Run out of bread? Got a hungry family to feed? No problem! A batch of these 3 Ingredient Vegan Quick Dinner Rolls can be prepared and baked in under an hour and enjoyed hot from the oven. These little dinner rolls are soft, springy, fluffy, airy, and light, but they are not the same as dinner rolls prepared with yeast. Instead these quick rolls are more similar to a savoury muffin, scone, or American biscuit, but at the same time are still a different bake! These quick dinner rolls are perfect with a dab of plant-based margarine or vegan butter or pull apart the little rolls or buns and dunk them into tasty stews or soups.
Our Quick Dinner Rolls are not just for dinner! You can add any flavours you like such as chocolate drops, vanilla, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic granules, onion powder, mixed dried herbs, curry powder, nigella seeds, the list goes on! Enjoy the quick rolls for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper, or even as a quick snack.
Seven reasons why you should bake a batch of quick dinner rolls!
- These quick dinner rolls can be prepared and baked in under an hour, making them perfect for last-minute meal preps or unexpected guests.
- Their neutral flavour profile makes them a fantastic accompaniment to a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to salads and main courses.
- Made without dairy or eggs, these rolls cater to those with dietary restrictions or preferences, ensuring everyone at the table can enjoy them. They can also be prepared as gluten-free.
- No need to worry about having yeast on hand or waiting for dough to rise. This recipe makes home-made bread easy.
- The main recipe is adaptable, allowing for the addition of various herbs, spices, or other flavourings to suit individual tastes or the theme of a meal.
- There's something special about serving homemade bread, even if it's a quick version as it can add a personal touch to meals and is sure to impress your family and guests.
- For those who might be intimidated by traditional bread-making recipes, this recipe offers an easy introduction into the world of homemade bread!
Origin of quick rolls
Quick breads, which include yeast-free rolls and other similar bakes that don't rely on yeast for leavening, have long been a traditional essential food for many cultures.
Before the widespread use of baking powder and baking soda as leavening agents, most breads were leavened with naturally occurring yeast or sourdough starters. The invention of baking soda in the early 19th century, followed by baking powder later in the century, revolutionized home baking. These chemical leaveners allowed for the quick production of bread, without the need for lengthy fermentation or rising times.
Quick un-yeasted breads have been popular in the US for centuries, and are commonly prepared with ingredients like cornmeal to make cornbread muffins, or wheat flour to make American biscuits. American biscuits evolved out of the British or Scottish scone which is another type of quick bread that in turn evolved from the Scottish bannock flatbread which was prepared with barley flour and no yeast.
Different cultures have their versions of quick breads or yeast-free rolls. For instance, the Irish have soda bread, leavened with baking soda (often called "bread soda" in Ireland) and buttermilk. The reaction between the acidic buttermilk and the alkaline baking soda produces the gas that raises the bread. And Australia have their traditional Damper Bread, which is similar to soda bread, that harks back to 19th century settlers, travellers and swagmen.
Vegan quick rolls
With just three ingredients, you can whip up an easy batch of dinner rolls that require no kneading, no rising, and no yeast - and they're completely dairy-free and egg-free! All you need is self-raising flour (or self-rising flour), plant-based milk, and plant-based mayonnaise. If you have these staples in your pantry, you're always ready to bake a batch of emergency bread on a whim.
If you don't have self-raising flour on hand, don't worry! You can easily substitute it with plain or all-purpose flour. Just sieve through 2 teaspoons of baking powder and add a few good pinches of salt.
One of our kids' favourite breakfast treats is a quick dinner roll baked with dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet chocolate) and a hint of vanilla or almond essence. These chocolate rolls are our rustic, homemade answer to shop-bought pain au chocolate. While they aren't as sweet as their processed counterparts, we do like their milder sweetness. If you have a sweeter tooth, you can always enhance the rolls by spreading some vegan chocolate spread on them, which my kids also love to do.
How to prepare vegan quick dinner rolls
These dinner rolls are so quick and easy and will be ready to go in no time. They are perfect for those days when you've run out of bread or just fancy something home-baked but not too complicated or time consuming.
These rolls are not the same as yeast rolls so don't expect a yeast risen bread roll, bap, or bun! Instead they are a delicious emergency roll that is more on par with a savoury muffin, scone, or American biscuit - but much lighter, softer, airier, and fluffier!
First add the self-raising flour, plant-based milk, and plant-based mayonnaise into a mixing bowl.
If you like you can add optional flavours such as herbs & spices - we like to add some onion and garlic powder, and sometimes a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes, but often we just bake plain rolls.
Mix all the ingredients together.
Divide the mixture between a 12 cup muffin tray and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Once baked the rolls will be lightly golden, risen and firm.
Enjoy warm or cool on a wire rack.
Recipe notes and FAQ's
Storing
Quick rolls can be stored in an airtight container, wrapped in food wrap, greaseproof paper or kitchen foil to maintain freshness for longer. They are at their best 1-2 days after baking, but they can be stored for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
Quick rolls can be frozen for up to 3-4 months. Ensure the rolls are in an airtight container and are well wrapped up. Wrap each roll up individually as this will help protect them from freezer burn as well as make it easier to pull out one or two at a time. Thaw the unwrapped rolls on the countertop.
Refreshing
If your dinner rolls go a little stale just reheat in the oven for a few minutes at the baking temperature. Or pull apart the dinner rolls and pop into a soup or stew about 10 minutes before the end of cooking. These little rolls will heat through and soak up the stew flavours.
Yes, these dinner rolls can be prepared as gluten-free with a few changes. First use a gluten-free self-raising flour [self-rising flour], along with ¼ teaspoon of xanthum gum, and an extra tablespoon of milk. Also ensure that your plant-based mayonnaise is also free of gluten ingredients.
Yes, self-raising flour and self-rising flour are the same thing. The difference in naming is primarily regional. In the UK and some other parts of the world, it's commonly referred to as "self-raising flour," while in the US, it's known as "self-rising flour." Both types of flour have baking powder and salt added to them, which gives baked goods a lift without the need for an additional leavening agent.
Yes, you can use plain flour or all-purpose flour as a substitute for self-raising (or self-rising) flour, but you'll need to add a leavening agent to achieve a similar rise. For our quick roll recipe add 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and a few good pinches of salt, to the plain flour, as a substitute for the self-raising flour.
If your not vegan or plant-based, and perhaps vegetarian or have different dietary requirements, then you can use whatever milk or mayonnaise that you normally use.
Surprisingly the mayonnaise adds a lot to the quick rolls. Mayonnaise contains oil, which contributes to the tenderness of the rolls, and as fat inhibits the formation of gluten (protein strands) in the dough, the mayonnaise helps produce a softer crumb.
Also, the moisture content in mayonnaise helps keep the rolls from becoming too dry. Although, traditional mayonnaise is made with eggs, which helps bind ingredients together, plant-based mayonnaises usually have the same effect and so are a good replacement.
Many mayonnaises have some level of acidity, usually from vinegar or lemon juice and it is this acidity that can interact with the baking powder in the recipe [either from the self-raising flour or from plain flour & baking powder] to aid in leavening, giving rise to a fluffier texture in the rolls.
Finally, the mayonnaise adds extra flavour to the rolls which is always a good thing! So in all, plant-based mayonnaise is a very useful ingredient to have in the pantry even if you don't normally use it!
Plant-based mayonnaise, also known as vegan mayonnaise, is a type of mayonnaise that doesn't contain any animal-based ingredients. It's ideal for vegan diets and for those who are allergic to eggs. Traditional mayonnaise typically contains egg yolks, which act as an emulsifier, binding the oil and other ingredients together to create a creamy consistency.
Plant-based mayonnaise omits eggs and instead uses other ingredients, such as vegetable oil, vinegar, lemon juice, maize starch, sugar, salt, to achieve a similar creamy white colour, texture and flavour. Another bonus is that since it's egg-free, vegan mayo usually doesn't contain cholesterol.
Plant-based mayonnaise can be used in the same way as regular mayonnaise in sandwiches, salads, sauces & dips, and recipes such as quick breads.
There are several brands vegan mayonnaise brands available products including Just Mayo, Follow Your Heart Vegenaise, Heinz [Seriously] Good Vegan Mayo, Hellmann's Vegan mayonnaise, and most supermarkets have their own brands such as Asda Free From mayonnaise.
Yes, you can absolutely use homemade vegan mayonnaise for the quick rolls. Homemade versions should work just as well as store-bought varieties, as long as they have a similar consistency. So if your home-made mayonnaise is very runny or thin it might affect the quick rolls texture and flavour.
Yes, these quick rolls are perfect for tailoring to your favourite flavours with spices, herbs, chocolate, etc.
A few ideas:
* garlic powder
* onion powder
* mixed herbs
* nigella seeds
* cumin seeds
* curry powder
* chilli powder
* paprika
* chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, chives, parsley, dill, thyme, sage
* fine diced fresh chilli
* fine diced cooked bell pepper
* fine diced cooked vegan bacon
* sauteed onions
* fine diced sundried tomatoes
* fine diced olives
* nutritional yeast (a few tablespoons for a cheesy flavour. Especially nice with some onion powder)
* mustard powder
* grated plant-based cheese
* vegan chocolate chips
* vanilla essence, lemon or orange flavours, almond essence
* lemon or lime zest
* coconut flakes
* chopped, crushed, or flaked nuts
* dried fruits
* fine diced apple or pear
* muesli
* seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, poppy, sesame, flax, chia, hemp seeds
**If using a powder such as garlic or onion, or nutritional yeast flakes, you may need to add an extra 1-2 teaspoons of plant-based milk to avoid the dough becoming too dry.**
No, these quick dinner rolls don't taste exactly like regular yeast dinner rolls. Yeast dinner rolls have a distinctive flavour and texture due to the fermentation process of the yeast, which gives them their airy and chewy texture.
Our quick rolls are more akin to a savoury muffin, scone, or American biscuit in terms of texture and flavour, although our rolls are still a bit different from those bakes as they are not exactly dense, rather they are soft, light, airy, and fluffy.
These quick rolls are great for their convenience and speed, but they won't provide the exact taste and texture of yeasted rolls.
Three Top Baking Tips!
- When it comes to baking, measuring your ingredients is key. Always use the right measuring tools for dry and wet ingredients. For the most accuracy, consider using a kitchen scale to weigh ingredients, especially the flour. Too much flour can result in dense rolls, while too little can make them too soft or crumbly.
- When mixing your ingredients, mix just until they're incorporated. Overmixing can activate the gluten in the flour too much, leading to rolls that are tough instead of tender and fluffy.
- Before placing your rolls in the oven, ensure it's preheated to the right temperature. An oven thermometer can be invaluable for this. Bake the rolls in the center of the oven to ensure even heat distribution. If you're baking multiple trays, consider rotating them halfway through the baking time for consistent results.
More vegan quick bread recipes
We love baking quick bread recipes that are perfect for accompanying vegan soups and stews. Quick breads are so useful as they can be baked and ready to enjoy in under an hour.
We particularly enjoy this Australian Damper Bread as its just like a plain soda bread, and for a rustic wholemeal quick bread we love our Vegan Irish Soda Bread. For curries we also welcome a home-made pile of Vegan 3 Ingredient Flatbread and to accompany a bowl of home-made soup a nice warm Old-Fashioned Bran Muffins always fits the tasty bill.
We also have a variety of sweet quick bread recipes which are delicious for breakfast, snacks, or even as an alternative to cake as sweet breads tend to be less sweeter compared to cakes! All our quick bread recipes are vegan so are dairy-free and egg-free.
***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***
📖 Recipe
Vegan Quick Dinner Rolls
Equipment
- Muffin tin (12 cup)
- Mixing bowl
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 290 grams self-raising flour [self-rising flour, or plain/all-purpose flour with 2 teaspoons of baking powder sieved through, and a few pinches of salt]
- 250 millilitres plant-based milk [such as oat, soya, almond or your usual milk]
- 4 tablespoons plant-based mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160 Fan/180 C/ 355 Fahrenheit / Gas mark 4.
- Grease your muffin tray with oil or plant-based margarine.
- Mix the flour, milk, and mayonnaise together into a wet dough. The dough will be thick and sticky but should still be easy to scoop into the muffin tray using a large spoon and knife to scrape the dough into the muffin tray.290 grams self-raising flour, 250 millilitres plant-based milk, 4 tablespoons plant-based mayonnaise
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until risen, lightly golden, firm, and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Enjoy warm from the oven or pop out of the muffin tray and place on a cooling rack to cool.
Notes
- Nutritional information is provided for guidance only and is not an exact calculation as ingredients vary.
- Quick rolls are at their best 1-2 days after baking.
- Store dinner rolls in an airtight container or within a bread bag for up to 3-4 days. Wrapping in kitchen foil, baking paper, or food wrap can help preserve the rolls freshness.
- Freeze baked dinner rolls for 3-4 months.
- Stale dinner rolls can be refreshed at the baking temperature for a few minutes.
- Add your own optional flavours to these dinner rolls such as mixed dried herbs, spice mixes, garlic or onion powder, nigella seeds, fresh chopped herbs, chopped olives, nutritional yeast flakes, chocolate chips, vanilla, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, etc. An extra few teaspoons of plant-based milk may be required if dry flavours [such as nutritional yeast flakes] are added just to loosen up the bread dough.
- You can use any plant-based mayonnaise you like. Likewise for the plant-based milk.
- If you would like to use plain flour, also add 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and a few pinches of salt.
- A warm dinner roll is delicious warm from the oven, sliced in two, and buttered with some vegan butter or margarine, or your favourite spread.
- These are quick dinner rolls that are perfect for bread emergencies, when you need something quick to go along with your soup or stew, or even something warm and home-baked for the kids breakfast! So these rolls do not require yeast, kneading, or rising. As such they are not the same as a yeasted dinner roll, bun, or bap. Instead they are light, fluffy, airy, & soft and more on par with a savoury muffin, scone, and American biscuit. Or a mix of all three!
Nutrition
Prepared our Vegan Quick Dinner Rolls? We would love to know how you got on with the recipe so do pop back and drop us a comment below, and click the star ratings. Its very much appreciated! Thanks so much, love Jacq x
KF says
Can't believe these quick, super-duper simple rolls turned-out! Will make again! Best fresh.
Jacq says
Glad you enjoyed the rolls! Jacq x