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.

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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

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Moravian Yeast Roll Recipe

Love these soft pillowy Moravian Yeast Rolls, hot and fresh from the oven. Split 'em in half, melt butter in between. These easy yeast rolls are divine.

Course No Knead Yeast Rolls

Prep Time 4 hours hours

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Author Allie Taylor

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.

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