Lambert’s Yeast Rolls Recipe (Copycat)
These yeast dinner rolls are the perfect addition to any dinner table. They’re light and fluffy, with a touch of sweetness. And they’re so easy to make! Just follow the recipe below and you’ll have fresh, homemade rolls that will remind you of the famous Lambert’s Throwed Rolls.
Lambert’s Cafe
Lambert’s Cafe is known for its comfort food and Southern hospitality. With a history dating back to the 1940s, Lambert’s has become an institution in its own right, famous not only for its “pass arounds” but also for its unique approach to service.
Fondly known as the “Home of Throwed Rolls,” Lambert’s has mastered the art of tossing freshly baked rolls across the dining room to eager patrons – a tradition that embodies their commitment to both delicious food and a warm, engaging dining experience.
There are three locations of Lambert’s Café: 2 in Missouri and one in Foley, Alabama. The Foley, Alabama location is an inviting stop for travelers headed to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Because we can’t all be on our way to the beach and stop at Lambert’s, here are two recipes for delicious rolls that taste like Lambert’s Throwed Rolls – one recipe for everyone, and one recipe for those who have bread machines.
Roll Ingredients
To make these yeast rolls, you need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 egg
How To Make Yeast Rolls
To make them without a bread machine, you start by warming the milk. I microwave it on HIGH for 40 seconds. It’s important to not heat it too hot or it will kill the yeast.
Stir the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar into the warm milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. This will allow it time for the yeast to bloom. Meanwhile, melt the butter. (30 seconds on HIGH in the microwave should do the trick.). Let it cool.
Place the flour, remaining sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture, butter, and egg and mix at LOW speed until it has all been combined. Increase the speed and knead for 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove the dough from the mixer bowl. Drizzle a small amount of oil into the mixer bowl or lightly spray the bowl with non-stick spray. Put the dough back into the bowl and lightly oil the top of the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm environment for 1 hour.
Remove the dough from the bowl and form it into 24 balls. Place 2 balls into a muffin pan cup. Repeat with the remaining dough. Allow rolls to rise for 30 – 45 minutes.
Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Working With Yeast Tips
Yeast is a living, single-cell fungi. While it is possible to “catch” wild yeast, it is much easier to buy a packet or jar at the grocery store. There are two types that are typically involved with bread making: dry active and instant (or rapid rise). Here are a few things you should know when working with yeast:
- Yeast can be added directly to dry ingredients or dissolved in water (use 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey in 1/2 cup of water that is 110°F-115°F). If the water is too hot, you will kill it.
- When dissolving yeast in water, allow it to sit for 5 – 10 minutes. If it does not form a foam at the top, toss it out.
- Dry yeast works best when used at room temperature.
- To help speed up the rising process, turn on your oven and let it warm up to 150 degrees. Turn the oven off and place your dough in the warm, draft-free oven. You can place a pan of water in the oven to help keep the dough soft.
- Dough is usually ready when it has doubled in size.
- To extend the life of yeast in a jar, place it in the refrigerator or freezer. Allow the yeast to come to room temperature when using.
If you like yeast rolls, I bet you will love my recipes for orange rolls and cinnamon rolls.
Lambert’s Yeast Rolls (clone)
Equipment
- Mixer
- muffin pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup sugar divided
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Warm the milk in the microwave at HIGH for 40 seconds.
- Stir the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar into the warm milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Place the flour, remaining sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture, butter, and egg and mix at LOW speed until combined. Increase the speed and knead for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the mixer bowl. Drizzle a small amount of oil into the mixer bowl or lightly spray the bowl with non-stick spray. Put the dough back into the bowl and lightly oil the top of the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm environment for 1 hour.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and form into 24 balls. Place 2 balls into a muffin pan cup. Repeat with remaining dough. Allow rolls to rise for 30 – 45 minutes.
- Bake in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Nutrition
Bread Machine Yeast Rolls Recipe
If you have a bread machine, place the ingredients in the machine according to the manufacturer’s directions using the DOUGH cycle.
Lightly spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray.
Upon completion, divide the dough into 24 balls. Place two balls side-by-side in a muffin pan cup. Allow them to rise 30-45 minutes.
Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Lambert’s Throwed Rolls Bread Machine Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet of yeast)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Place ingredients in bread machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. Run dough cycle. (I put the egg in just after the machine starts to run.)
- Lightly spray muffin pan with non-stick spray.
- Upon completion, divide dough into 24 balls. Place two balls side-by-side in muffin pan cup.
- Allow to rise 30-45 minutes.
- Bake in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Nutrition
Be sure to come back and tell us how your dinner rolls turned out!
These rolls are the best. I make them almost every day and I freeze left overs. My Grandson loves them and will not eat regular bread. Thank you for this great recipe.
That makes my heart so happy to hear that you love the recipe. Thanks for taking the time to come back and share your experience.
Very quick to make. The dough is a little more sticky than other recipes I have used but the rolls are soft and delicious
Last week we took our preschoolers to Lambert’s in Foley. Predictably, they loved the “throwed rolls.” I tried this recipe today using my bread machine —- outstanding! The little ones even asked it I could throw them the rolls (I didn’t). Thanks so much for working out this recipe and for posting it. It will become a favorite at our house.
I am so glad to hear that. I hope the little ones weren’t too disappointed about them not being thrown.
Should they be covered when they rise in the ball formation?
I don’t cover mine. Sometimes I will lightly spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
Good food
Roll
Yum. I pinned these for later. I love using my bread machine.
Those look really, really good!
I’ve always wanted to visit Lambert’s just for the rolls but I’ve never considered making the rolls at home. Great idea!
Thanks for the great roll recipe… and the great tip on where to eat the next time I am in the Gulf Shores (or even Pensacola) area!
I’ve never made my own rolls before. I bet these would be yummy!
I haven’t eaten at Lambert’s but several people I know talk about how good it is. Hopefully one day I’ll get to try it for myself. Until then I’ll have to try your clones :).
OH YUM!!! I’ve never been to a Lambert’s but my Grandma & Mom make their rolls from scratch.