Hawaiian Rolls with a Little Help from Your Bread Machine
Sneak Peek: Prepare to wow your loved ones with Hawaiian Rolls made with the help of your bread machine that rival store-bought Hawaiian bread in flavor, texture, and appearance. Ingredients include pineapple juice, honey, ginger, all-purpose flour, and cake-batter extract (the secret ingredient).
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Looking for a Hawaiian Bread recipe that tastes just like the store-bought favorite? This is the one! Use your bread machine for easy prep, or make it by hand or with a stand mixer—delicious either way.
What Makes This One Worth Sharing:
- Authentic Flavor: Pineapple juice and honey create the signature sweetness.
- Soft Texture: Mashed potatoes and heavy cream ensure a tender crumb.
- Versatile Preparation: Use a bread machine, stand mixer, or mix by hand.
- Secret Ingredient: Cake batter extract adds a unique flavor and color.
Shared & Loved
“I just made these, and they are wonderful! Thank you so much for this recipe! I looked all over town for butternut extract, (no luck there), so I used 1/4 tsp of almond extract, and 1/4 tsp of Butter extract, and it hit the nail on the head! They taste even better than the store bought King’s rolls! Thank you again for sharing this recipe!“–SHEALEIGH
Ingredients and Substitutions
- PINEAPPLE JUICE: Adds sweet-tart flavor; sub milk or water (no warming needed in bread machine)
- DRIED MILK: Powdered; sub fresh or canned milk plus water instead of juice
- EGG + EGG YOLK: Adds color and tenderness; freeze whites for angel food cake
- MASHED POTATOES: Use fresh, leftover, or instant; or microwave a whole potato, peel and chop
- HEAVY CREAM: Rich texture; sub half-and-half or milk
- SUGAR: Granulated; adjust to taste
- HONEY: Adds flavor and improves texture
- BUTTER: Use cold, chopped pieces—don’t melt
- GINGER: Ground ginger from spice aisle
- CAKE BATTER EXTRACT: Signature flavor; sub vanilla-butter-nut or plain vanilla if needed
- FLOUR: Unbleached all-purpose preferred; bleached OK; avoid bread flour
- INSTANT YEAST: Use bread machine or instant yeast; active dry works with adjustment (see notes)
Step-by-Step: Making These Rolls with a Bread Machine
➊ Add Ingredients to Bread Machine: Place all ingredients into the pan in the order listed.
➋ Start DOUGH Cycle: Select the DOUGH cycle and press START.
➌ First Dough Check (1–2 minutes): Open the lid to confirm paddles are moving and dough is clumping.
➍ Second Dough Check (15–18 minutes): Dough should stick, then pull away cleanly. Adjust with flour or water if needed.
➎ Complete DOUGH Cycle: Let the cycle finish; dough should double in size.
➏ Shape the Rolls: Place dough on a floured surface, divide, and shape into rolls.
➐ Second Rise: Place rolls in prepared pans, cover, and let rise until puffy.
➑ Bake: Bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven until golden brown.
Make a Round Loaf
If you want to imitate the round loaf sold in the grocery store, place 2/3’s of the dough into a round pie tin. Make rolls or a small loaf with the remainder of the loaf. Trying to use all of the dough in one loaf makes it nearly impossible to bake all the way through.
Tips That Make a Difference
- Use a Silicone Mat for Cleanup: Shaping dough on a silicone baking mat makes cleanup faster—just toss it in the dishwasher.
- Check Dough Temp: Ideal dough temperature after mixing is around 77–80°F. If your kitchen is warm, your dough may rise faster.
- Flour Your Hands, Not the Dough: When shaping rolls, lightly flour your hands instead of adding more flour to the dough—it keeps rolls soft.
- Use a Cookie Sheet Under Foil Pans: Placing foil pans on a metal baking sheet helps the bottoms brown evenly in the oven.
Hawaiian Rolls Bread Machine Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (76 g) pineapple juice (can substitute water or milk)
- ½ cup (125 g) mashed potatoes
- 2 tablespoons nonfat dried milk powder (or use milk instead of pineapple juice and leave the milk powder out)
- 1 large (50 g) egg
- 1 (18 g) egg yolk
- 3 tablespoons (36 g) sugar
- ⅓ cup (76 g) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (58 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 1 tablespoon (21 g) honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon cake batter-extract
- 3 cups (360 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast
Glaze
- 1 (18 g) egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) milk
Instructions
- Add Ingredients to Bread Machine Pan: 1/3 cup (76 g) pineapple juice, 1/2 cup (125 g) mashed potatoes, 2 tablespoons nonfat dried milk powder, 1 large (50 g) egg, 1 (18 g) egg yolk, 3 tablespoons (36 g) sugar, 1/3 cup (76 g) heavy cream, 1/4 cup (58 g) unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon (21 g) honey, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cake batter-extract, 3 cups (360 g) unbleached all-purpose flour, and 2 teaspoons bread machine or instant yeast Select the DOUGH cycle and push the START button.
- Check the Dough (Twice): First Peek (1 minute in): Lift the lid to confirm the paddles are turning and the dough is clumping.Second Peek (15–18 minutes in): Dough should stick to the sides, then pull away cleanly.• Too sticky? Add 1 spoonful of flour at a time.• Too dry? Add 1 spoonful of water at a time. Wait 1–2 minutes between additions to let the dough adjust.Read more about this surprising secret that will help you make fabulous bread every time.
- Finish the DOUGH Cycle: When complete and dough has doubled, transfer it to a floured surface or silicone mat.
- Shape the Rolls: Spray two 8-inch round pans with baking spray. Form dough into a large ball, divide in half, then cut each half into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place into pans.
- Let Rolls Rise: Cover loosely and let rise until about 50% larger. Don’t let them overproof, or they’ll bake up dry.
- Preheat the Oven: Heat to 375˚F (190˚C) while rolls rise—about 15 minutes before baking.
- Brush with Glaze (Optional): Whisk 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk and lightly brush onto rolls just before baking.
- Bake and Cool: Bake for 13–15 minutes until golden and internal temp reaches 190˚F (88˚C). Cool 1–2 hours, then place rolls in a plastic bag to keep the crust soft.
Notes
- Knead 1 cup of raisins or other dried fruit into the dough after removing it from the bread machine for a flavorful twist.
- For a round loaf, divide the dough into three parts—use two parts for a round loaf and the remaining dough for rolls. A larger single loaf may not bake through evenly without drying out on the edges.
- Add ingredients to the stand mixer bowl in the specified order.
- Mix on low speed until moistened.
- Attach the dough hook and increase speed to 2 or 3.
- Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 5-10 minutes).
- Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled.
- Gently deflate, then shape as directed.
- Mix ingredients in a large bowl until a shaggy dough forms.
- Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (10-20 minutes).
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled.
- Deflate gently, then shape as directed.
Equipment
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com
FAQs
- Can I make these rolls without a bread machine?
- Yes, you can mix and knead the dough by hand or using a stand mixer. See the recipe notes for details.
- What can I substitute for cake batter extract?
- If cake batter extract is unavailable, use vanilla-butter-nut extract or a combination of vanilla and almond extracts.
- How should I store leftover rolls?
- Store cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving.
Final Thoughts:
These homemade Hawaiian rolls are a delightful addition to any meal, offering a sweet and tender alternative to store-bought versions. Using your bread machine simplifies the process, allowing you to enjoy these treats with minimal effort. If you try these rolls, I can’t wait to hear from you. What do you think? Let me know.
Need help troubleshooting? Please email me: Paula at saladinajar.com–photos welcome!
Paula Rhodes, owner
As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.