Pumpkin Dinner Rolls with Freshly Milled Flour

Pumpkin dinner rolls are going to be the star of your next dinner. Whether you’re looking for compliments, or just the tastiest roll in town, you’ve found it!

I bake a lot of bread and a lot of rolls. It’s a nearly everyday occurrence here in the Lavender Blue Cottage kitchen.

I tell you that not to brag or complain (depending on the day) but to let you know that we taste test lots of different bread recipes.

Without fail, if you ask my kids what their favorite bread/rolls are, they are going to tell you that it’s these babies – whole wheat pumpkin dinner rolls made with freshly milled flour.

These rolls are soft, fluffy, flavorful and packed with both pumpkin and freshly milled whole wheat flour for extra nutrition. 100% mom and kid approved.

There’s something about the addition of pumpkin to this recipe that just works. You really don’t taste the pumpkin flavor, but it produces a tender, moist roll with a buttery flavor. They taste great and look beautiful. Try it and you’ll see what I mean!

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls Ingredients and Supplies

To get started with this pumpkin rolls recipe, you’ll want either a large bowl and mixing spoon or a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. You’ll also need:

• ¾ cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• ⅓ cup sugar or sucanat
• 1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 ½ – 6 cups (600 grams) freshly milled whole wheat flour

How to Make Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Activate Yeast

Pour the warm water into your bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer and add the yeast and sugar to the water.  Mix or stir slightly and let sit for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.

Mixing the Dough

Add to the activated yeast the pumpkin puree, egg, melted butter, and salt.  Mix these ingredients together until well incorporated.

Add your flour, one cup at a time.  If using a mixer, add the flour while mixing on low with a dough attachment hook.  You may need slightly more or less flour, depending on your environment.  Add additional flour until the dough starts to pull from the sides of the bowl or holds its shape while kneading.  Pumpkin makes the dough more moist, so you may need to add more flour than normal to your kneading surface.

Mix/knead the dough for at least 5 minutes until you have a smooth dough ball.

First Rise

Oil a large bowl, transfer the dough to the lightly greased bowl, and cover with plastic wrap, a reusable bowl cover or a moist tea towel.

Let the dough rise until doubled.  

Shaping the Rolls

Prepare a sheet pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lining with parchment paper.  You can also use a 9×12 baking pan.

Once the dough is doubled, dump your dough onto a slightly wet or floured work surface.  Divide the dough into 15 equal pieces.  To get a uniform size, measure each dough ball on a scale at about 3 ounces each.

To shape, first flatten the dough in a round shape on the countertop.  It can help to lightly flour your surface, if your dough is a bit sticky.  Lift it up and form a ball shape by wrapping the edges underneath the center of the dough.  With your hand in a cupped “C” shape, hold the dough lightly and place the flat side of your hand down on the countertop (pinky side).  With the dough in the center of the cupped hand, move your hand in a circular motion while shaping a beautiful round ball of dough.  

You could alternatively roll the dough in a snake shape and tie them in a knot.  To go overboard, you could tie strings around the dough and bake into a pumpkin shape.  Check out images online for how to do this.

Place the dough balls about an inch apart on the sheet pan.  You want them to touch slightly after rising.  You could also place them closer together inside a 9×12 baking dish.  This can help them rise upwards more, but it all depends on the finished look you prefer.

Second Rise

Cover the dough again and let rise until almost doubled.  This rise usually takes 30-45 minutes at room temperature.

Baking Instructions

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and lather melted butter on top of the rolls.  You could also place them back in the oven for a few minutes to create a golden brown top.

Once finished baking, remove the rolls from the oven.  Eat them warm or cooled completely, preferably lathered in butter and with a cozy bowl of soup.

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls Printable Recipe Card

Where to Buy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls Ingredients and Supplies

Need an easy way to get all your bread baking ingredients and supplies without spending hours researching? I’ve done all the trial and error for you and put together the TIDBITS & Company Bread Making Supplies Moonsift page. Here you’ll find all of my favorite bread making items along with links and product descriptions. Check it out!

More Great Recipes

These fluffy rolls are calling your name. Give them a try! All you need is a handful of ingredients and you’ll be on your way to the best dinner rolls of all time.

By the way, wouldn’t these pumpkin dinner rolls would make the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner?! I’m thinking that this could be the start of a new family tradition around here.

Up next on my baking to-do list – try to substitute the pumpkin in this recipe for some butternut squash. I’ll let you know if it’s a winner! Until then, check out some of my other recipes.

• Healthy Whole Wheat Breadsticks | Quick and Easy!
• 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns Recipe
• You Won’t Believe They Are 100% Whole Wheat Rolls Recipe
• 100% Whole Wheat Focaccia Bread Recipe
• 100% Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
• Healthy Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
• Healthy Pumpkin Muffins | Quick to Make and So Delicious!
• Family Favorite Whole Grain Pizza Crust Recipe
• 100% Whole Grain Einkorn Sourdough Bread Simplified