This Moravian Yeast Roll recipe is easy, even if you’ve never worked with yeast before. The dough requires no kneading and just one rise. The resulting rolls are soft and pillowy! This is the delicious homemade yeast rolls recipe I make for all of our special holidays.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love these Moravian Yeast Rolls hot and fresh from the oven! Split ’em in half, and let the butter melt in between. Mmm… these yeast rolls are divine.
Often requested for Easter and other family holiday meals, this great recipe was passed on to me years ago by a friend originally from the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area. I’m so thankful and I’ve been baking them ever since. (Thanks Tina!)
Who Were the Moravians?
They were followers of a mainstream protestant religion that eventually settled in Winston-Salem, North Carolina nearly 250 years ago. The Moravians originated in the Czech Republic around 1415 from the followers of Jan Hus.
They made their way as missionaries from Germany to Pennsylvania, then settled in Winston-Salem on 10,000 acres of land known as the Wachovia Tract. They contributed significantly to the area’s rich culture, including excellent food like these Moravian Yeast Rolls!
Key Ingredients
- Hot Water and Luke Warm Water: You’ll need the former to activate the yeast, and then use the latter when preparing the batter for these homemade yeast rolls.
- Melted Butter: To brush over the risen raw balls of Moravian yeast roll dough. This ensures golden brown, crispy tops for your homemade yeast rolls.
- Sugar: Yeast is a living organism, and like any living thing it needs food to survive. The sugar in the yeast mixture not only sweetens these homemade yeast rolls, but it feeds the yeast while it’s activated and helps the dough rise.
How To Make Them
There’s no kneading involved in this simple recipe, great for those who haven’t worked with yeast before. Use a Kitchen Aid stand mixer to easily combine the ingredients.
(Or some elbow grease and a big wooden spoon.) Cover dough tightly and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Then remove from the refrigerator and punch down the dough. (That’s the fun part!)
Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut the dough into 16 equal portions. Loosely shape into rolls and place in a greased 9 X 13″ baking pan.
Let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until nearly doubled in size. I place them in a barely warm (not hot) oven to cut the rising time in half. Lightly brush with melted butter just before baking.
Bake for 10 minutes in a 400° oven or ’til golden brown. Mmmm….I can almost smell them now!
Storage Instructions
- Store baked and cooled Moravian yeast rolls in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Freeze cooled and cooked or par-cooked homemade yeast rolls in an airtight, freezer-safe container or plastic bag for up to 3 months. Freeze in an oven-save aluminum pan for easier baking later on!
- Reheat cooked yeast rolls in the microwave for a few seconds to warm, or from frozen in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or so until warmed through or completely cooked.
More Side Dish Recipes To Try
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- Lemony Garlic Roasted Asparagus
- Crunch Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Brown Butter Almond Green Beans
- Easy Caramelized Onions
Moravian Yeast Roll Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup hot water 120-130 degrees
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons shortening or butter flavor Crisco
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 pack dry granular yeast or 1 tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons luke warm water
- 1 egg beaten
- 3-4 cups flour (bread flour or regular flour)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Combine hot water, salt, shortening and sugar.
- Separately, dissolve yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water.
- Allow shortening mixture to cool to lukewarm.
- Add in dissolved yeast mixture.
- Using a stand mixer, combine the above with beaten egg and enough flour to make a soft dough.
- Start by adding 3 cups flour, continue adding more flour if still sticky, up to 4 cups.
- (I usually use about 3 1/2 cups)
- Cover and refrigerate dough several hours or overnight.
- Briefly knead dough by turning it over onto itself several times to smooth it out.
- Divide into sixteen equal portions using kitchen shears or a sharp knife.
- Shape into 16 round dough balls and place evenly spaced in greased 9 X 13" baking pan.
- Let rise 1-2 hours or until almost doubled in bulk.
- (Rising in a warm oven cuts the rising time in half.)
- Gently brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter just before baking.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven ten minutes or 'til lightly browned.
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
These rolls look so light and fluffy. Even though these would be wonderful for Easter, I could so myself making these throughout the spring to go with dinner or lunch. 😀
Ruth Anne Fuller says
I am already making your Apple Puff for dessert for Easter for 11…may add these rolls to the menu, although I am not a fan of anything with yeast but may give it a try. Thanks and Happy Easter..HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Tracy says
These rolls are now on my menu for Easter! They sound delicious! If you posted them I know they are great. I am never disappointed by your recipes. In fact they are always a hit! Thank you Allie!!!
Allie says
Oh, thank you Tracy, so kind. Hope you all love them!
Christie says
I’ve never heard of these rolls before. My family would love them. Now to figure out how I can fit making them into my schedule today. They would be perfect with dinner tonight.
Allie says
Hope you and your family enjoy them Christie!
Aunt pinkie says
Oh, my-they look fantastic! There is nothing like a yeast roll! Cannot wait to make ’em! Thanks, Allie. Will tell Catherine about them as she is bringing the rolls!
Susie says
Thanks, Allie (and Tina)! I also loved the background and history you gave on the Moravians. I love thinking about stuff like that as I bake. Of course, maybe I better keep my mind on my baking, come to think of it….
Allie says
You so funny Susie! I have to concentrate too…(on the baking, that is.)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
They look beautiful! What makes them Moravian?
Allie says
Many thanks Karen. My understanding is it’s a Moravian recipe that’s been passed down through the generations… They’re known to be excellent cooks, also famous for a “sugar cake” recipe… I’m not sure what actually makes the recipe Moravian except that it comes from them. Great question, you made me think. (That’s all I know! :))
Sheryl says
These are yummy!! (Or should I say “were” since I was lucky enough to actually eat these very rolls). I never realized that they might actually hold out hope for me. I happen to be one of “those who haven’t worked with yeast before”. Usually if I see a recipe that says anything about yeast, kneading or doubling in size, I disregard it immediately. But this recipe seems doable, even to me. 🙂
Allie says
Oh yes, these rolls are definitely best shared! (And it was nice of us that we shared them with the kids wasn’t it?) Yeah, you can totally do these rolls Sheryl. Not rocket science. Best part is, one rise. Some of these yeast recipes rise twice. Not this one. (YAY.)
Karly says
Oh man these rolls look so delicious! I need to make them sometime soon!
Jennifer K says
I can just smell these by looking at the pictures! I will definately have to give them a try!
Aida @ TheCraftingFoodie says
Allie, these look so amazing – light and fluffy! I love yeast recipes that are low maintenance, and these seem to fit the bill exactly! YUM!
Christy says
I agree with Sheryl…definitely doable!
Melanie says
What kind of yeast is best- active or rapid rise?
Allie says
Hi Melanie I use the SAF Red Instant Yeast from King Arthur in this recipe – http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/saf-red-instant-yeast-16-oz I buy it in the 16 oz. bag and keep it in the freezer. Hope you love these rolls and Happy Thanksgiving!
Melanie says
Wondrrful, thank you for such a fast response, and it wss before my Thanksgiving shopping trip so the timing was perfect. Long forward to making these. Happy Thanksgiving!
Betty says
Thank you for sharing your recipes with us. I would love to make these rolls but would rather use butter or coconut hard oil instead of shortening or Butter Chisco. Do you have any suggestions? Is it OK to use butter or coconut white oil instead? Thank you so much.
Allie says
Hi Betty – Sure thing, thanks for dropping by. I’m curious about the coconut oil too. I’m almost absolutely certain I’ve made these with butter though. I rarely use shortening anymore myself, this is just the original recipe from the Moravians. I pretty much use coconut oil interchangeably for shortening these days, so I’m going to try that with this recipe when I make these for Easter soon. And I’ll come back here and comment to let you know. I’ll prob. make them ahead and put them in the freezer, so hopefully it will be in time to let you know if you are wanting to make them for Easter too. Have a great weekend!
Adina says
Oh, these look good, I am so much into yeast stuff, I make something every other week or so. I’ve never heard of Moravians before, good to learn something new. .
Barbara Child says
Yum! Gonna try this soon! Thanks!
Patricia C Tice says
Looks Great!! Have you tried making them with butter instead of shortening–trying to stick with real foods for my own cutie with Down syndrome!
Allie says
Hey Patricia – Thanks, I have and with good results! The original Moravian recipe calls for shortening, but I’ve used butter. And I’m planning to try these with solid coconut oil to see if that will work too. I’ll comment back and let you know, hopefully I’ll be baking those this week. We’ve been under kitchen construction but hoping to be back to normal very soon, in time for Easter. Hope your cutie loves these rolls and so glad you dropped by.
Yvonne says
How many packets of yeast makes 2 tablespoons?
Yvonne says
Will definitely try them. How many packets make 2 tablespoons?
Allie says
Hi Yvonne – one packet of yeast contains 2 1/4 teaspoons. Using one packet is fine for this recipe. I use the yeast that I buy from King Arthur Flour Store in Norwich, VT. It comes in a 1 lb. pack and I keep it in the freezer to keep it fresh. I use a tablespoon of yeast in the recipe, but you would be fine using 2 1/4 teaspoons, one packet, if that’s how you buy it. I always throw in just a little more, but it doesn’t seem to matter much either way. Hope you love these rolls!
Shashi at SavorySpin says
I missed these rolls when you first shared them, Allie! I simply LOVE no-knead roll and these look so light and fluffy! Also, thanks so much for the info on Moravians – I gotta confess I didn’t know much about them before reading your post.
Happy Hump Day, sweet friend – FriYAY is coming around the corner!
huyenoc says
1223
good
Jackie says
How did you freeze them and how long to bake once out of freezer?
Allie says
Hi Jackie – I wrap tightly in foil, then put in a freezer ziploc bag and freeze. Then I defrost them first, then heat them for 10-15 minutes in the foil, at 300°. Hope you enjoy them and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Howard Jones says
Can these be frozen?