These gluten free Texas Roadhouse-style rolls are tender, light and fluffy, but they're safely gluten free. Let that bread basket pass you by and try these instead!
Up front true confession: I've never been to a Texas Roadhouse Restaurant. I looked them up and it turns out that they opened a location right near me. I'd totally be in it for the rolls, though, and since they don't make them gluten free … well you know how that goes.
The bread dough, like the others in the style of those in this new Gluten Free on a Shoestring Bakes Bread style, does better with a slow first rise in the refrigerator. I prefer at least 12 hours for that cold rise.
I have also made it in one day, by allowing the dough to rise and then just chilling it a bit in the refrigerator for easier handling. Although the dough is a bit harder to handle and the rise is not exactly as uniform, it still works quite well.
The secret to that thin, crackly, buttery crust is to brush the rolls with honey butter both right before and right after baking. And they bake just until the tops are lightly golden brown.
The blunt edges on the four sides of these square rolls coax the shaped rolls to rise up instead of out. So they're just these puffy, sweet little pillows of gluten free bread, like you never thought you'd taste bread again.
This style of gluten free bread requires dairy
I wrote a book about gluten free bread called Gluten Free on a Shoestring Bakes Bread in 2013. It was the book that I demanded to write, and the one that I refused to write unless I felt confident that I had developed a method that was more familiar and truly limitless.
To make the “new style” of gluten free bread recipes possible, I developed a DIY gluten free bread flour blend that made possible a gluten free dough that could be shaped and handled without much extra liquid, like the batter-style gluten free bread recipes do.
But it absolutely requires dairy in the form of whey protein isolate, a nearly pure form of casein (milk protein) that behaves remarkably like gluten in the oven. I like Opportuniteas brand grass red whey protein isolate, and I have everything linked in my online shop.
The gluten free bread flour blend also requires Expandex, a chemically modified tapioca starch that you can find rather easily today on Amazon. The name of the company that packages and sells it there seems to change names every now and again, but I have a link in my online shop for that also.
Note for readers outside the U.S.
In the U.K. and many other places under the name “Ultratex 3,” which requires just a different proportion of ingredients. Please see the full discussion here on the Resources page.
To be clear, the batter-style bread recipes, like our lovely gluten free white sandwich bread, absolutely still work and many (many) readers consider them family staples. I am among them!
But sometimes, like with these gluten free Texas Roadhouse-style rolls, I want more. And this is how we do it.
In the bread book, I do recommend two dairy-free protein powders that can be used instead of whey protein isolate, but they require you to use 150% of the liquid in each recipe and the results just aren't the same.
If you can't have dairy, I recommend using some of our other bread recipes, like this one for yeast-free gluten free dinner rolls. There are also ways for you to make yeasted gluten free dinner rolls with all purpose gluten free flour, instead of the gluten free bread flour in this recipe, and make substitutions for the dairy-containing milk and butter.
Is it worth trying this new type of gf bread dough?
You can imagine that my answer is yes, because I know what this type of gluten free bread dough. makes possible. And that feeling can be really inspiring, even if you don't use it very often.
If this is your first introduction to my GFOAS Bakes Bread-style bread, you may be overwhelmed. And I get it.
The whole thing sounds kind of wonky and overly complicated, even though it's designed to simplify as much as possible. It's unfamiliar, and the bread flour calls two ingredients (whey protein isolate and Expandex) that might not sound, well, delicious.
But they make things possible that weren't possible in gluten free baking before. And everything new can sound overwhelming—and is likely to be demonized.
When I published the first edition of my very first cookbook in 2011, my reliance on an all purpose gluten free flour was criticized by nearly everyone in the gluten free community.
That includes such standard-bearing publications as Gluten Free Living—even though they eventually came around and use the same type of blends in all their baking. Have a look at the earliest reviews on Amazon of the first edition of that book. Some are rough.
But all these years later, we're still here, baking better gluten free food. I'm not going to stop pushing that rock up the hill.
Ingredients and substitutions
Dairy: I'm afraid that dairy really is an essential part of this newer style of gluten free bread recipes. Please see the complete discussion above.
Egg: There is only one egg in this recipe, so I think you should be able to replace it with one “chia egg” (1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, mixed and allowed to gel).
Honey: The honey butter that we use for brushing the rolls before baking is what creates that beautiful thin crust on the outside of the rolls—and helps them brown so beautifully. If you can't have honey, you can either leave it out or replace it with Lyle's golden syrup or corn syrup.
Gluten Free Texas Roadhouse-Style Rolls
Ingredients
For the rolls
3 cups (420 g) Gluten Free Bread Flour, plus more for sprinkling (300 grams Better Batter or my mock blend + 75 grams whey protein isolate + 45 grams Expandex modified tapioca starch)
2 teaspoons (6 g) instant yeast
1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon (6 g) kosher salt
4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg (50 g, weighed out of shell), at room temperature
1 cup (8 fluid ounces) warm whole milk (about 95°F)
For brushing
3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon (21 g) honey
Instructions
To prepare the dough, place the flour, yeast, and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer, and use a handheld whisk to combine well. Add the salt, and whisk to combine. Add the butter, egg, and milk, and mix by hand (with a large mixing spoon or Danish whisk) until just combined. Then, place in the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, and mix on medium speed for about 5 minutes. The dough will be quite sticky, but should be smooth and stretchy. Spray a silicone spatula lightly with cooking oil spray, and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl or proofing bucket large enough for the dough to rise to double its size, and cover with an oiled piece of plastic wrap (or the oiled top to your proofing bucket). Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours and up to 5 days.
To use the dough the same day it is made, after making the dough, set the covered dough to rise in a warm, draft-free environment to allow it to rise to double its size (about 1 hour). Once it has doubled, place it in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or until it is chilled. This will make it much easier to handle. Then, continue with the rest of the recipe instructions.
When you’re ready to bake, line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper, and set it aside. Turn out the chilled dough onto a lightly floured surface and using a very light touch, sprinkle the dough with more flour and knead it lightly until it’s smoother. Fold the dough over on itself, and knead again, sprinkling very very lightly with more flour only as essential to prevent sticking. Do not work too much additional flour into the dough or you will lower the hydration ratio and the dough will not rise properly.
On a lightly-floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 6-inch x 8-inch rectangle, a bit more than 1/2-inch thick. Using a pizza cutter or metal bench scraper, cut out 12 approximately 2-inch squares of dough, each with 4 very blunt edges. Place the rolls about 2 inches apart from one another on the prepared baking sheet, cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap, and set in a warm, draft-free location to rise until nearly doubled in size (about 45 minutes, but rising time will vary greatly depending upon the rising environment).
As the dough is nearing the end of its final rise, preheat your oven to 350°F. Once the dough has finished rising, place the 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and honey in a small, heat-safe bowl, and heat in a short burst in the microwave or in a double boiler until melted. Mix the honey and butter together well, uncover the rolls, and brush each generously but carefully with the honey butter. Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake until the tops of the rolls are lightly golden brown (about 12 minutes). Remove the rolls from the oven and brush once more with the honey butter before serving warm. Store any leftovers, once completely cooled, in a tightly sealed freezer-safe bag in the freezer. Refresh very briefly in the microwave before serving.
Adapted from my recipe from GFOAS Bakes Bread for Hawaiian Rolls. Originally published on the blog in 2014. Method unchanged, some photos and video new, some text new.
Haley Coffman says
Could I substitute egg white protein for the whey?
Nicole Hunn says
No, Haley, I’m afraid that does not work the same at all. When I was developing the bread flour blend, I tried using egg white protein powder and it was a disaster. Egg whites are very drying.
GF Mum says
Nicole,
The dough is on its first rise by the fireplace. Can’t wait to try it!
Carletta says
Would love to try this recipe
Karen says
I followed this recipe exactly, even weighing everything in grams’ but it was much too wet to roll out. It chilled for more than 24 hours. How can you tell when you make the dough if it is right consistency?
Nicole Hunn says
Did you make any substitutions, Karen, including in the flour blend? This recipe is only designed for my specific gluten free bread flour blend, and will not work with any substitutions. You also must measure by weight. I’m afraid without being there with you, I can’t be sure where you veered from the recipe, but it might be worth your checking the Bread FAQs page here on the blog.
Connie says
Could I replace the egg with flax or chia? We have egg allergies. Also do you know of any adjustments I would need to make for for high altitude? I’m at 5200 feet.
Nicole Hunn says
Please see the Ingredients and substitutions section for your first question, Connie. And I’m afraid I don’t have any experience baking at high altitude, so I can’t offer any guidance except to point out that gluten free baking doesn’t require adjustments for high altitude baking outside of conventional adjustments.
Eileen says
Is it possible to freeze the dough for future baking ? If so, what steps are necessary?
Nicole Hunn says
I discuss freezing the rolls in the recipe instructions, Eileen. I don’t ever recommend freezing raw yeast dough, though, no.
Lisa Corbett says
Where do you buy and what brand of whey protein isolate do you use? thanks!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Lisa, I linked to the ingredients on the flour blends page, but I also meant to link to them in the recipe post—and I will make that edit right away! Thank you for asking this question. I really like Opportuniteas brand grass-fed whey protein isolate, but there are others. You can find a link in my online shop: https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/product-category/gluten-free-flours/
Lilach Levy says
can’t wait to try those!! We love your Hmburger/Hot dog buns so much and use your GFOAS Bakes bread all the time.
Thank you for trying more and more new things :)
Amanda Smith says
How ironic. We just ate there the other day, and my fiance turned down having the rolls on the table so I wouldn’t be tempted. Now I can tempt him with some that even I can eat. Thank you oh so much.
Kim Scott Dehlbom says
I tried for years to bake the perfect melt-in-your-mouth yeast rolls that everyone would beg for. I finally perfected it and then found out that my husband’s many health issues were attributed to a severe gluten intolerance. Go figure! I just ordered your book and can’t wait for it to get here!
Nicole Hunn says
Oh no, Kim. You must have been grateful to know how to help him get well, but also so sad to give up those rolls. It’s at that intersection … that I endeavor to come in. :)
Cyndi says
They look delicious! Is there a way to substitute the Expandex? I am leary about their process and the use of chemicals which we are trying to eliminate as much as possible from our diet due to some health issues.. Thanks!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid not, Cyndi. The Expandex (or Ultratex 3 in its place) is essential to my bread flour blend. If you read the label of any processed food you might eat, it will have some sort of modified food starch in it—and a whole lot else.
Shelley Perreault says
Hi Nicole: Will these freeze well? Baking a bumch of stuff ahead of some major surgery so Beloved doesnt have a meltdownntrying to figure out cooking, personal schedules, dog training and working on top of trying to look after me. These would be a welcome addition to what I have planned. Thanks!!! ♡
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Shelley, I can say with confidence that, after baking, these rolls freeze perfectly. I have done it myself. I wish you lots of luck in your surgery. Hope all goes perfectly. :)
Mare Masterson says
I go away and you post an actual new recipe that looks amazing on a Friday! What a treat! Should I go away more often folks :) ? And now, this! WOW! Happy, happy, happy, happy! Did I tell you how happy I am?
Nicole Hunn says
Mare! Definitely don’t go away more often. We missed you. :)
Kathleen says
As soon as my 10 year old gets home from school, I am showing her this recipe. She and I used to LOVE these when we ate there. We miss the bread, but this totally makes up for it! Thank You!
Nicole Hunn says
Oh that’s so great, Kathleen! I hope you and she make beautiful rolls together. :)
Jennifer S. says
LOVE THIS OPTION! I’m not sure if we have one of these restaurants but man they look so yummy! made tons of biscuits this weekend – so freakin’ good! :)
Nicole Hunn says
Biscuits for the freezer, I bet, Jennifer! ;)
Jennifer S. says
Yep – we ate a whole batch and froze a batch. Yum!
Christy says
We eat at Texas Roadhouse for lunch EVERY Saturday and have for going on 6 years. My daughter and I miss the bread so much. These probably won’t make it for the 12 hour rise. :)
Nicole Hunn says
Oh, Christy, I wish you could make these and bring them with you so you could enjoy the whole experience at the same time! ;)
Christy says
I’m definitely making these this week, just not today. It’s housework day :( I love that it uses the Hawaiian Roll Dough. I’ve tried and tried to figure out how to convert that one for my daughter with severe fructose malabsorption, but all the possible substitutions would entirely change the recipe. Now I don’t have to change it to get a roll that she will LOVE!
Stephanie M says
oh man! These look ah-mazing so excited to try them! I used to love them!
BTW… made the soft hamburger buns this weekend, and my husband was still raving about how awesome they were this morning! :)
Nicole Hunn says
That’s the best, Stephanie, when the bread love spills over into the next day. Well done!
aszahniser1267 . says
Is the butter in this recipe an addition to the original amount or in place of?