This recipe for Butternut Squash Rolls is full of buttery, sweet flavor with a super soft and tender texture. They are a golden color and a wonderful way to use butternut squash from the garden. I serve them as a side to our meal, and we love to make roast beef sandwiches with them with leftover Air-Fryer Roast Beef!
Butternut Squash Rolls are the perfect fall recipe and make a great dinner roll for Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.
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Making Bread with Squash
I really love butternut squash and because of my love for it, I make sure to plant it every year in my garden. This winter squash is very hearty and will last you throughout the winter as long as you keep it stored in a cool dark spot.
I make plenty of recipes with butternut squash. From appetizers to desserts, the possibilities are endless. It works in sweet and savory recipes and goes especially well with some of my favorite herbs and spices.
🥘 Ingredients
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Butternut Squash, cooked, mashed, and cooled
Milk
White Whole Wheat Flour - this is my go to brand.
Bread Flour - the only bread flour I will use!
Kitchenaid Mixer (optional) - this is the one that I own.
⏲️ Baking time
From start to finish, prep, proofing time, and baking time, you should allow up to 2 ½ hours to make these Butternut Squash Rolls.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1:
- In the mixing bowl of a kitchenaid mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.
- Add the milk, butter, brown sugar, squash, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Gradually add the white whole wheat flour. Mix the dough on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in enough bread flour to form a soft dough ball.
Step 2:
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a bowl coated with olive oil, turning once to coat top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Step 3:
- Punch the dough down and turn onto a floured surface. Divide into 16 portions. Place in a 9x13 glass baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Step 4:
- Bake at 400 degrees 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
💭 Top Tips
- If buying butternut squash from the store, buy pre-cut squash for quicker prep time.
- Test the yeast before using it. Allow the yeast to set for 5 minutes in the water and sugar. It should look foamy on top. If it doesn't, the yeast is no good and shouldn't be used.
- If kneading the dough by hand, be sure to knead for about 10 minutes.
- Check the temperature of the roll to be sure it is baked through. The internal temperature of the dough should be 185-190 degrees.
- Don't over knead the dough if using a kitchenaid. Once the dough starts to form a smooth ball that holds it shape, stop using the mixer and proceed with your hands to work the remaining flour in.
Variations
- Substitute any winter squash, such as acorn or pumpkin for the butternut squash.
- Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese with the flour mixture.
- Add 1 teaspoon rubbed sage to the flour mixture.
More Winter Squash Recipes
Honey Baked Butternut Squash Fries
Instant Pot Moroccan Spiced Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Chipotle Butternut Squash Enchiladas
*If you made this dinner roll recipe, please give it a star rating*
📖 Recipe
Butternut Squash Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ⅔ cup warm milk
- 1 cup mashed cooked butternut squash
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 cups bread flour
Instructions
- In the mixing bowl of a kitchenaid mixer, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.
- Add the milk, butter, brown sugar, squash, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Gradually add the white whole wheat flour. Mix the dough on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in enough bread flour to form a soft dough ball.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a bowl coated with olive oil, turning once to coat top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Punch the dough down and turn onto a floured surface. Divide into 16 portions. Place in a 9x13 glass baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
- Bake at 400 degrees 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Video
Notes
- Purchase butternut squash that has already been cut for quicker prep time.
- Test the yeast before using it. Allow the yeast to set for 5 minutes in the water and sugar. It should look foamy on top. If it doesn't, the yeast is no good and shouldn't be used.
- If kneading the dough by hand, be sure to knead for about 10 minutes.
- Check the temperature of the roll to be sure it is baked through. The internal temperature of the dough should be 185-190 degrees.
- Don't over knead the dough if using a kitchenaid. Once the dough starts to form a smooth ball that holds it shape, stop using the mixer and proceed with your hands to work the remaining flour in.
- Substitute any winter squash, such as acorn or pumpkin for the butternut squash.
Valerie Whincup
Would it be possible to make this recipe in a bread machine - in the dough cycle. Then I could shape and rise it the 2nd time. Is that possible? Thank you.
Shelby Law Ruttan
Hi Valerie, yes, you could make the dough in a bread machine first. I would whisk together the milk, butter, sugar, squash, salt, and water together. Don't mix the yeast, water and sugar (the water will go in with the wet ingredients and leave the tsp of sugar out). Put the wet ingredients in the bread machine, add the flour, make a well in the flour, and instead of regular yeast, use a yeast made for the bread machine - place that yeast in the well you made in the flour, then proceed as you would to make dough.Thanks for stopping by and I hope you love the dinner rolls!
Linda
They look great HoneyB! Looks like another recipe I need to try. 😉
Kevin
Those look nice and light and flaky and good. Great melting butter shot!
Laura
DROOL.