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Home » Bread » Sweet Hawaiian Bread Rolls

Sweet Hawaiian Bread Rolls

4.93 from 13 votes
Rate this Recipe
Total 3 hrs
Cook Time 20 mins
Serves 15 rolls

By: Mariam Ezzeddine  |  November 22, 2022This post may contain affiliate links, read my disclosure policy for details

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Soft and fluffy, these homemade Sweet Hawaiian Bread Rolls are going to be your family’s favorite. Served up as a side dish, for sandwiches, or just to snack on on their own, you’ll love how sweet and delicious these are, especially fresh from the oven. It need very minimal ingredients to put together these delicious, fluffy bread rolls.

Profile photo of the inside of a sweet roll.

If you’ve ever had store bought King’s Hawaiian Bread Rolls before, then you’ll know that they’re absolutely pillowy, soft and fluffy with a lightly sweet taste to it. Whenever these sweet bread rolls are in the oven and the kid’s can smell it baking, they are excited for dinner time. While the flavor is subtle, these Hawaiian rolls are sweeter than regular dinner rolls but making them is just as easy as a regular roll.

Want more bread recipes to serve up as a side for the family? Try my some of my Bread Recipes. I am sure your family will enjoy every one of them.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade King’s Hawaiian Rolls

  • They’re easy. Making these Hawaiian sweet rolls for dinner has never been easier! Everything goes into the mixing bowl and there’s no fancy or difficult technique to follow. 
  • They’re fast. Unlike baking regular bread, these Hawaiian sweet rolls can be made in an afternoon without any prior work and long wait.
  • They’re tasty. Thanks to the pineapple juice and honey, they give these dinner rolls the perfect texture and the right amount of sweetness.

Hawaiian Bread Rolls Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make Hawaiian Rolls.
  • Flour– I used all purpose flour for this recipe because is more versatile. You can also use bread flour if you like.
  • Yeast– active yeast is used to make this recipe.
  • Unsalted butter — melted, but not hot. Use unsalted so it does not affect the sweetness of the recipe. Butter makes the dough rich.
  • Eggs — room temperature, plus an extra egg as an egg wash for your rolls
  • Lukewarm water– warm water activates the yeast faster. Cold water slows down the rising process.
  • Pineapple juice– to add flavor and sweetness to the recipe. I used the juice from a pineapple fruit can.
  • Whole milk– makes the bread taste rich.
  • Honey– add sweetness to the recipe, instead of using sugar. But if you like your bread to be sweeter, you can add an extra 1/4 cup of sugar.
  • Salt-just a pinch to balance out the flavor.

How to Make Hawaiian Bread Rolls

  • Bloom your yeast: In a small bowl, bloom the active yeast with warm water. Set aside until it’s foamy. About 10 minutes.
  • Combine the wet ingredients: In the same mixing bowl, using a paddle attachment, add in butter, eggs, milk, pineapple juice, honey, and give it a quick mix on low speed until well combined. 
  • Mix the flour: At the lowest speed, switch to a dough hook now to mix the dough. Gradually add in the flour and salt. Once all flour has been incorporated, increase the speed to the medium speed and continue kneading until the dough collects itself from the sides of the bowl, about 8 minutes all together. Keep in mind that it is a wet dough. It will be sticky.
mixing of the Hawaiian roll dough
  • Let the dough rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a tea towel or saran wrap and place it in a warm place and let it rise until it’s double in size, about one and half hour. 
dough photos when rising.
  • Divide up the dough: After first rise, place the dough on a floured surface and divide the dough into 15 equal sizes. Shape the dough into individual balls. Place the dough balls into a 9 x 13 non stick baking, 5 rows by 3. Cover it with a tea towel and let them rise again at a warm place for about 45 minutes. 
dough balls lined up in a baking dish.
  • Prepare the oven and egg wash: Preheat the oven to 375F. Brush the rolls with the egg wash and melted butter mixture.
  • Bake: Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove the Hawaiian sweet rolls from the oven and brush with the butter and honey mixture. Let the rolls cool down for about 10 minutes before serving. 
close up shot of the Hawaiian rolls

Tips to Make Homemade Hawaiian Bread

  • If you prefer them to have a less brown color, bake at 350 F instead for 22-24 minutes, or until desired color.
  • If you prefer the rolls to be more sweet, add an extra 1/4 cup of sugar into the dough mixture.
  • You can turn these Hawaiian rolls into hamburger buns and give them extra space between them while baking. Just like that, you’ll have some sweet and tangy burger buns!
  • Use room temperature pineapple juice for the best results.
  • You can knead the dough by hand if you do not have a stand mixer. It can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to knead the dough by hand.
  • Be sure to check the expiry date of your yeast. Whenever there is an issue with the dough rising, it’s usually an issue with the yeast.
hand pulling out one hawaiian roll

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lukewarm water?

Lukewarm water to between 110F and 115F. If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast, and if the water is too cold, it will not activate it.

Can I make sweet bread rolls ahead of time?

Yes, prepare the recipe as directed the day before. Store at room temperature on your counter in an air tight container. The next day you can warm them up in the oven before serving.

Can you freeze homemade sweet dinner rolls?

Yes you can freeze these rolls! You can freeze fully baked dinner rolls in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw the Hawaiian rolls at room temperature before warming them in the oven.

If you want to freeze them raw, you can freeze the rolls 10 minutes after shaping them into balls. When ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge over night. Then allow them to sit on your kitchen counter for 1-1½ hours until their size has doubled. Then follow baking instructions.

What to serve with Hawaiian Bread Rolls?

These delicious fluffy bread rolls can be served with almost anything. Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve it with:
Creamy Tomato Soup
Easy Au Gratin Potatoes with Oven Baked Roasted Chicken
Roasted Turkey Breast with Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Easy Chicken Stew
Baked Mediterranean Chicken

The inside of a soft and fluffy dinner roll.

More Easy Bread Recipe to Try

  • Easy Sandwich Bread
  • Easy Dinner Rolls
  • Ciabatta Bread Rolls
  • Easy Challah Bread

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this delicious Homemade Sweet Hawaiian Rolls recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it and share it with your friends and family!

If you try this recipe and liked it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.

Sweet Hawaiian Bread Rolls

4.93 from 13 votes
Created by Mariam E.
Soft and fluffy, these homemade Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are going to be your family’s favorite. Served up as a side dish, for sandwiches, or just to snack on on their own, you’ll love how sweet and delicious these are, especially fresh from the oven.
Print
Pin
Rate
Prep Time 2 hrs 40 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 3 hrs
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 15 rolls
rolls

Ingredients

  • 3 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ tsp active yeast or one yeast envelope
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 2 whole eggs
  • ¼ cup lukewarm water
  • ½ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ tsp salt

Egg Wash

  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1 egg white from one egg

Honey Butter Glaze

  • 2 tbsps unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tbsp honey

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, bloom the active yeast with warm water. Set aside until it’s foamy. About 10 minutes.
  • Combine the wet ingredients: In the same mixing bowl, using a paddle attachment, add in butter, eggs, milk, pineapple juice, honey, and give it a quick mix on low speed until well combined. 
  • Mix the flour: At the lowest speed, switch to a dough hook now to mix the dough. Gradually add in the flour and salt. Once all flour has been incorporated, increase the speed to the medium speed and continue kneading until the dough collects itself from the sides of the bowl, about 8 minutes all together. Keep in mind that it is a wet dough. It will be sticky.
  • Let the dough rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a tea towel or saran wrap and place it in a warm place and let it rise until it’s double in size, about one and half hour. 
  • Divide up the dough: After first rise, place the dough on a floured surface and divide the dough into 15 equal sizes. Shape the dough into individual balls. Place the dough balls into a 9 x 13 non stick baking, 5 rows by 3. Cover it with a tea towel and let them rise again at a warm place for about 45 minutes.
  • Prepare the oven and egg wash: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Brush the rolls with the egg wash and melted butter mixture.
  • Bake: Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Remove the Hawaiian sweet rolls from the oven and brush with the butter and honey mixture. Let the rolls cool down for about 10 minutes before serving. 

Notes

  • If you prefer them to have a less brown color, bake at 350 F instead for 22-24 minutes, or until desired color.
  • If you prefer the rolls to be more sweet, add an extra 1/4 cup of sugar into the dough mixture.
  • You can turn these Hawaiian rolls into hamburger buns and give them extra space between them while baking. Just like that, you’ll have some sweet and tangy burger buns!
  • Use room temperature pineapple juice for the best results.
  • You can knead the dough by hand if you do not have a stand mixer. It can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes to knead the dough by hand.
  • Be sure to check the expiry date of your yeast. Whenever there is an issue with the dough rising, it’s usually an issue with the yeast.

Nutrition

Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 172IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate the recipe below and mention @cookinwithmima and tag #cookinwithmima so I can see your recreations.
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  1. Barbara says

    February 13, 2023 at 9:02 am

    4 stars
    I made these for ham and cheese sliders. I’m the end, they were delicious; slightly larger than your standard store bought Hawaiian rolls which I appreciated and very soft and tasty. However, I struggled with my dough. I used the exact measurements indicated and my dough was so wet it wouldn’t leave the edges of the bowl. I added more flour, 1 Tbsp at a time, until I felt I needed to stop or risk dry rolls. The dough was still very wet and sticky, therefore hard to shape into rolls, but I managed. Any ideas why my dough seemed too wet? I consider myself an experienced baker.

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      February 15, 2023 at 1:10 pm

      The dough is sticky, as mentioned in my post. You just scrape it down a little on the sides and when you go to roll it out, you can dust it a little. But it’s never a bad idea to add in a couple tablespoons of flour if that helps you. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  2. Debbie says

    January 29, 2023 at 6:34 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent. Thank you for this recipe. I used some applesauce instead of the pineapple juice. Even better than the store bought version!

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      February 6, 2023 at 3:38 pm

      Happy you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Nancine says

    January 16, 2023 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    Fab recipe, I will be using this a lot. Fluffy and tender and just plain yummy

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      January 18, 2023 at 12:12 pm

      Happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a review.

      Reply
  4. Harriet says

    November 15, 2022 at 12:02 am

    The bread has a nice and fluffy texture however, it doesn’t taste like kings Hawaiian bread. If you’re going for a light and fluffy brioche style bun, this is a great recipe. This bread isn’t sweet nor does the pineapple juice add any flavor. Again, it’s a wonderful recipe for a light brioche bread but not if you’re looking to duplicate Hawaiian roll flavor.

    Reply
  5. Mariam Ezzeddine says

    October 21, 2022 at 4:03 pm

    You could try, I have not tested it but it shouldn’t be that huge of a difference.

    Reply
  6. J'Anne says

    October 18, 2022 at 4:25 am

    Can these be made into bread loaves, instead of rolls?

    Reply
    • Mariam Ezzeddine says

      October 18, 2022 at 9:12 pm

      I have never tried that. I don’t see why not if they are not too big. Be sure to adjust the cooking time.

      Reply
  7. Christine says

    July 28, 2022 at 6:38 am

    So with instant yeast, just add it right into the dough? Still letting the dough rise twice right?

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      August 2, 2022 at 4:36 am

      yes

      Reply
  8. Teresa M. says

    January 23, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for this wonderful recipe. They were large, perfect baked goods texture and flavorful. They are still wonderful the day after baking. Nice!!

    Reply
    • Mariam E. says

      January 27, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks for the review Teresa! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  9. Mariam E. says

    December 1, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    Sorry about that. I believe it was a typo when we inputted the recipe.

    Reply
    • Dawn June says

      November 11, 2022 at 11:28 pm

      wow how ridiculous why didnt you change the typo? I did the same thing and wasted so much time.

      Reply
      • Mariam Ezzeddine says

        November 22, 2022 at 12:45 pm

        Dawn, I tried emailing you but the email is not working. Can you please email me at cookinwithmima@gmail.com

    • Susan says

      December 19, 2022 at 1:46 pm

      Eek! WHAT typo!? What disaster do I have to look forward to now?

      Reply
      • Mariam Ezzeddine says

        December 30, 2022 at 10:43 am

        There are no more typos. Everything had been updated.

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