Dinner Rolls Lab · Decision tree
Find your dinner roll
Three questions sort all 249 recipes into 8 groups. Each question is about one of the ingredients recipes disagree on most, and splits the recipes in front of it at their own median, so each answer keeps about half of them. Every group ends with its median recipe in grams and the real recipes nearest it.
The questions
Question 1
More egg than most, or less?
An egg enriches the dough and gives a golden crumb.
All 249 recipes: median 10% of the flour weight, 50 g per 500 g of flour; middle half 2% to 17%; 24% use none.
Question 2
More butter than most, or less?
Butter makes the rolls rich and pull-apart soft.
All 249 recipes: median 14% of the flour weight, 70 g per 500 g of flour; middle half 10% to 20%.
Asked within each answer to question 1, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.
Question 3
More sugar than most, or less?
Sugar or honey, more than in a sandwich loaf; Hawaiian-style rolls sit at the top.
All 249 recipes: median 10% of the flour weight, 50 g per 500 g of flour; middle half 6.7% to 13%.
Asked within each answer to question 2, split at the median of the recipes that gave it.
The key
Read left to right: pick an answer to question 1, then one of the answers beside it for question 2, and so on to a group. Each cell gives the answer, its bound in grams per 100 g of flour, and how many recipes give it.
| 1. Egg | 2. Butter | 3. Sugar | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreover 10%122 | Moreover 15%63 | Moreover 11%31 | A31 |
| Less11% or less32 | B32 | ||
| Less15% or less59 | Moreover 9.5%29 | C29 | |
| Less9.5% or less30 | D30 | ||
| Less10% or less127 | More13% or more59 | More10% or more32 | E32 |
| Lessunder 10%27 | F27 | ||
| Lessunder 13%68 | More8% or more35 | G35 | |
| Lessunder 8%33 | H33 |
The 8 groups
Each median recipe is the median of every ingredient over the group's recipes, scaled to 500 g of flour, beside the typical batch of all 249. Bold rows are the ingredients the questions asked about.
Group A · 31 recipes · 12% of all
More egg, more butter and more sugar
Egg over 10%, butter over 15% and sugar over 11% of the flour weight.
| At 500 g flour | Group A | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 260 gabout 1 cup | 305 g |
| Butter | 100 gabout 1/2 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 70 gabout 1/3 cup | 50 g |
| Egg | 85 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs | 50 g |
| Yeast | 10 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 7 g | 8 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, the medians of the 27 recipes here that state a temperature and the 31 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group A
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Garlic Parker House Rolls · iamafoodblog.comegg 16% · butter 24% · sugar 15%
- petits pains au lait moelleux · mesinspirationsculinaires.comegg 17% · butter 22% · sugar 13%
- Parker house rolls · misya.infoegg 14% · butter 17% · sugar 14%
- Panecillos caseros para bocadillos: los más tiernos y esponjosos · directoalpaladar.comegg 13% · butter 21% · sugar 12%
- Homemade Dinner Rolls · wellplated.comegg 21% · butter 15% · sugar 13%
Group B · 32 recipes · 12% of all
More egg, more butter and less sugar
Egg over 10%, butter over 15% and sugar 11% or less of the flour weight.
| At 500 g flour | Group B | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 280 gabout 1 1/4 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 115 gabout 1/2 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 45 gabout 1/4 cup | 50 g |
| Egg | 80 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs | 50 g |
| Yeast | 9 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 9 g | 8 g |
Bake365°F (185°C) for about 20 minutes, the medians of the 30 recipes here that state a temperature and the 31 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group B
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Dinner Rolls Recipe · preppykitchen.comegg 12% · butter 24% · sugar 8.9%
- Dinner Rolls · sugarspunrun.comegg 11% · butter 23% · sugar 5.7%
- Brioche Dinner Rolls · bromabakery.comegg 20% · butter 23% · sugar 10%
- Garlic Bread Dinner Rolls · sugarspunrun.comegg 18% · butter 23% · sugar 9.5%
- Classic Soft Dinner Rolls · thesubversivetable.comegg 16% · butter 18% · sugar 8%
Group C · 29 recipes · 11% of all
More egg, less butter and more sugar
Egg over 10%, butter 15% or less and sugar over 9.5% of the flour weight.
| At 500 g flour | Group C | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 295 gabout 1 1/4 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 60 gabout 1/4 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 60 gabout 1/3 cup | 50 g |
| Egg | 80 gabout 1 1/2 large eggs | 50 g |
| Yeast | 8 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 7 g | 8 g |
Bake375°F (190°C) for about 19 minutes, the medians of the 25 recipes here that state a temperature and the 28 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group C
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Herbed Dinner Rolls · tasteofhome.comegg 12% · butter 6.9% · sugar 12%
- Dinner Rolls · bettycrocker.comegg 11% · butter 12% · sugar 11%
- Panini soffici prugne e cannella · soniaperonaci.itegg 22% · butter 9.8% · sugar 14%
- Homemade Dinner Roll Recipe · feelgoodfoodie.netegg 11% · butter 12% · sugar 9.6%
- Freezer Crescent Rolls · tasteofhome.comegg 13% · butter 15% · sugar 13%
Group D · 30 recipes · 12% of all
More egg, less butter and less sugar
Egg over 10%, butter 15% or less and sugar 9.5% or less of the flour weight.
| At 500 g flour | Group D | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 295 gabout 1 1/4 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 50 gabout 1/4 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 34 gabout 2 1/2 tbsp | 50 g |
| Egg | 90 gabout 2 large eggs | 50 g |
| Yeast | 8 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 8 g | 8 g |
Bake375°F (190°C) for about 18 minutes, the medians of the 29 recipes here that state a temperature and the 29 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group D
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Receta de Zopf, trenza suiza de pan de leche · directoalpaladar.comegg 20% · butter 11% · sugar 4%
- Cornmeal Yeast Rolls · plainchicken.comegg 13% · butter 11% · sugar 6.6%
- Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe · sallysbakingaddiction.comegg 13% · butter 14% · sugar 6.4%
- No Knead Dinner Rolls · plainchicken.comegg 13% · butter 11% · sugar 6.7%
- Crescent Rolls · kirbiecravings.comegg 23% · butter 13% · sugar 4.3%
Group E · 32 recipes · 12% of all
Less egg, more butter and more sugar
Egg 10% or less, butter 13% or more and sugar 10% or more of the flour weight. 12 of the 32 use no egg.
| At 500 g flour | Group E | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 315 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 100 gabout 1/2 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 70 gabout 1/3 cup | 50 g |
| Egg | 31 gabout 1/2 large egg | 50 g |
| Yeast | 9 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 6 g | 8 g |
Bake375°F (190°C) for about 20 minutes, the medians of the 25 recipes here that state a temperature and the 29 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group E
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Garlic & Herb Parker House Rolls · mybakingaddiction.comegg 8% · butter 20% · sugar 11%
- Everything Parker House Rolls · bromabakery.comegg 8% · butter 18% · sugar 11%
- Parker House Rolls · mybakingaddiction.comegg 8% · butter 18% · sugar 11%
- Pains au lait au Cookeo : la meilleure recette · marmiton.orgegg 4.5% · butter 20% · sugar 14%
- Pains au lait au Monsieur Cuisine : la meilleure recette · marmiton.orgegg 4.5% · butter 20% · sugar 14%
Group F · 27 recipes · 10% of all
Less egg, more butter and less sugar
Egg 10% or less, butter 13% or more and sugar under 10% of the flour weight. 14 of the 27 use no egg.
| At 500 g flour | Group F | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 320 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 90 gabout 1/3 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 36 gabout 3 tbsp | 50 g |
| Egg | none | 50 g |
| Yeast | 8 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 9 g | 8 g |
Bake375°F (190°C) for about 18 minutes, the medians of the 24 recipes here that state a temperature and the 27 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group F
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls · 12tomatoes.comegg 0% · butter 15% · sugar 6.7%
- Pains au lait maison · cuisine.journaldesfemmes.fregg 4.5% · butter 20% · sugar 7.5%
- Easy Soft Dinner Rolls · cafedelites.comegg 0% · butter 17% · sugar 7.4%
- Petits pains au lait sans oeufs... · ptitchef.comegg 0% · butter 14% · sugar 8.6%
- Sweet Potato Buttermilk Crescent Roll Recipe · tasteandtellblog.comegg 6.1% · butter 16% · sugar 6.1%
Group G · 35 recipes · 14% of all
Less egg, less butter and more sugar
Egg 10% or less, butter under 13% and sugar 8% or more of the flour weight. 17 of the 35 use no egg.
| At 500 g flour | Group G | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 320 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 50 gabout 1/4 cup | 70 g |
| Sugar | 55 gabout 1/4 cup | 50 g |
| Egg | 18 gabout 1/2 large egg | 50 g |
| Yeast | 8 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 7 g | 8 g |
Bake350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, the medians of the 31 recipes here that state a temperature and the 34 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group G
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Yeast Rolls · tasteofhome.comegg 6.4% · butter 7% · sugar 13%
- Parker House Rolls · tasteofhome.comegg 7% · butter 11% · sugar 11%
- Petits pains au lait façon pitch · ptitchef.comegg 0% · butter 8.6% · sugar 11%
- Panini al latte · soniaperonaci.itegg 10% · butter 10% · sugar 12%
- Heavenly Crescent Rolls (3 Ways) · cleobuttera.comegg 7.6% · butter 13% · sugar 11%
Group H · 33 recipes · 13% of all
Less egg, less butter and less sugar
Egg 10% or less, butter under 13% and sugar under 8% of the flour weight. 19 of the 33 use no egg.
| At 500 g flour | Group H | All |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 500 g | 500 g |
| Liquid | 315 gabout 1 1/3 cups | 305 g |
| Butter | 46 gabout 3 1/2 tbsp | 70 g |
| Sugar | 25 gabout 2 tbsp | 50 g |
| Egg | none | 50 g |
| Yeast | 7 g | 8 g |
| Salt | 8 g | 8 g |
Bake375°F (190°C) for about 18 minutes, the medians of the 25 recipes here that state a temperature and the 28 that state a time.
Nearest the middle of group H
Closest to the group's median on every ingredient at once.
- Enriched Dough - Great for Dinner Rolls and Hamburger Buns · breadtopia.comegg 0% · butter 10% · sugar 5.4%
- Petits pains au lait maison : la recette facile · cuisine.journaldesfemmes.fregg 4.2% · butter 7% · sugar 7%
- Panecillos de leche (Pain au lait) · webosfritos.esegg 0% · butter 8% · sugar 4%
- Bollitos de naranja y lima con tang zhong: receta fácil para unos panecillos tiernos y esponjosos · directoalpaladar.comegg 3.6% · butter 11% · sugar 5%
- Pan de leche fácil, receta clásica para desayunos y meriendas · directoalpaladar.comegg 0% · butter 5.9% · sugar 4%
How the questions are chosen
Each ingredient is ranked by how much recipes disagree on it: the width of the middle half of recipes (25th to 75th percentile) divided by the median, less 4% for each place it sits down this lab's list of ingredients, so the ones that define the dish win near ties. For dinner rolls the order is egg (1.52), butter (0.71), sugar (0.59), yeast (0.56) and liquid (0.27), and the first 3 are asked. Salt is never asked about: recipes differ on it mostly by brand and taste.
Every split is at the median of the recipes in front of it, rounded to the percentage shown. Recipes exactly at the median go to whichever side leaves the two halves more even. No answer may keep fewer than 5 recipes; a group that could not be split further says so.
The recipes listed under each group are the 5 nearest its median on every ingredient at once, each scaled by how much recipes vary on it. Every recipe page links to the original for the method.