Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls (Bread Machine)
These adorable Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls are soft, buttery, and perfect for fall gatherings like Halloween, Thanksgiving, or autumn dinners. Made easily with a bread machine, these festive rolls look like mini pumpkins — but don’t contain any pumpkin! They’re fluffy, golden, and fun to make with kitchen twine and a pretzel or rosemary “stem.”
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: ~2 hours
- Yield: 12 rolls (serves 6)
- Category: Bread, Side Dish
- Method: Bread Machine, Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup instant potato flakes
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp kosher salt
- 2¼ tsp instant yeast
- Decoration:
- Kitchen twine (cut into 8–10″ pieces, 4 per roll)
- 6 mini pretzel twists or fresh rosemary sprigs (for stems)
Instructions
- Add milk and melted butter to the bread machine pan.
- Add flour, potato flakes, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Select the dough cycle and let the machine knead and rise (about 90 minutes).
- Once done, transfer dough to a floured surface and divide into 12 equal portions (~2.3 oz each).
- Roll each portion into a smooth ball.
- Arrange 4 pieces of twine in a star shape, place dough ball in center, and tie gently to form pumpkin ridges. Trim excess.
- Place rolls on parchment-lined baking sheets (6 per sheet). Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake rolls for 18–20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Cool for 15 minutes, then snip and remove twine.
- Insert half a pretzel twist or a rosemary sprig into the top of each roll to form the stem.
Notes
- These rolls contain no pumpkin — just pumpkin-shaped fun!
- Brushing with melted butter after baking adds a shiny finish.
- Add herbs or garlic powder to the dough for a savory twist.
- They also make great slider buns for leftovers.
- Freeze cooled rolls in airtight bags for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
