active dry yeast on hand, activate it by mixing in the warm milk (110ºF) and letting it sit for 5 minutes before adding to the dry ingredients.

purpose of psyllium husk

In traditional wheat flour recipes, gluten acts as a binder, creating elasticity in the dough and soft texture once it bakes.Gluten-free baking recipes, especially breads, need something to mimic the elasticity and bind the starches.

I’ve become such a proponent of using psyllium husk in gluten-free baking because, when coupled with the xanthan gum in GF flour blends, it yields superior results!

It doesn’t affect the taste, but it does help maintain moisture and prevents the bread from becoming crumbly, which also works well forgluten-free breadsticks.

If you are looking for psyllium husk powder substitutes for bread or other baking needs, unfortunately there isn’t anything that really compares. It’s very affordable to buy, but if you can’t tolerate it leave it out. It will negatively impact the texture, but not the taste.

dairy-free modification

When making gluten-free dairy-free rolls, you will need to make substitutions for the milk and butter. Substitute non-dairy milk, such as almond or soy milk. For the butter, use plant-based vegan butter.

Since dairy-free butter contains more salt, cut the amount of salt in the dough and used for brushing in half. Also, the recommend flour, Cup4Cup, does contain milk powder. They make an ancient grains version that is dairy-free.

serving, storing, and freezing tips

Gluten-free rolls does not have the shelf life like normal dinner rolls. Refrigerating will dry it out, and is not recommended. It may be wrapped tightly and left at room temperature, but will lose optimal taste and texture quickly.

For best results, freeze pull-apart rollsafter they completelycooled (at least 2 hours). Pull from the freezer to defrost at room temperature.

Important Note About Serving:

If pulling from the freezer and serving at room temp, thoroughly defrost the rolls first.If they are chilled slightly they will become crumbly when eating. For best taste and texture, warm slightly in the microwave before enjoying again!

uses for gluten-free rolls

This roll recipe, like gluten-free biscuits, works for a lot more than just accompanying dinner, holiday meals, or a gluten-free Thanksgiving!

They are ideal for sliders, sandwiches,BBQ pulled chickenor pork,sloppy joes, cranberry chicken salad or dunked in gluten-free soup recipes.

expert baking tips and notes

• If you forget to warm the eggs to room temperature, place the whole egg in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes.
• To make a double recipe, double all the ingredients and place the dough balls in a 9X13-inch pan to rise.
• An instant read thermometer is helpful for measuring the correct temp of the milk to activate yeast and take out the guesswork of when the rolls are done. The interior should ready 195-200ºF when ready to be pulled from the oven.
• For best results use Cup4Cup gluten-free flour mix.
• Using a greased piece of parchment paper or silicone baking mat will be helpful for shaping the dough into smooth balls.

SAVE THIS recipe for gluten-free dinner rolls TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!

Let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always sharing great recipes!

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you. Read full disclosure policyhere.