These vegan Hawaiian rolls are so soft and remind you of the store bought version. Perfect for sandwiches, dinner rolls, and more!
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If you have never had Hawaiian rolls, then you may not know what you’re missing. However, if you’ve had then and now vegan you know why this recipe is so perfect. These vegan Hawaiian rolls are just so dang good.
They are sweet rolls they are soft and buttery and because of that combination they make the absolutely most perfect dinner rolls or sandwiches.
Can I prep these vegan Hawaiian rolls ahead?
Yes! They will last in an air tight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze vegan Hawaiian rolls?
Yes! Let them cool completely and then put in an air tight freezer container or wrap tightly in foil. Foil specifically helps reduce the chance of frost bite.
Use within 3 months.
Can I make vegan Hawaiian rolls Top 8 Allergen Free?
Unfortunately, at the time, we cannot recommend using a gluten free flour with this recipe. Please know that we are working on a gluten free dough, but it’s just not quite there yet.
For the vegan butter, we recommend Earth Balance Soy Free, it comes in a red tub.
I’M OIL FREE, DO I HAVE TO USE VEGAN BUTTER?
If you are oil free, you do not have to use vegan butter. However, the buns will be lighter in color and not as flakey on the top.
We would recommend that you brush lightly with plant based milk.
Can I reheat these?
Absolutely! Just pop them into the microwave for 15 seconds at a time until they are heated throughout.
If you are using them from frozen, let them sit out overnight, then proceed with above.
What should I pair with these vegan rolls?
There are so many options. Honestly, eating them straight out of the pan is a perfect option by itself.
However, we’d also recommend you turning them into vegan ham and cheese sliders as pictured above.
They’d also be great paired with:
- Pair with Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Use for buns for our vegan protein burgers (make mini burgers) or vegan sloppy joes
- Dip in your favorite soup or try with our vegan sweet potato stew or vegan apple chili
Pin these vegan Hawaiian Rolls for later:
🥳 Get the Full Recipe
Vegan Hawaiian Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups pineapple juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 ½ – 4 cups flour (we prefer bread, can use all-purpose or whole wheat – see post for details)
- 2 tablespoon potato starch
- 1 package instant yeast (1 package = equals 2 ¼ tsp)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup vegan butter, divided
Instructions
- Combine the pineapple juice and vanilla Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, whisk together 3 ½ cups flour, potato starch, yeast, brown sugar and salt.
- Add in the pineapple juice mixture.
- Let stand mixer go until dough has come together and easily coming off sides. Will be a little sticky.
- Place dough on a lightly floured surface and sprinkle with some flour on top (enough for it to not stick to your hands). Form dough into a ball.
- Once ball is formed, grease the same bowl mixed in and place the dough ball back into the bowl. *If you are oil free, then just make sure sides of bowl are floured, or use a silicone bowl to easily get it out
- Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 60-90 minutes in a warm, draft free place until doubled.
- Once doubled, punch down dough and then pull off pieces into 16 even sizes. (We prefer to weigh the whole ball and then divide by 16 to ensure as even as possible).
- With each piece, fold sides under and roll into balls.
- Place each ball, seam side down, into a greased or parchment lined 9×13 baking pan.
- Cover pan and let rise for another 30 minutes. *After this rise, you want the dough balls to be touching each other. If they are not touching, give them a little bit longer.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees while rising this second time.
- Using ⅓ cup of melted butter, brush each roll liberally.
- Put into oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven.
- Right before serving brush with remaining ⅓ cup melted butter again. Best served warmed.
Hi! Do you need to activate the yeast in warm water? Thank you!
not for this recipe!
Hey
I love all your recipe 🙂
I was wondering if for this one I could replace the potato starch for corn starch, as I can’t seem to find any here in Uk.
Thankyou in advance
Hi. Yes you can, same amount
Hi, I am planning to try this recipe with a 1:1 gluten free flour blend for Thanksgiving this week, any suggestions or recommendations? I have REALLY been missing Hawaiian bread since going gluten free & am excited to try this!
We don’t have suggestions to make our dough recipes GF at this time
the dough is very sticky, not sure if it’s because I used all purpose flour. The rolls don’t taste like Hawaiian rolls at all. Just taste like your regular yeast rolls. I followed the recipe exactly, only change was all purpose flour. I had to use 4 cups to get the dough to be workable with hand.
Thanks for the feedback!
There isn’t be much of a difference between All-purpose flour or Bread flour that would cause the dough to be more and/or less sticky. The stickiness comes from the hydration ratio between the liquids and the flour. Working with bread dough can be very tricky. There can be numerous factors to consider; the freshness of your flour or yeast or any of the ingredients, the amount of liquid, the temperature and humidity, the mixing and kneading method, etc.
It’s also tough to taste the pineapple if the juice isn’t that potent. For example, canned pineapple juice seems to be underwhelming in flavor in comparison to pineapple juice off the shelf. So we do our best to address some of those things in the recipe. Such as putting 3 1/2 cups to 4 cups flour, possibly needed.
Or even trying to help the cook/recipe maker understand what to look for such a step 4 that references, “the dough will be sticky.”
I hope this gives some perspective and I’ll work on adding more clarity to the recipe post for others trying it out. Thanks again!
Mine came out so sticky 🙁 they came out with so many air bubbles too they kinda look like biscuits what did I do wrong? Help !
Hi, we’d be happy to troubleshoot. Did you make any changes?
Hi, what can you sub if you don’t have pineapple juice?
pineapple juice is what gives them the Hawaiian flavors. Otherwise you could just make regular dinner rolls: https://makeitdairyfree.com/the-best-vegan-dinner-rolls/
I am looking to just make a loaf of Hawaiian bread so that I can make some vegan spinach dip, could I do that with this recipe? and do you know how long i would cook it by chance? THANK YOU. i have missed the hawaiian bread + dip since going vegan.
Yes you could, it may make 2 loaves. Instead of splitting apart just shape in a loaf shape. It would probably need 50-60 minutes to cook
Made this for thanksgiving today and it so bomb!! The whole family loved it even though they aren’t vegan. Picky teenage brother said it was his fav dish. Im going to be making again from now on
We’re so happy to hear it was enjoyable! Thanks for taking time out of your day to write a review, it’s much appreciated!