Description
“Cheesy” Garlic Dinner Rolls with Dairy Free Herbed Butter are soft, fluffy, and comforting rolls infused with fresh herbs and garlic, filled with melty vegan cheese, and topped with a flavorful dairy-free herbed butter. Perfect for vegan and dairy-free diets, these rolls are made with a stand mixer for easy kneading and baked to golden perfection. They feature a twice-risen dough for tender texture and come together with wholesome ingredients like fresh rosemary, parsley, and thyme for a delicious herbaceous aroma.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 1/2 cups (330 mL) unsweetened dairy free milk
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 tsp (7 g) active dry yeast
- 4 1/2 cups flour (560 g) + 1 tsp bread flour or all-purpose flour*
- 1/4 cup fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 7 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp finely ground sea salt
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted vegan butter, room temperature
For the Filling
- 1 cup vegan cheese of choice
For the Bread Wash
- 1 tbsp melted vegan butter
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- remaining minced garlic (from the 7 cloves total)
For the Dairy-Free Herbed Butter
- 3 tbsp unsalted vegan butter, room temperature
- 3 tbsp chopped sage
- 3 tbsp chopped rosemary
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Prep: Measure and weigh out all ingredients before beginning. Grease a large bowl with cooking or coconut oil for the dough to rise and set it aside.
- Bloom the yeast: Heat the dairy-free milk to exactly 110°F (43°C). Stir in 2 tbsp maple syrup and 1 tsp flour. Add the active dry yeast and stir well. Cover and place the bowl in a warm area (75-80°F) to activate the yeast for 10-12 minutes until foamy and smelling yeasty. If not activated, restart the process.
- Make the dough: In a stand mixer bowl, combine the remaining flour, rosemary, parsley, dried thyme, and minced garlic. Mix with the dough hook on medium-low speed until just combined—dough will be shaggy. Add room temperature vegan butter and sea salt, mixing first on medium to incorporate the butter, then increase to medium-high and knead for 10-15 minutes until the dough passes the windowpane test.
- First proof: Place the dough ball into the greased bowl, cover with a clean dish towel, and set in a warm place (about 85°F) or use proof setting on your oven. Let it rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Shape the rolls: Lightly punch down the dough and transfer to a clean surface. Divide into 12-16 even pieces, roughly 58-60 grams each. Flatten each piece, place 1-2 tbsp shredded vegan cheese in the center, pinch the bottom to seal, and roll between your palms to form round rolls. Place rolls in a greased medium casserole dish.
- Second proof: Cover the rolls with a clean dish towel and let rise again in a warm area until nearly doubled, about 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake the dinner rolls: Combine melted vegan butter, maple syrup, and remaining minced garlic to make a bread wash. Lightly brush this mixture over the roll tops. Bake rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden and slightly crusted but not overbaked.
- Make the herbed vegan butter: While the rolls cool slightly, mix softened vegan butter, chopped sage, chopped rosemary, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Brush this herbed butter mixture generously over the warm rolls.
- Serve and store: Serve warm for best flavor. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Use a food thermometer to achieve the precise temperature for milk when activating yeast.
- Ensure your yeast is fresh and still active to get a good rise.
- The windowpane test ensures proper gluten development for perfect dough elasticity.
- Adjust filling amount according to preference—more cheese for gooier center.
- Cover dough properly during rises to prevent drying out.
- Herbed vegan butter can be adjusted with different herbs based on taste.
- If dough doesn’t rise well, check room temperature and yeast freshness.
- Variations: Use all-purpose flour if bread flour is unavailable, but texture may vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan American
Keywords: vegan garlic dinner rolls, dairy free rolls, cheesy vegan bread, herbed vegan butter, soft dinner rolls, homemade vegan bread, plant-based bread
