Love King’s Hawaiian bread rolls? Once you try them homemade, you’ll never go back to storebought again. They’re so easy to make and have many make ahead options!
Let’s make some King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls homemade today! Worth every carb, I promise.
And undoubtedly the ULTIMATE way to make a slider, a lunch sandwich, or just enjoy some homemade rolls hot from the oven.
I know the ease of packaged King’s Hawaiian sounds pretty enticing a lot of the time, but TRUST ME! These rolls are so easy to make, use basic ingredients, and are worth every second of effort.
And let’s be honest: the base of a sandwich is so SO important! These buns make for the ultimate mini sliders and soon you won’t be able to imagine your life without ’em!
These King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls feature…
- A perfectly soft and fluffy texture inside
- A golden honey-glazed exterior
- REAL pineapple juice in the dough that gives these rolls their well-known King’s sweetness
- Several make ahead AND freezing options
Making the King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls
(scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe!)
Making the Dough
This dough can be made either in a stand mixer or by hand in a mixing bowl if you don’t have a mixer!
Start by dissolving yeast in milk that’s been heated to 110F (careful not to let the milk get any hotter than 110F or you’ll kill the yeast!)
Mix pineapple juice, sugar, melted and cooled butter, an egg, and salt into the yeast mixture then begin adding flour until a soft dough forms (if dough seems too sticky, add additional flour by the tablespoon until dough comes together)
If you’re using a mixer, knead the dough on medium speed several minutes until dough is smooth and elastic when stretched.
If you’re making the dough by hand, turn dough onto a floured surface and knead several minutes until dough is smooth and elastic when stretched.
Form the kneaded dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl turning once to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
Baking the Rolls
Punch the risen dough down and divide into 12 even portions. Roll each dough portion out into a smooth ball and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise one last time until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Very gently brush the rolls with a honey egg wash and bake them at 375F until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
I recommend storing these rolls sealed at room temperature and enjoying within 3 days. Keep reading for make ahead options!
Make Ahead Options
Option 1: Let dough rise overnight. Make and knead the dough per recipe instructions. Omit rising the dough on the counter and instead place in greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise overnight in fridge or up to 12 hours.
The next morning, let dough sit out on counter (still covered in the bowl) for 30 minutes before shaping, letting them rise a second time, and baking as recipe directs.
Option 2: Freeze baked rolls up to 2 months. I recommend freezing them the day you baked them to preserve freshness (make sure they’re fully cooled before freezing) Thaw, reheat, and serve warm.
These rolls are seriously SO incredibly soft, perfectly sweet, and the perfect canvas for any sandwich you dream up.
Has there ever been a more glorious sight in the history of breadmaking? Not possible.
Get ready to constantly crave a sandwich when you have these rolls around!! It’s a good thing, trust me.
Looking for sandwich inspiration to try with these rolls? Check these recipes out!
- Grilled Blackened Chicken Sandwiches
- Barbecue Chicken Sliders with Peach Scallion Slaw
- Instant Pot Pineapple BBQ Beef Sandwiches
Watch these Hawaiian bread rolls made step-by-step on Google web stories!
Copycat King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls
This recipe may included paid links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup warm milk (110F)
- 3/4 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter, cooled
- 1 large egg
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3-1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg white lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- In the bowl of a large stand mixer attached with a dough hook OR in a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Let stand 5 minutes then mix in pineapple juice, sugar, melted butter, egg, and salt until combined.
- Add 3-1/2 cups flour to liquid mixture and mix until dough pulls away from sides of bowl (if dough seems too sticky, add 1 tablespoon flour at a time until dough is smooth and tacky)
- If using mixer, knead dough on medium speed until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. If making by hand, turn dough onto a floured surface and gently knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place dough in a large greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
- Punch risen dough down and divide into 12 pieces. Roll dough pieces into smooth balls and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled.
- Remove plastic wrap from pan and gently brush rolls with egg white and honey. Bake rolls at 375F 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let rolls cool in pan at least 15 minutes, then remove from pan and serve warm.
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
I tried a recipe like these before, but it had crushed pineapple and I think that’s what ruined mine. They didn’t rise even after 2 hours and were so dense and nasty. These look perfect! Will have to try your version!
Sarah says
Haha! That’s too funny that you mention that, Amber because the first time I tried homemade King’s rolls a few years ago, I put crushed pineapple in mine too and the texture was terrible! Juice is definitely the way to go flavor-wise and texture-wise. 🙂
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
I looooove hawaiian rolls but I don’t eat them a lot! I’ve never thought about making them at home. Thanks a lot for posting this recipe. Now I know that it not very complicated to make 😉
Sarah says
You definitely need to give these rolls a try, Olivia!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
I saw these on foodgawker and wanted to stop by…I love these! The egg/honey glaze is such a nice touch.
Sarah says
Thanks so much Thao!! 🙂
Joanne says
The.Boy tried to get me to buy a bathing suit to bring to Disney world last week and I refused and up and down! I’m not ready yet! I am ready for these rolls…all of them.
Sarah says
Haha! I’m going to Disney World myself next week and I’m seriously considering not bringing mine either! It’s just been a looooong winter and one too many hawaiian rolls. 😀
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
LOVE King’s Hawaiian rolls! I didn’t realize they had pineapple juice in them, but that makes sense why they’re so sweet, and –duh– Hawaiian! So yummy! These look perfect!
Sarah says
If you love King’s rolls, then you are definitely going to crush big-time on the homemade version, Jess!
Mandie | Mandie's Kitchen says
OK – you’ve fairly convinced me to put these are my “MAKE ASAP” list now. I’ve pinned them for sooner, rather than for later =)
Sarah says
Definitely let me know if you make these rolls, Mandie!
Lena | la fille lumineuse says
Oh my, I’m literally drooling right now 😀 They just look SO GOOD! The honey glaze on top makes them even more appetizing – definitely have to try this recipe 🙂
Sarah says
Thank you, Lena! Definitely let me know if you try these rolls! 😉
Cheryl says
These look fantastic! I’d love to make them but don’t have a stand mixer. Is there a way to make these without one?
Sarah says
Absolutely! You can mix the dough for these rolls in a large bowl with either a wooden spoon or a handheld electric mixer. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Ivy says
I found your recipe a couple weeks ago and have since made two batches of these. They are wonderful! I modified the recipe slightly to make it vegan – replaced the dairy milk with soy milk, and the egg with a flax egg. I left off the egg/honey wash entirely. They came out super soft and fluffy, exactly like the store bought! I’m new to bread making, but these were very easy. They taste isn’t spot-on King’s, but that’s probably due to the egg substitution, and they are still DELICIOUS. They are close enough that they still taste “King-ish” to me and I will be making them again. 🙂 Thank you for posting!
Sarah says
I love that you were able to make these rolls vegan, Ivy! I’m glad you loved them and thanks for letting me know!!
Krystal says
i LOVE THESE ROLLS… only problem is now my fiancé wants me to make a loaf out of this and i want to use this same recipe because i love it; do you have any suggestions on how to do that?
Sarah says
Hi Krystal! To make this dough into a loaf you would probably get two loaves out of it. When the dough is done with the first rise, divide it in half and shape each half to fit into two 9×5 loaf pans. Then let them rise until doubled and you would probably need to bake them about 25-30 minutes at 375F.
Geena says
Hi Sarah, I have a question about pineapple juice. Is it home made juice or store bought? Where can I find pineapple juice?
Sarah says
Hi Geena! You can find pineapple juice in most grocery stores in their juice/soda aisle.
Kellie says
Has anyone actually tried making these? Mine were dense and not fluffy at all, unfortunately. 🙁
Sarah says
I’m sorry to hear that, Kellie! I’ve made these rolls many times and they always come out well!
Becca says
Just made them too and way too dense. I would try to let the dough rest 2x the amount shown. The temperature of where you live might affect the rise rate.
Teena says
I saw this today … and I’m making them as we speak. They are currently on the second rise! Boy I can not wait until these are in my tummy tonight!!! OMG!!!
Sarah says
I’m so happy to hear that, Teena! Enjoy them!!
Teena says
OMG OMG OMG Took the rolls out about 20 minutes ago and already 2 of the 12 are GONE!! I made them to make sliders tomorrow, but I just may have to make more in the morning. My boys (15 and 13) loved them and keep begging for more, despite them being very picky eaters. Wish that I could attach pics, but … you will just have to take my word on this … they are worth the 4 hours!!! Thank you so much Sarah. You have just replaced my great grandmother’s bread recipe, are you happy now? 🙂 Now, how do I tell my mother!! 🙂
Sarah says
That makes me sooo happy, Teena! I’m thrilled that you and your family loved these rolls! Trust me, I know how picky teenage boys can be. Haha! And oh gosh, what an absolute honor to hear that my recipe matches up to your great grandmother’s! Thank you so much for the sweet comment and enjoy the rest of your rolls! 🙂
Sara says
Can’t wait to make these! Would melted coconut oil work in place of the vegetable oil?
Sarah says
Yes, that would work fine, Sara!
Blah says
I made these rolls exactly according to the recipe. They are yummy but in no way do they come close to a Kings Hawaiian.