Rhodes rolls are the easiest dinner rolls to use when you want to make homemade rolls without the work!
When we would go to Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas supper my aunt would always have the fluffiest, flakiest, perfect pull-apart dinner rolls. I thought for sure she would never share her secret recipe but she did!
I was shocked that my 'make everything from scratch' aunt took some help from frozen Rhodes rolls. This has become my favorite brand of rolls.
When you are cooking a big meal such as a Thanksgiving feast, you don't always have the time or space to roll out your own yeast rolls. Having a bag of Rhodes in the freezer has saved me more times than I would like to admit.
Plus, you can make as little or as many as you like! No calculating or hoping you have enough bread dough to make rolls.
How To Make Rhodes Rolls Recipe
There are three different ways to thaw Rhodes rolls. The regular thaw method, the refrigerator thaw method and the speed thaw method.
Prepare Pan
Spray pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Arrange Rolls
Place frozen rolls evenly on a pan, and cover with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray to keep the wrap from sticking to the rolls while rising.
Rise
Allow to rise 3-5 hours in a warm, draft-free, room temperature place, until rolls have doubled in size. Time will vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
Carefully remove plastic wrap.
Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool
Immediately remove rolls from pan and place your rolls on a wire rack to cool. Brush tops with melted butter, if desired.
How to Thaw Rhodes Rolls: Refrigerator Thaw Method
This is my preferred method for making Rhodes rolls. I place them on a pan and cover them, placing them in the refrigerator before I go to bed.
- To prepare rolls, spray your chosen pan with cooking spray.
- Place frozen dough balls spaced evenly on your pan. Lightly spray the top of the rolls with nonstick spray and cover with plastic wrap to keep them from sticking to the dough during the rise time.
- Place your pan in the refrigerator overnight or all day long if you are making rolls for dinner. Make sure the dough is double in size.
- When ready to bake the rolls, remove them from the refrigerator and let them rise 1-2 hours on the counter.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the plastic wrap and bake until golden brown, 13-17 minutes.
Recommended baking pan for rolls:
- 9" x 13" Baking Pan - 20 pull-apart rolls
- 8" Baking Pan- 9 pull-apart rolls
- Muffin Tin- 2 rolls per cup
- 11″ x 17″ Baking Sheet- 35 pull-apart rolls
Speed Thaw Method To Make Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls Recipe
- Spray your chosen pan with cooking spray.
- Place frozen dough on your pan. Lightly spray the top of the rolls with nonstick spray and cover with plastic wrap to keep from sticking to dough while rising.
- Preheat the oven to 200 F and turn off once heated.
- While the oven is preheating, bring 2 quarts to a boil and pour into a pan on the lowest rack in the oven.
- Place the pan of rolls in the oven and allow them to double in size.
- Remove the pan of water and carefully remove the plastic wrap.
- With the rolls still in the oven, reheat the oven to 350.
- Once heated, bake until golden brown. source
Cautions with using the speed thaw method:
- Only use this method when you are super crunched for time.
- It is common for some discoloration to occur when using the speed method.
- Out of all of the baking methods, this method is most likely to have rolls fall.
Bonus tip for getting frozen Rhodes dinner rolls to rise faster:
- Turn on your oven light, place the rolls inside the oven. Then take a shallow baking dish and add warm water. Place this on the rack just under the rolls. Cover the rolls with a cloth dish towel (preferably cotton cloth) so they don't try out while they are rising.
- The light provides just a little heat, and the water some humidity. The oven is free from drafts.
Serving Suggestions
- I melt ¼ cup of salted butter and add a teaspoon of fresh chopped parsley, stirring to combine.
- Brush over warm rolls and serve these buttery rolls straight to the dinner table.
Additional toppings options for frozen dinner rolls
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
How long does it take for FROZEN Rhodes rolls to take to thaw and rise?
Rhodes rolls take about 10 - 12 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. Before I go to bed at night, I will pull out my rolls and place them in a baking dish that had been sprayed with pan spray and then covered with plastic wrap.
By spraying rolls with non stick spray the plastic wrap will easily remove from the risen rolls. If you don't you risk the plastic wrap sticking to rolls while rising. The rolls will fall when baking.
They take about 10 - 12 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. Before I go to bed at night, I will pull out my rolls and place them in a baking dish that had been sprayed with pan spray and then covered with plastic wrap.
Allow enough time for the thawed rolls to rise. 1-2 hours, is needed until rolls double in size. See the thawing methods below.
Bake for 3 minutes in an oven to 350 degrees. or reheat roll in microwave for 15 seconds on high.
Ingredients
- 36 (36) Rhodes Rolls
- 3 Tablespoon (3 Tablespoon) Butter
- 1 Tablespoon (1 Tablespoon) parsley fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Spray pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place frozen rolls in pan, and cover with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray to keep the wrap from sticking to rolls while rising.36 Rhodes Rolls
- Let rise 3 to 5 hours in a warm, draft-free place, until rolls double in size.
- Carefully remove plastic wrap.
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Immediately remove rolls from pan and place rolls on a wire rack to cool. Brush tops with melted butter, if desired.3 Tablespoon Butter, 1 Tablespoon parsley
Nutrition
Notes
- Turn on your oven light, place the rolls inside the oven. Then take a shallow baking dish and add warm water. Place this on the rack just under the rolls. Cover the rolls with a cloth dish towel (preferably cotton cloth) so they don't try out while they are rising.
- The light provides just a little heat, and the water some humidity. The oven is free from drafts.
Denise Rosow says
Can you use proofing mode on an oven to thaw and rise rolls
Jen says
This is nothing against your suggestions- they’re exactly what the manufacturer recommends- but these are seriously the most bland rolls/ breads I’ve ever tasted before. I tried them this year instead of my tried and true, and I will definitely NOT be using again. Absolutely no flavor whatsoever, just flat. I wouldn’t recommend. To many great tasting out there!
Sarah Mock says
Thanks Jen. So my suggestions are spot on and the one star goes to the rolls themselves? I would put a review on their website, not this one. I gave the instructions on how to bake the rolls, not how to make the rolls. These rolls are a favorite in so many households. Guess not yours.
Sarah
Sabah says
This worked perfect!! I put them in the oven with warm water and turned the light on, they thaw red and proofed! I forgot to spray the plastic wrap so some of them looked funny but still taste delicious. Will definitely make again!
Sarah Mock says
I have forgotten the spray from time to time. It happens! Thanks for the feedback.
David Gwinn says
Can Rhodes Rolls be quartered for a savory pull-apart bread baked in a Bundt pan? If so, any special instructions?
Sarah Mock says
Yes the cab be! I will be working on an easy recipe for you David.
Teresa says
My bag of Rhodes Rolls are 5 months past the “best by” date. Is it worth it bake them or should I toss them and try to buy more?
Debra says
HELP my rolls were ready to go into the oven
someone came in the door & yes they flatened
Sarah Mock says
Oh no!!! Was it the door banging as they entered?