Old-fashioned southern butter roll is comfort food dessert decadence. It's inexpensive, simple to make and brings back precious memories at mamaw's house.
Be ready! This is one of those desserts you'll find yourself wanting to eat directly from the pan. The flaky, rich biscuit dough puffs up and soaks in a decadent vanilla sweet glaze that's poured on top. Just one bite takes me back to mamaw and papaw's old Kentucky home!
Mamaw told me "My mommy taught me how to make butter roll. We always had the ingredients on hand it was cheap to make." Mamaw's mother passed away when she was 13, but she taught her how to make so many recipes that she's now passed down to her children, to me, and now to y'all as well. Along with her Fried Apple Pies, Applesauce Jam Cake, and Turtle Cake, Butter Roll is one of her most requested recipes.
Saucey, sweet and ooey gooey, butter roll is made out of just a handful of inexpensive ingredients. Baked until golden brown and topped with vanilla ice cream, it's heaven on a plate.
Table of Contents
What You'll Need
- Self-Rising Flour
- Shortening
- Milk
- Butter
- Nutmeg
- Water
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Ice Cream, Optional
Tools You'll Need
- 13"x9" Baking Dish
- Rolling Pin, Optional
- Pastry Cutter, Optional
- Ice Cream Scoop, Optional
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The ingredients are likely already in your kitchen!
- It's a budget-friendly recipe!
- You can customize the flavors to your liking!
- Just one bite brings back sweet memories and it feels like home!
How to Make This Recipe
- First, you'll make the dough. In a medium bowl, using a pastry cutter, fork or your hands like mamaw, cut the flour and shortening together until it resembles a small crumble. Add milk and stir until it's a cohesive ball.
- Generously flour a flat surface, and turn the dough on top.
- Roll the dough with a rolling pin or flat cup into a 12"x20" rectangle. Using a knife or spreader, spread 8 tablespoon of the butter onto the dough in an even layer.
- If you'd like, sprinkle with nutmeg or your favorite butter roll fillings.
- Roll the dough up from the short end into 3 individual log rolls. Cut those 3 log rolls in half.
- Heat the remaining butter in a 13"x9" dish in the oven that's preheating to 450℉ until melted. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and place the rolls into the dish
- For the glaze, in a medium saucepan, stir together water, sugar and vanilla. Heat just until the sugar dissolves and comes to a boil. Carefully pour the syrup on top of the rolls.
- Bake 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350℉ and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Slice and serve with a spoon of the glaze on top. Optional, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Tips and Substitutions
- The shape of old-fashioned butter roll depends on the way your mamaw made it. It can be rolled into 3 logs like my mamaw does or into 2 larger logs. It can also be rolled cinnamon roll-style by rolling the flattened dough from the long side of the dough then cutting into 1-inch even rounds.
- Other ingredients folks like to put in the center of the dough for butter roll are cinnamon, chopped dried fruit and chopped pecans.
- The syrup poured on the dough will seem too thin. However, as it bakes, it'll thicken and puff up the dough.
Storage
- Allow the rolls to cool to room temperature before storing them. This will prevent them from becoming soggy. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent the rolls from drying out. Store the rolls in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- You can also freeze the rolls for up to 2-3 months. To freeze, wrap the rolls in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag.
- To reheat the rolls, remove them from the refrigerator or freezer and let them come to room temperature. You can then reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes until they are warmed through. You can also microwave them for 10-20 seconds, or until they are warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Make sure the butter is ice cold when cutting or grating into the flour. It should resemble a fine crumble when it's ready.
Cinnamon roll dough is typically made from a yeast-based recipe. Butter roll is more like a biscuit dough and doesn't include yeast.
Absolutely! Use a self-rising gluten free flour instead of regular self-rising flour is an option. If using an all-purpose gluten free flour, add 1 tablespoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt along with the flour.
While many recipes have ingredients that can be substituted with lower carbohydrate ones, this is one has proven to be a pretty difficult one to have less carbohydrates. The substitutions I've used for the sugar in the glaze lended a much less than desirable texture.
Well, it's called butter roll for a reason. You could omit a tablespoon or two and probably be safe to assume your dough will still be yummy. However, the butter is a big contributor to the flavor and richness of this dessert.
While it might turn out to be a delicious dessert, these types of dough yields a completely different texture than traditional southern old-fashioned butter roll.
More Recipes Like This
Mamaw's Old Fashioned Butter Roll
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups self-rising flour plus more for dusting
- ½ cup shortening
- ⅔ cup milk
- 10 tablespoon butter at room temperature
- ½-1 teaspoon Nutmeg optional
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vanilla Ice Cream optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450℉.
- In a medium bowl, using a pastry cutter, fork or your hands, cut the flour and shortening together until it resembles a small crumble. Add milk and stir until it's a cohesive ball.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Roll into a 12"x20" rectangle. Spread 8 tablespoon of the butter onto the dough in an even layer. If you'd like, sprinkle with nutmeg. Roll the dough up from the short end into 3 individual log rolls. Cut those 3 rolls in half.
- Heat the remaining butter in a 13"x9" dish in the oven until melted. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and place the rolls into the dish. (See pictures for how to roll, cut and place in the dish).
- In a medium saucepan, stir together water, sugar and vanilla. Heat until the sugar dissolves and it comes to a boil. Carefully pour the syrup on top of the rolls.
- Bake 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350℉ and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Slice and serve with a spoon of the glaze on top. Optional, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Patti
What are the measurements for the ingredients? This looks and sounds wonderful!!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so so much!! The recipe is at the bottom of the page where it can also be printed and pinned.
Pat
what are the measurements for the ingredients?
Laura Ashley
They're at the bottom of the recipe where it can also be printed and pinned.
Lori
I ‘m so excited to find this recipe! My Mama used to make Apple Butter Roll with chopped fresh apples. It was one of my favorites. She made two rolls in a lasagne size pan. I can taste it now! Can’t wait to try your family recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Laura Ashley
You're very welcome, Lori! I'm so happy you saw this and are going to try it too! My mamaw did that as well with apples and she calls it her Apple Roll. Boy is it delicious with cinnamon and a scoop of ice cream. I hope it tastes just like your mamas!
Janine
Looks rich and packed with flavor. I have never heard or seen of a recipe like this before.
I’m going to make this and share it for sure.
Your grandmaw looks so sweet like her recipe! 🤗
Laura Ashley
You’re so sweet! Thank you so much! I hope you love it too!
WG
This recipe was quick and easy to make. The family was talking about my mother’s butter roll and we googled this one and it was delicious. Just like what we remembered. Thank you for sharing.
Laura Ashley
You're very welcome! That makes my heart so happy to hear! Thank you so much for making it and liking it so much! I'm happy that it brought back those sweet memories!:)