Taro Rolls: Hawaiian-Style Sweet and Fluffy Purple Dinner Buns Recipe
Taro rolls are a delightful Hawaiian twist on classic dinner rolls, featuring a slightly sweet, light, and fluffy purple bread made with poi. This easy-to-make recipe yields soft, vibrant rolls perfect as a side dish to complement any meal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 15 rolls
- Category: Sides
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup warm milk
- 1 cup poi
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp purple food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, sugar, and instant yeast. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add ¼ cup warm milk, poi, egg, and softened butter. Using the paddle attachment, mix until fully combined. Add the purple food coloring and mix until the color is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Add flour mixture: Remove the paddle and attach the dough hook. Gradually add the flour mixture in sections to the wet ingredients. Mix well between additions. Slowly add the remaining milk mixture as needed, depending on the poi’s consistency and humidity to achieve the proper dough texture.
- Knead the dough: Knead the dough on medium speed for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough will be wet to the touch but should no longer stick to your fingers when handled with clean hands.
- Shape the dough: Divide the dough into 15 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball by rolling it using a cupped hand motion to create a taut surface.
- Let dough rise: Grease or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Arrange the dough balls in 5 rows of 3. Cover the dish with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, which may vary based on temperature and humidity.
- Preheat oven: Set the oven to 325°F (163°C) to preheat during the final rise.
- Bake the rolls: Once the dough has doubled, bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops begin to brown lightly.
- Cool and serve: Allow the rolls to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy these soft, flavorful taro rolls warm as a perfect side for your Hawaiian-inspired meals.
Notes
- Add the liquid ingredients in sections, as poi consistency varies by brand. This helps control the dough’s wetness.
- Using a stand mixer with a dough hook simplifies kneading but mixing by hand with a wooden spoon and kneading manually also works.
- To shape rolls with a smooth, taut surface, cup your hand in a ‘C’ shape and roll the dough balls on the work surface until the dough is tight and smooth.
- Allowing the dough to rise fully is crucial for light, airy, and flavorful rolls—do not rush this step.
- To achieve a golden brown crust, consider brushing the rolls with a whisked egg before baking.
