Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls with Cinnamon Honey Butter
If you’ve ever sat down at Texas Roadhouse and thought, “I could eat a whole basket of these rolls and call it dinner,” you’re in the right place. This easy copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls recipe with homemade cinnamon honey butter brings that warm, fluffy, slightly sweet bread right into your own kitchen. These soft dinner rolls are perfect for holidays, weeknight dinners, or whenever you’re craving a cozy, steakhouse-style meal at home.A Little Background: Why Texas Roadhouse Rolls Are So Iconic
Texas Roadhouse is known for its lively atmosphere, hand-cut steaks, and—let’s be honest—those addictively soft rolls that hit the table before you even order. They arrive:- Fresh from the oven
- Soft and pillowy inside
- Lightly golden on top
- Served with sweet, creamy cinnamon honey butter
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe
Yield: About 24 rollsServing size: 1 roll with cinnamon honey butter
Prep time: 20 minutes (active)
Rise time: 1½–2 hours total
Bake time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: About 2½ hours
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| Warm, fluffy copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls served with sweet cinnamon honey butter — an easy homemade version of the famous steakhouse bread |
Ingredients for the Rolls
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F) – whole or 2% works best
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour (start with 3½, add more as needed)
- 1–2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing baked rolls
Ingredients for Cinnamon Honey Butter
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt (to taste)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
1. Warm the milk to about 105–110°F. It should feel warm but not hot—like a warm bath.2. Pour the warm milk into a large mixing bowl.
3. Stir in the sugar, then sprinkle the yeast over the top.
4. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, until the mixture looks foamy and slightly bubbly.
If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be dead or the milk was too hot or too cold. Start over with fresh yeast so your rolls will rise properly.
Step 2: Make the Dough
1. Add the egg, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Whisk or stir to combine.2. Add 3½ cups of flour, about 1 cup at a time, stirring after each addition.
3. When the dough starts to come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl, switch to a wooden spoon or use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
You want a soft, slightly tacky dough. If it’s very sticky and won’t form a ball, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until it’s manageable.
Step 3: Knead the Dough
By hand:1. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Knead for about 6–8 minutes, adding a dusting of flour as needed to prevent sticking.
3. The dough should become smooth, stretchy, and soft.
With a stand mixer:
1. Knead on medium-low speed for about 5–6 minutes.
2. Check the dough: it should cling to the bottom of the bowl but mostly clear the sides.
Tip: If you press the dough lightly with a finger, it should spring back slowly—that’s a good sign it’s ready.
Step 4: First Rise
1. Lightly oil a clean bowl or spray it with cooking spray.2. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it once to coat it lightly in oil (this keeps it from drying out).
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
4. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 60–75 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
A good place is inside a turned-off oven with just the oven light on, or on top of a warm (not hot) appliance.
Step 5: Shape the Rolls
1. Gently punch down the dough to release some of the gas.2. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
3. Roll the dough into a rectangle about ½ inch thick.
4. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the dough into squares or rectangles, about 2x2 inches.
5. Place the squares on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one so they can rise.
You should get around 20–24 rolls, depending on size.
Step 6: Second Rise
1. Cover the shaped rolls loosely with a clean kitchen towel or lightly greased plastic wrap.2. Let them rise in a warm place for 30–45 minutes, until puffy and nearly doubled.
While they’re rising, preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step 7: Bake the Rolls
1. Once risen, place the rolls in the preheated 350°F oven.2. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until the tops are lightly golden and the rolls feel light when gently lifted.
Food safety note: Bread doesn’t carry the same food-safety risk as meat, but for doneness you can check the center of a roll with an instant-read thermometer—it should be around 190–200°F.
3. As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush the tops with melted butter for extra shine and flavor.
Step 8: Make the Cinnamon Honey Butter
You can prepare this while the rolls are baking or rising.1. In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter with a spoon, spatula, or hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar, honey, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
3. Mix until everything is fully combined and fluffy.
4. Taste and adjust: add more honey for sweetness, more cinnamon for spice, or a tiny bit more salt to balance.
Serve at room temperature so it spreads easily and melts into the warm rolls.
Approximate Nutrition Information
These numbers are estimates and will vary with exact size and ingredients.Per 1 roll with cinnamon honey butter (about 1/24 of recipe):
- Calories: ~170–190
- Carbohydrates: ~24g
- Protein: ~4g
- Fat: ~6–7g
- Saturated Fat: ~3–4g
- Sugar: ~7–9g
- Fiber: ~1g
- Sodium: ~150–200mg
Time-Saving Tips and Easy Home-Kitchen Shortcuts
If baking bread from scratch sounds intimidating, here are a few ways to make this copycat Texas Roadhouse roll recipe even easier.Use a Stand Mixer
Let your mixer do the kneading:- Mix and knead with the dough hook for 5–6 minutes.
- Stop when the dough is smooth and slightly tacky but not sticky.
Make Ahead and Freeze
- Bake the rolls, cool completely, then freeze in a zip-top bag.
- Reheat in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes until warm.
- Cinnamon honey butter can also be made ahead and kept in the fridge for about a week.
Slow Cooker “Warm Hold” Trick
You can’t bake these rolls in a crock-pot like bread, but you can keep them warm:- Line a slow cooker with a clean kitchen towel, then add the baked rolls.
- Cover the rolls with another dry towel before putting the lid on.
- Set to “Warm” and serve straight from the crock-pot for parties or holidays.
Allergy-Friendly and Special Diet Swaps
Here are some simple tweaks for common allergies and preferences. Keep in mind these versions are “inspired by” the classic and may change the texture or flavor slightly.Gluten-Free Option
- Use a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes xanthan gum.
- Gluten-free dough is usually stickier and doesn’t rise as high. Shape gently and avoid adding too much extra flour.
- Rise times may be shorter—watch the dough, not the clock.
Dairy-Free Option
- Use warm unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk instead of cow’s milk.
- Swap butter for a dairy-free margarine or vegan butter in both the dough and honey butter.
- Check that your margarine is safe for baking and not just a spread.
Egg-Free / Vegan Option
To go fully vegan:- Use plant-based milk (almond, oat, soy).
- Replace the egg with:
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce, or
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons warm water (let sit 5 minutes).
- Use vegan butter and maple syrup or agave instead of honey for the spread.
Paleo-Friendly Notes
Classic yeast rolls made with all-purpose flour and sugar are not paleo. For a paleo-style option, you’d need a completely different recipe using almond or cassava flour and no yeast. This particular copycat recipe is best for non-paleo eaters or “treat days.”Serving Ideas and Storage Tips
How to Serve
- Serve the rolls warm with a generous scoop of cinnamon honey butter.
- Pair with steak, grilled chicken, or a big salad for a Texas Roadhouse-inspired dinner at home.
- They’re also great as mini sandwich buns for leftover turkey or ham.
How to Store
- Room temperature: Store cooled rolls in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Cinnamon honey butter keeps in the fridge for about 1 week. Let it soften before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze rolls for up to 2–3 months. Reheat in a 300°F oven until warmed through.
Let’s Chat: Did You Try These Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls?
Baking bread at home can feel a little magical—especially when the house starts to smell like a steakhouse kitchen. Once you pull that first tray of warm rolls out of the oven and swipe one through the cinnamon honey butter, you’ll see how simple ingredients can turn into something really special. Have you tried this copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls with cinnamon honey butter recipe?- Did you change anything?
- Did you try a gluten-free or dairy-free version?
- How did your family like it?
Important Disclaimers
- This is a homemade copycat recipe created for educational and recreational cooking purposes. It is not the official Texas Roadhouse recipe, and we do not claim any affiliation with Texas Roadhouse. All restaurant names and related marks are trademarks of their respective owners.
- No insider knowledge or proprietary information from Texas Roadhouse was used or implied in developing this recipe. It is simply our best attempt to recreate the taste and texture at home.
- Simply Copycat Recipes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you.
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