An irresistible homemade Hawaiian Roll Bread Recipe with pineapple juice and honey for that perfect sweet, fluffy texture. This will become your new favorite loaf of yeast bread with a Hawaiian twist!
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🍞 While delicious on its own with a pat of butter, this Hawaiian bread makes the perfect base for paninis, grilled ham & cheese sandwiches, or toasted with a savory topping!
My 2 Best Tips For Making This Hawaiian Roll Bread Recipe
#1 – Pineapple Juice Is Mandatory: Pineapple juice isn’t just for flavor—it’s essential to achieving that signature Hawaiian sweet bread taste and texture. The natural enzymes in pineapple juice help tenderize the dough, while its acidity activates the yeast and contributes to the bread’s characteristic golden color and tropical yumminess!
#2 – Achieve the Perfect Shine: For that bakery-quality glossy finish, apply the egg wash generously just before baking. For an extra touch of sweetness and shine, brush warm bread with melted butter mixed with a tablespoon of honey immediately after baking.
Many of you are probably familiar with the round King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread you can buy in grocery stores, but did you know it’s easy to make at home?
Just make the dough, let it rest 15 minutes, shape it in to a round loaf, and put it in a pie plate. After another 15 minutes resting time, you pop it in the oven until it’s golden brown and ready to eat.
Note that I tested this recipe with a couple different yeasts and chose Red Star Platinum Yeast for this final run-through of the recipe. You can use any dry instant yeast with great results, though it may take a bit longer to rise.
🩷 Melissa
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Hawaiian Roll Bread Recipe (Hawaiian Sweet Bread)
Ingredients
Dough
- 4 ¼ cups bread flour
- 4 ½ teaspoons 2 packages Red Star Platinum Yeast or another dry instant yeast
- ⅓ cup nonfat dry milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup water
- 5 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 eggs
Egg Wash
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, combine 2 ¼ cups flour, yeast, dry milk and salt; mix well.
- In saucepan or microwave safe dish, heat pineapple juice, ½ cup water, butter, and honey until warm (120° – 130°F; butter does not have to melt).
- Add liquids to flour mixture. Add 2 eggs. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes at medium speed.
- Switch to the dough hook and mix in the remaining flour a little at a time, to make a soft dough, adding more or less flour as needed. Knead the dough for 5 minutes.
- Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place about 15 minutes.
- Punch down dough. On lightly floured surface, shape into a round loaf. Place in greased 9 or 10-inch round pie pan. Cover; let rise in warm place about 15 minutes.
- Combine egg and 1 tablespoon water; brush loaf. Bake at 375º for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and brush with butter, if desired. Remove from pan; cool.
Notes
- These homemade Hawaiian rolls don’t contain preservatives, so proper storage is key. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- To refresh rolls that are a day old, sprinkle with a few drops of water and warm in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes.
- This bread makes great French toast. I turned my loaf in to deep fried Hawaiian Sweetbread French Toast Sticks!
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can refrigerate the dough after the first rise for up to 24 hours. Punch down the dough, place it in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, let the dough come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before shaping into a loaf or individual rolls.
These rolls freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Allow freshly baked rolls to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil or place in freezer bags. Thaw at room temperature and reheat in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes to restore that fresh-baked texture.
Yes, you can make Hawaiian rolls without a stand mixer. Combine the ingredients in a large bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Then knead by hand on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The process requires more physical effort, but the results will be just as delicious!
More Yeast Bread Recipes to Consider
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liza
i wanna know if i can make this as a loaf instead,thanks!!
liza
Hi,planning to make this next week,I just wanna know what size round pie plate should i use?
Melissa Griffiths
9 inch!
Bella Harp
Can I use a glass pie pan? I went on a trip to Hawaii and had some amazing Hawaiian bread, so I have since then been looking for a recipe. I think this will be amazing. Thank you in advance!
Barbara Schieving
Hi Bella – yes, a glass pie pan should work well. Isn’t it fun to try new foods while vacationing and come home and make them at home. Enjoy!
Jennifer
Can you make this dough ahead and refrigerate overnight before baking?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Jennifer – yes, you can refrigerate it before shaping it. Just be sure and allow plenty of time for the dough to warm up and rise in the morning. Enjoy!
Alida
I made these today and OMG they are SO DELICIOUS!!! I followed instructions to the T (and my water for the yeast was 110 degrees – FYI) and got two perfectly done loaves of breads with perfect sweetness. Perfect all around. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us! Will definitely add to my favorite breads list 😀
LT Lillard
King’s Hawaiian Bread has no pineapple juice in it.
Steve & Elly
Great recipe! We live very rural and only can find the commercial bread on rare occasions and we too tried (and loved) it as French Bread long ago.
My wife tried it and it was a winner the first time 🙂
dar
Can I use a bread machine?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Dar – Yes, I think you could make the dough in a bread machine.