Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter Dinner Rolls – Soft, Golden & Glazed With Sweet Herb Butter

Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter Dinner Rolls – Soft, Golden & Glazed With Sweet Herb Butter

These Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter Dinner Rolls are the kind of warm, fluffy, golden rolls that steal the show at any holiday table. Imagine soft, cloud-like dinner rolls brushed with a glossy layer of melted butter, rich honey, and fragrant fresh rosemary — a sticky-sweet, savory glaze that soaks into every warm, pillowy bite. They’re festive, aromatic, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make (especially if you use frozen rolls or a simple quick dough). Perfect for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving, cozy Sunday meals, or anytime you want irresistible pull-apart rolls with a gourmet finish. Every bite melts in your mouth — sweet, buttery, herby, and utterly unforgettable.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Servings: 12 Servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Rolls

12 –15 frozen dinner rolls or homemade dough recipe below
1 tablespoon olive oil for greasing bowl/tray
For the Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
Optional: ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla for extra warmth
Optional Homemade Roll Dough instead of frozen rolls
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 packet 2¼ tsp instant yeast
1 cup warm milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Equipment

Baking dish (9×13)
Small saucepan
Pastry brush
Mixing bowl (if making homemade dough)
Measuring spoons & cups
Plastic wrap or kitchen towel

Method

Step 1: Prepare the Dough (Skip if using frozen rolls)

In a bowl, whisk warm milk, sugar, melted butter, and egg.
Add yeast, flour, and salt.
Mix until a soft dough forms.
Knead 5 minutes until smooth.
Grease bowl lightly, place dough inside, cover, and rise 1 hour until doubled.

Step 2: Shape or Arrange Rolls

If using:
Frozen rolls: simply place them in a greased baking dish, spaced evenly.
Homemade dough: divide into 12–15 balls and place in dish.
Cover and rise 30–40 minutes, or until puffy.

Step 3: Make Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt:
butter
honey
brown sugar
Stir until smooth.
Add chopped rosemary and optional vanilla for warmth.
Remove from heat.

Step 4: Brush Before Baking

Brush half of the rosemary honey butter mixture over the unbaked rolls.
Reserve the rest for after baking.

Step 5: Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake rolls 18–22 minutes, until golden brown on top and cooked through.

Step 6: Brush With More Honey Butter

While rolls are hot, brush generously with the remaining rosemary honey butter.
Optional: finish with flaky sea salt for a gourmet sweet–salty bite.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Room Temperature: 2–3 days
Fridge: 4–5 days
Freezer: up to 2 months

Reheat at 300°F (150°C) for 8 minutes or microwave 10 seconds.
Brush with extra honey butter when warming for best texture.

🥄 Variations

Maple Rosemary Rolls: Replace honey with maple syrup.

Garlic Herb Rolls: Add minced garlic to the butter.

Brown Butter Rolls: Brown the butter for a nutty aroma.

Spicy Hot Honey Rolls: Add chili flakes or hot honey.

Orange Rosemary Rolls: Add orange zest to the glaze.

Cheesy Rolls: Sprinkle parmesan or white cheddar before baking.

Sweet Cinnamon Rolls: Swap rosemary for cinnamon + extra brown sugar.

Thanksgiving Rolls: Add sage and thyme.

Pecan Sticky Rolls: Sprinkle chopped pecans in the pan.

Rosemary Sea Salt Rolls: Add flaky salt for a bakery-style finish.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I make these ahead?
Yes — assemble the rolls in a dish, cover, refrigerate, then bake the next day.

Can I use dried rosemary?
Yes — use ½ teaspoon.

Do I need to thaw frozen rolls?
They should thaw and rise in the baking dish for 2–3 hours.

How do I keep the rolls soft?
Don’t overbake — check at 18 minutes.

Can I use Hawaiian rolls?
Yes — slice in half, brush with glaze, and bake 10 minutes.

Can I double the glaze?
Absolutely — extra glaze = extra sticky goodness.

Can I use salted butter?
Yes — just reduce added salt.

Can I make these vegan?
Use vegan butter + maple syrup.

Can kids help?
Yes — rolling dough and brushing butter are great kid-friendly steps.

Can I freeze the unbaked rolls?
Yes — freeze shaped dough balls and thaw 2–3 hours before baking.

🏁 Conclusion

These Sticky Rosemary Honey Butter Dinner Rolls are warm, soft, fragrance-filled holiday perfection. The combination of golden rolls, sticky honey butter, and earthy rosemary creates a comforting, festive flavor that transforms even simple meals into something magical.

Perfect for Christmas Eve, holiday dinners, or any cozy night when you want to impress with minimal effort — these rolls are guaranteed to disappear fast.