Golden Corral Rolls Recipe

The popular American buffet Golden Corral is well known for its golden shrimp, carved bone-in turkey, meatloaf, and, of course, their signature sirloin steak.

Besides their delicious meat-based dishes, we’ve got our eyes set on their signature Golden Corral rolls, incredibly soft, tender, buttery buns that are the dream of every pastry lover.

In case you’d like to replicate the Golden Corral rolls recipe at home, we should warn you that once you make them, they will become a staple item on your personal menu!

Keep on reading to find out how you can make your own version of Golden Corral rolls.

How to Make Golden Corral Rolls

Needless to say, popular restaurants such as Golden Corral certainly do keep their priceless recipes under lock and key.

However, while we could never get our hands on the real recipe, creating our own copycat version that is quite similar to the original wasn’t too hard.

These beautiful golden buns are soft and fragrant on the inside, with a subtle crispy layer on the outside.

The best thing about them is that they will stay fresh for days, and you can easily reheat them once they start tasting a bit stale.

Ingredients:

(24 servings)

• 4 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup warm water
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup scalding hot milk
• 1 lightly beaten egg
• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 2 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

Step 1:

Add very warm water to a bowl, and then combine it with a packet of active dry yeast and mix thoroughly.

Make sure that the active yeast is fully dissolved in the water.

Step 2:

In a large mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup of butter with salt, sugar, and hot milk.

Using a whisk or a mixer, ensure that the mixture is fully combined and the sugar is dissolved.

Let the mixture cool down at room temperature.

Step 3:

Once the milk mixture has cooled down, it is time to combine it with the yeast you’ve previously left to activate.

Pour in the lightly beaten egg, and combine it with these two mixtures using a whisk or a mixer on low speed.

Step 4:

Start adding four cups of all-purpose flour little by little while reserving the remaining ½ cup to dust the surface you’ll be kneading the dough on.

Start kneading the dough and working the flour into the mixture until you get a soft but compact dough.

Now, remove the dough from the bowl onto the kneading surface, and knead the dough for at least five minutes, or until it is pliable and soft.

Step 5:

Coat a bowl with melted butter.

Then, transfer the Golden Corral rolls dough into it.

Position the bowl with the dough in a warm place where it should sit and rise for 1 1/2 hours.

Step 6:

Dust a pastry cloth with flour, and then transfer the dough onto it and punch it to release the excess air. Knead the dough for an additional 4-5 minutes.

If the dough is sticking to your hands, you can add a small amount of flour to be able to knead and shape it.

However, make sure not to add too much flour, as this will affect the texture and the softness of the rolls later on.

Step 7:

Now it is time to start shaping the Golden Corral rolls, which should be about 1 ½ to 1 ¾ inch wide (in diameter).

Prepare a pan (13 x 9 x 2-inch) by adding a little bit of melted butter.

Then, transfer the buns, making sure they’re not sticking together.

Step 8:

Let the Golden Corral rolls sit in a warm place for another 30-40 minutes to allow them to double in size while you preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Coat the tops of the rolls with some melted butter or margarine.

Bake them at 375 degrees F for about 18-20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.

It is important not to overbake them, as this will affect their softness and dry them out.

Ingredient Substitutions

Since this is a pretty simple recipe, there aren’t many ingredients you could replace.

That being said, we recommend sticking to the recipe and the exact measurements for the best results!

1. Margarine

Whether you prefer using margarine instead of butter, or you just have no butter in your pantry at the moment, feel free to swap it for margarine in all aspects of this recipe.

The flavor, aroma, texture, and baking properties of these two ingredients are quite similar, so there shouldn’t be a huge difference in the outcome.

What to Serve with Golden Corral Rolls

When it comes to combining your homemade Golden Corral rolls with other ingredients, there are basically no limits.

These flavorful, buttery rolls are both sweet and savory, so they can be combined with any sweet condiment or savory meal.

You can serve your Golden Corral rolls with pretty much any main dish, including grilled meat and veggies, BBQ ribs, steaks, and stews.

Jam

Is there anything better than jam melting on a hot, homemade Golden Corral roll?

In case you’ve never tried a similar combination, we recommend you bake a batch of these soft, perfectly crispy rolls the next time you’re craving a sweet breakfast!

Golden Corral roll sandwich

Replace your regular sandwich bread with your homemade Golden Corral rolls at your own risk since you’ll never want to go back.

Slice the bun in half, and then add your favorite condiments, including butter, mayo, and cheese.

Layer your favorite meats, and then finish with fresh veggies or guacamole on top.

A Golden Corral roll sandwich is a perfect on-the-go breakfast or midday snack.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Rolls

Don’t worry, there are ways that you can warm up the rolls without drying them out and stripping them of all the flavors and aromas.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Rolls In the oven

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F while you place the rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

It is recommended to wrap each roll in a piece of aluminum foil to preserve its soft texture.

Bake for 5-10 minutes.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Rolls In the Microwave

When reheating your rolls in the microwave, it is important to prevent them from turning into dry, stale bread by locking in the moisture.

You can do so by placing a wet paper towel over them or sprinkling a little bit of water on each bun.

Microwave on high in 30-second intervals until you’re satisfied with the result.

How to Store Golden Corral Rolls

Here’s how you can safely store your homemade Golden Corral rolls so you can enjoy them for months to come.

If you don’t want to freeze the rolls, all you need to do is allow them to cool down completely before wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap.

This will prevent them from going stale for the next few days.

Store in the freezer

Add the buns to a heavy-duty freezer bag, making sure to squeeze all the excess air out.

You can also wrap each of the rolls in plastic wrap individually to ensure they don’t absorb any freezer odors.

Use up your frozen Golden Corral rolls within three months.