I love the name “Granny buns” because these truly are my Granny’s buns.
These dinner buns are the ones she made all the time when I was growing up. They would be at every family holiday dinner or gathering and they were highly coveted.
Dinner buns
Recently, my Grandma and I were talking about great recipes and she told me I just had to make these dinner buns! I didn’t even realize they were the buns she was talking about. Once in a while she tells me I just have to make a recipe and the last time my Grandma told me that, it was our family’s Old Fashioned Date Nut Loaf she was referring too. And I was completely and unexpectedly blown away by how good it was! Was she ever right about that. So of course I couldn’t resist making these dinner buns.
Homemade Rolls
Aside from quick breads, I make most of my breads, buns and dough in my bread machine. Since I got a bread maker 25 ish years ago as a gift, I’ve naturally taken the path of least resistance. If you’re interested, you can check out my Bread Machine Recipes HERE! Plus, I don’t have a lot of time on my hands for making bread.
However, these Homemade Rolls are soo worth the time AND effort of making them by hand! And as far as I’m concerned, there is nothing in this world as divine as the smell of yeast and fresh buns baking in the oven. For me, it brings back some of the most wonderful baking (and eating) memories from my childhood.
Granny Buns
When I told my daughter I could officially be a granny now because I made these Granny buns, she laughed and said I didn’t have to worry about that. Apparently I already make so much old fashioned foods I’m well on my way… haha! And when I think about it, I guess she’s right. My Strawberry Jello Angel Food Cake, Pistachio Fluff and my Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake are all pretty retro. And I’m sure there are many more that I just can’t recall right now.
Soft dinner rolls
Although these soft dinner rolls may be old-fashioned, they are truly timeless… They have a fluffy cloud-like texture that a store-bought bun can’t come close to!
These dinner buns/granny buns go well with soup, chili, stew, as a sandwich or on their own (slathered with butter.) However, they are simply amazing as a side with holiday dinners. I’ll be having them with both my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner this year and I would encourage you to do the same!
Happy Holidays!
Dinner Buns (aka Granny Buns)
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tsp sugar ( to mix with yeast)
- 1.5 tbsp instant yeast
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 4.5 cups warm water
- 10 cups all- purpose flour, sifted + more as needed (I used 11. 5 )
Instructions
- Dissolve 1 tsp sugar in water, add yeast and stir well. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat together: eggs, oil, 1 cup sugar, then add yeast mixture.
- Add 4.5 cups warm water and 4 cups flour. Beat well with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes.
- Add 6 more cups flour; mix well.
- Then add more flour (1 cup at a time) until dough is soft and spongy **I added about 1.5 cups flour in addition
- Grease the inside of a large bowl and place dough inside.
- Allow dough to rise for 30 minutes, then punch down (See VIDEO in NOTES for how to punch down dough)
- Let rise again until double in size.
- Spray two to three 9X13 pans with non-stick cooking spray and make buns: Take the amount of a tennis ball and make it into a round(ish) shape and place in greased pan.
- Set to rise for about 1 more hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Notes
Nutrition
More Holiday/ Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner Sides
Gluten-free Sausage & Apple Rice: An Easy Thanksgiving side recipe
Green beans and Mushrooms: A Holiday Side Dish
Easy Potatoes Romanoff (with slow cooker option): The Ultimate Potluck Dish!
This recipe is part of The Country Cook Weekend Potluck!
It’s one thing to have a good recipe but quite another to have one passed down through the generations. Such a recipe is a treasured keepsake.