“Me and my mom have been searching for this recipe for years…”
Southern Butter Rolls
These indulgent Southern Butter Rolls are the definition of cozy comfort food, featuring tender, golden rolls baked in a sweet, creamy sauce. Each bite delivers rich layers of cinnamon-sugar goodness wrapped in buttery dough—perfect for brunch, dessert, or any time you want to treat yourself.
🧾 Ingredients
For the Dough:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Unsalted butter | 1 cup (2 sticks) |
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups + extra for dusting |
| Granulated sugar | 1/4 cup |
| Baking powder | 1 tablespoon |
| Kosher salt | 1 teaspoon |
| Baking soda | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Chilled buttermilk | 1 cup |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 teaspoon |
For the Creamy Sauce:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sweetened condensed milk | 1 can (14 oz) |
| Whole milk | 1 1/2 cups |
| Powdered sugar | 2/3 cup |
| Unsalted butter | 2 tablespoons |
| Salt | 1/4 teaspoon |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon |
🔪 Instructions
1. Soften Butter & Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Allow one stick (1/2 cup) of butter to soften at room temperature. Cut the other stick into cubes and place it in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until well blended.
3. Cut in Butter
Add the chilled butter cubes to the dry mixture. Toss to coat, then use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture forms coarse crumbs, leaving some pea-sized butter bits.
4. Add Buttermilk
Pour in the cold buttermilk and stir gently until all flour is incorporated and a shaggy dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
5. Roll the Dough
Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Dust the top with a bit more flour and roll it into a rectangle about 12×18 inches in size.
6. Spread Butter & Add Cinnamon Sugar
Spread the softened butter evenly over the rolled-out dough. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
7. Roll and Slice
Roll the dough tightly from the long edge, jelly-roll style. Cut into 12 equal slices (about 1.5 inches each) using a sharp knife.
8. Arrange in Pan & Chill
Place the slices into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, slightly spaced apart. Refrigerate the dish while preparing the sauce.
9. Prepare the Sauce
In a medium saucepan, combine the condensed milk, whole milk, powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and salt. Heat over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to bubble gently and the sugar is fully dissolved.
10. Finish the Sauce & Pour
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the hot sauce over the rolls in the baking dish—it’s okay if they float a little.
11. Bake the Rolls
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the rolls are puffed up, golden on top, and the sauce is bubbling and thickened around the edges.
12. Cool Briefly & Serve
Let the rolls sit for about 5 minutes after baking, then serve them warm, spooning extra sauce over each serving.
