Pumpkin Dinner Rolls are the perfect easy-to-make side for the holidays!  Their sweet buttery taste is undeniable at the dinner table!  Serve these warm fresh pumpkin rolls at your next Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering!  They’re vegan, dairy-free and egg-free!

If you’re looking for the perfect side to serve with your next holiday meal you’ve got to try these homemade pumpkin dinner rolls. 

What makes these rolls so soft and perfect?

The pumpkin puree keeps these rolls soft and moist.  

In the past I’ve had rolls dry out soon after baking.  But, these pumpkin rolls always come out of the oven perfectly soft and stay soft!  

 To keep the rolls warm and soft on the dinner table cover them with a light kitchen towel.

How many rolls does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 9-16 rolls. 

For the photos I made 9 large rolls in a 9×9 inch ceramic dish.  
For a gathering I’d suggest making smaller dinner rolls by dividing the dough into 12-16 pieces depending on size preference.  Bake for 14-18 minutes in a 9×13 inch dish.  They will cook best and stay soft if they are snug in the dish when rising as shown in the image below.

How to make pumpkin dinner rolls

Start by mixing together the warm water, coconut sugar and yeast in a large bowl.  Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the yeast to fully activate and become ‘foamy’.

Mix in the maple syrup, pumpkin puree, salt and oil.  Then add in 2 cups of flour.

Mix until well blended.

Add in another cup of flour and mix well to form a dough.  

Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes using the 4th cup of flour for dusting.  You can do this by hand or with a stand mixer.  The final dough should come together but still be slightly sticky.    (I planned on snapping a few process shot of kneading the dough, but my camera isn’t too fond doughy hands.)

Kneading Tips

• I wouldn’t recommend using over 4 cups of flour.  Extra flour will create a more dense roll. 
• If you’re kneading the dough by hand, you can always add a bit of oil to your hands.  This will help keep the dough from sticking to them.

When the dough comes together, roughly shape it into a ball.  Oil your dough ball and the bowl,  cover and set aside to rise for 45 minutes. 

Turn the risen dough out onto a floured surface.

Cut the dough into 9 evenly sized pieces for large rolls.  Or 12-16 evenly sized pieces for smaller dinner rolls.  

How to shape the rolls

1. Pull and tuck the sides of the dough underneath itself.
2. Bring the sides of the dough together.
3. Pinch them closed at the bottom.
4. Turn the dough over and gently roll it to shape. (I found this video on how to shape rolls helpful.)

Closely fit the dough balls in a lightly oiled oven safe dish.  Cover and set aside to rise.

Once they have fully risen it’s time to bake these bad boys!  Bake in a 400ºF preheated oven for 14-20 depending on the size.

Brush the finished rolls with oil and top with coarse sea salt.

ENJOY!

Pumpkin dinner rolls can be made a few ways

• Replace the pumpkin puree with mashed sweet potato, or butternut squash.
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice for an added Fall flavor.
• Or top with cinnamon and sugar to keep them sweet.

These pumpkin rolls also pair well with a warm bowl of Potato corn chowder.  YUM!

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Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (vegan)

Yield: 9-15 dinner rolls

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Rising Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls are undeniable at the holiday dinner table! Serve these warm fresh pumpkin rolls at your next Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering! They’re vegan, dairy-free and egg-free!

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Ingredients

• 3-4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cups warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 4 Tablespoons coconut sugar, or granulated sugar of choice
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 and 3/4 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• 4 Tablespoons melted coconut oil, or neutral vegetable oil of choice
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• Coarse sea salt for topping

Instructions

1. In a large bowl mix the warm water, yeast and coconut sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes to active the yeast. Once the yeast has foamed, mix in the maple syrup, salt, oil and pumpkin puree.
2. Mix in 2 cups of flour until fully incorporated. Then mix in another 1 cup of flour for a total of 3 cups.  
3. Use the last cup of flour to dust your hands and the dough throughout the kneading process. Lightly knead the dough until a slightly sticky dough ball forms, this should take about 2-3 minutes. (You may not need the full cup of flour. I use anywhere from 1/4-3/4 cups of it.) 
4. Once the dough comes together shape it into a ball. Then, lightly coat the bowl and the dough with a bit of oil. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise for 45 minutes.
5. Turn out the risen dough onto a floured surface. Depending on the size of rolls you want, cut the dough into 9,12 or 16 evenly sized pieces. 
6. Form each piece into a ball by pulling and tucking the edges of the dough underneath itself. Gently roll the dough ball, seam side down, on an unfloured surface to create a smooth ball.
7. Transfer rolls to a lightly oiled oven safe dish.
8. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow the rolls to rise for another 30-45 minutes.
9. Once the rolls have doubled in size, bake at 400ºF for 14-20 minutes or until the tops brown.
10. Brush the warm rolls with oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

ENJOY!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 dinner rolls Serving Size: 1 dinner roll
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132