The best Thanksgiving rolls are soft, buttery and make-ahead friendly, so they're out of the oven and in a basket while the turkey rests.
Here's the thing about the bread basket: it's the first thing to empty and the last thing anyone plans. Not this year. These are the rolls, biscuits and loaves I actually make for Thanksgiving, sorted by the decision you're making.
The dinner rolls I make every year
Aunt Cordellia's Potato Dinner Rolls are the family recipe, 16 tender, fluffy rolls with mashed potato in the dough (leftover mashed potatoes work beautifully, by the way). Parker House Rolls are the buttery, folded classic, and they freeze like a dream once they're baked.
Biscuits, because it's Thanksgiving
Dad's Buttermilk Biscuits are the classic from my favorite baker, my dad, and his tip for Thanksgiving is a good one: crumble a few into your cornbread stuffing. Callie's Hot Little Biscuits make 18 to 24 tiny, tender biscuits with butter AND cream cheese. Dangerous.
A loaf for the table (no shaping required)
Erin's Roasted Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Bread is buttery sheets of garlic and herbs that everyone tears into. The Easiest Overnight No-Knead Bread rests 12 to 18 hours while you sleep and bakes into one crusty loaf. And Olive and Feta Irish Soda Bread is yeast-free, baked in a cast iron skillet, and keeps, well wrapped, for up to 4 days.
Something a little extra
Cheddar Chive Scones are big, flaky and savory, and they come with whipped hot honey butter. Popovers puff up tall and golden, 12 to a batch, and they feel very fancy for how easy they are.
Can you make Thanksgiving rolls ahead?
Yes. Shape the potato rolls, put them in the pan, cover and refrigerate overnight, then bake. To go further ahead, freeze the shaped rolls on a sheet tray until solid, bag them, then thaw them in the fridge overnight, let them rise and bake.
Parker House Rolls can be baked, cooled completely and frozen in an airtight bag, then warmed wrapped in foil at 375 degrees F. Scones can be shaped and chilled overnight or frozen unbaked. The whole week is planned out in my Thanksgiving baking timeline.
What to put on them
Honey butter. Obviously. Here's my easy whipped honey butter, plus a cinnamon version.
And save a couple of rolls for Friday, because the Mega Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich needs them.
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