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Home » Bread

Soft Gluten-Free Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Dairy-Free)

Published: Sep 4, 2022 · Modified: Sep 25, 2022 by Felicia Lim · This post may contain affiliate links

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Gluten-free pumpkin yeast rolls cooling on wire rack.
Gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls on wooden board.
A stack of gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls.

Soft, tender and moist, these gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls are a must-have at your Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas table! Flavored with pumpkin and vibrantly orange, these delicious dinner rolls are perfect for a festive holiday season! Totally dairy-free too, but no one would care! Go bake a batch today!

Gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls on wooden board.
Jump to:
  • Homemade Dinner Rolls Are the Best
  • Our Favorite Bread Recipes
  • Pumpkin Dinner Rolls for the Holiday Season
  • Why This Recipe Works:
  • Ingredients You’ll Need:
  • Recipes Notes + Substitutions:
  • Make Your Own Homemade Pumpkin Puree (so easy!)
  • How to Make Gluten-Free Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Step by Step)
  • Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
  • Recipes FAQs:
  • Other Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love:
  • Gluten-Free Bread Recipes to Bake:
  • Soft Gluten-Free Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Dairy-Free)

Homemade Dinner Rolls Are the Best

You might already know my penchant for making homemade bread – especially gluten-free yeast breads.

I have a fascination with preparing bread dough, watching the yeast work its magic and making the dough rise, before placing the dough in a hot oven and baking a loaf of fresh bread.

Gluten free pumpkin yeast rolls on wire rack.

Our Favorite Bread Recipes

Some of the most popular gluten-free bread recipes on the blog are:

  • Soft, Fluffy Gluten-Free Bread (Dairy-Free)
  • Buckwheat Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Brown Rice Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Potato Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Millet Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Sorghum Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Artisan No-Knead Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Rosemary Focaccia Bread (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls for the Holiday Season

We’ve been baking with plenty of pumpkin so far: pumpkin yeast bread, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cake roll, and of course we couldn’t leave out dinner rolls.

Because, let’s face it, the Thanksgiving feast and the Christmas table just isn’t complete without homemade rolls, right?

We’ve already got our favorite gluten-free dinner rolls, but I also wanted to add a seasonal fall twist this time of year, so I developed this recipe for pumpkin season: a gluten-free version of pumpkin dinner rolls.

Trust me, they are so soft and fluffy and delicious, you’ll want to make a batch (or two) of these pumpkin bread rolls this holiday season!

cornbread in a cast iron skillet
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Holding up a gluten-free pumpkin dinner roll.

Why This Recipe Works:

  • Simple Ingredients: The ingredients required for this gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls recipe are easily accessible at the local grocery store, and you might already have most (if not all) of the ingredients on hand!
  • Easy to Make: All you need to do is mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, then shape the dough into balls and let them rise before baking. No kneading required at all!
  • Perfect Texture: Golden brown on the outside, moist and tender inside, these gorgeous pumpkin yeast rolls are a must-have at your dinner table!
  • Totally Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free: Best of all, these fluffy pumpkin dinner rolls are 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten and lactose intolerances can enjoy them without worries! Everyone gets to have a homemade dinner roll this holiday season!
Freshly baked pumpkin dinner rolls in baking pan.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free pumpkin dinner roll recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredients required for gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls recipe laid out on marble board.

Recipes Notes + Substitutions:

  • Pumpkin Puree: I like using fresh homemade pumpkin puree during pumpkin season (it’s super easy to make!), but feel free to use canned pumpkin too (just make sure you’re using canned pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling).
  • Eggs: Eggs help to bind the ingredients together, so make sure not to leave them out. If you prefer not to use the yolks, you can use 4 egg whites in place of the 2 whole eggs. I personally have not made this recipe egg-free, but if you are allergic to eggs, I believe you should be able to use acquafaba or an egg-replacer to substitute the eggs. (If you do make this pumpkin dinner roll recipe without eggs, please let me know how it goes in the comments below, I’d love to know!)
  • Warm Water: Make sure that the water you use is between 105 to 115F (the yeast requires warmth to be activated, but if the water is too hot the high heat will kill the yeast). You may also use warm non-dairy milk (such as almond milk, cashew milk, rice milk, soy milk, or oat milk). Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, you may also use warm normal milk.
  • Sunflower Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it on hand. You may also use melted vegan butter or another vegetable oil such as olive oil, melted coconut oil, or avocado oil. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use melted butter or ghee instead.
  • Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, and corn starch) for a lighter and fluffier final texture. I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that uses heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour) as that will result in a denser final texture.
  • Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to bind better together, so make sure you add it if your gluten-free flour blend doesn’t already include it.
  • Baking Powder: In addition to the yeast, baking powder helps the dough to rise even more. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free baking powder.
  • Psyllium Husk Powder: Psyllium husk powder adds structure and binding power to the dough, and in my opinion, adding psyllium husk powder really makes a big difference in how gluten-free yeast breads turn out. Make sure to use the powdered version. If you only have whole psyllium husks, you can grind the husks into powder using a coffee grinder or your high-speed blender.
  • Instant Yeast: I like using instant yeast because there is no prior activation period necessary and you can mix it directly with the other dry ingredients. If you only have active dry yeast, make sure to activate the yeast before you add it to the other ingredients (mix the yeast with the warm water and sugar and let it sit in a warm place for 5 minutes until the mixture is foamy).
  • Sugar: Sugar is the “food” for the yeast to feed on in order to be activated. I used white sugar, but you can also use light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar.

Make Your Own Homemade Pumpkin Puree (so easy!)

While you can easily buy canned pumpkin, I highly recommend that you make your own fresh pumpkin puree (especially during the fall season and pumpkins are abundant)!

Not only is it super easy to make, a large pumpkin can also yield various jars of pumpkin puree for your fall baking, which makes it cheaper overall. Plus, homemade pumpkin puree is also healthier and doesn’t have the preservatives that the canned version contains!

Here’s my easy tutorial for how to make your own pumpkin puree at home.

Hand holding a jar of freshly made pumpkin puree.

How to Make Gluten-Free Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Step by Step)

1. Grease and Line

Grease a 7″ x 10″ non-stick baking dish (or line it with parchment paper).

Using a yellow silicon brush to grease baking dish.

2. Whisk Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, sift the gluten-free all-purpose flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, psyllium husk powder, instant yeast, and sugar. Whisk well to combine.

3. Process Pumpkin and Eggs

Place the pumpkin puree and eggs in the bowl of your high-speed blender and process until you get a thick, creamy orange mixture.

Orange liquid mixture in blender.

4. Add Oil and Water

Transfer the pumpkin-egg mixture to a large mixing bowl and add water and oil. Mix well to get a orange liquid mixture.

Mixing yellow-orange liquid in glass bowl.

5. Add Dry Ingredients to Wet to Form Dough

Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients and mix well to get a homogeneous dough (you’ll get a wet and sticky dough that looks more like cake batter but that’s precisely the texture you want).

Mixing pumpkin bread dough in glass bowl.

6. Shape Dough into Balls

Using a regular ice cream scoop, scoop out a ball of dough and use oiled palms to roll the dough into a smooth ball (you should get approximately 12 balls).

7. Place Dough Balls on Baking Dish

Place dough balls in a single layer on the prepared baking dish (they should be barely touching each other).

Balls of pumpkin bread dough in baking sheet.

8. Let Dough Rise

Cover the baking dish with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise for the next 1 hour in a warm place that’s free of drafts of wind (the dough will have increased slightly in size but may not visibly double).

9. Preheat Oven

As the dough is finishing its rise, preheat the oven to 350F and arrange the wire rack to the middle third position.

10. Brush with Oil

Once dough has risen, brush the tops of the dough balls with oil.

Brushing tops of bread dough balls with oil.

11. Bake Until Golden

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven until the gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls are golden brown on top.

Freshly baked pumpkin yeast rolls in a pan.

12. Brush with More Oil and Serve

Brush the freshly baked dinner rolls with more oil and serve warm.

Brushing tops of pumpkin dinner rolls with oil.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

  • No Pumpkin Puree? I’ve used pumpkin puree to take advantage of pumpkin season, but you can always substitute the pumpkin puree with butternut squash puree or sweet potato puree instead.
  • Make Bagels: This dough is so versatile, you can even make these delicious pumpkin bagels with it!
A stack of pumpkin dinner rolls on wooden board.

Recipes FAQs:

How to Store Pumpkin Dinner Rolls?

To store, place the cooled pumpkin dinner rolls in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze These Pumpkin Yeast Rolls?

Yes you can. To freeze, wrap the dinner rolls in various layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat the rolls in the oven at 300F for a few minutes until warm before serving.

Pumpkin yeast rolls on wooden board.

Other Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bagels (Dairy-Free, No-Boil)
  • Moist Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars (Dairy-Free)
  • Moist Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cornbread (Dairy-Free)
  • Gluten-free Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
    Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cheesecake (No-Bake, Dairy-Free, Vegan)

Gluten-Free Bread Recipes to Bake:

  • Soft Gluten-Free Corn Tortillas (Dairy-Free, Vegan)
  • Low Carb Almond Flour Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • 21 Fluffy Gluten-Free Yeast Bread Recipes to Make on Repeat
  • Low Carb Coconut Flour Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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Soft Gluten-Free Pumpkin Dinner Rolls (Dairy-Free)


★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 12 dinner rolls 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

Soft, tender and moist, these gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls are a must-have at your Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas table! Flavored with pumpkin and vibrantly orange, these delicious dinner rolls are perfect for a festive holiday season! Totally dairy-free too, but no one would care! Go bake a batch today!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup warm water (between 105 and 115F)
  • 1/4 cup sunflower oil, plus more for brushing
  • 3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if you gluten-free flour blend already includes it)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons psyllium husk powder
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Grease and Line: Grease a 7″ x 10″ non-stick baking dish (or line it with parchment paper).
  2. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift the gluten-free all-purpose flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, psyllium husk powder, instant yeast, and sugar. Whisk well to combine.
  3. Process Pumpkin and Eggs: Place the pumpkin puree and eggs in the bowl of your high-speed blender and process until you get a thick, creamy orange mixture.
  4. Add Oil and Water: Transfer the pumpkin-egg mixture to a large mixing bowl and add water and oil. Mix well to get a orange liquid mixture.
  5. Add Dry Ingredients to Wet to Form Dough: Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with the wet ingredients and mix well to get a homogeneous dough (the dough will be sticky and wet and look more like cake batter but that’s precisely the texture you want).
  6. Shape Dough into Balls: Using a regular ice cream scoop, scoop out a ball of dough and use oiled palms to roll the dough into a ball (you should get approximately 12 balls).
  7. Place Balls on Baking Dish: Place dough balls in a single layer on the prepared baking dish (they should be barely touching each other).
  8. Let Dough Rise: Cover the baking dish with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise for the next 1 hour in a warm place that’s free of drafts of wind (the dough will have increased slightly in size but may not visibly double).
  9. Preheat Oven: As the dough is finishing its rise, preheat the oven to 350F and arrange the wire rack to the middle third position.
  10. Brush with Oil: Once dough has risen, brush the tops of the dough balls with oil.
  11. Bake Until Golden: Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls are golden brown on top.
  12. Brush with More Oil and Serve: Brush the freshly baked dinner rolls with more oil and serve warm.

Notes

Pumpkin Puree: I like using fresh homemade pumpkin puree during pumpkin season (it’s super easy to make!), but feel free to use canned pumpkin too (just make sure you’re using canned pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling).

Eggs: Eggs help to bind the ingredients together, so make sure not to leave them out. If you prefer not to use the yolks, you can use 4 egg whites in place of the 2 whole eggs. I personally have not made this recipe egg-free, but if you are allergic to eggs, I believe you should be able to use acquafaba or an egg-replacer to substitute the eggs. (If you do make this pumpkin dinner roll recipe without eggs, please let me know how it goes in the comments below, I’d love to know!)

Warm Water: Make sure that the water you use is between 105 to 115F (the yeast requires warmth to be activated, but if the water is too hot the high heat will kill the yeast). You may also use warm non-dairy milk (such as almond milk, cashew milk, rice milk, soy milk, or oat milk). Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, you may also use warm normal milk.

Sunflower Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it on hand. You may also use melted vegan butter or another vegetable oil such as olive oil, melted coconut oil, or avocado oil. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use melted butter or ghee instead.

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: I recommend using a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes lighter flours/starches (such as rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, and corn starch) for a lighter and fluffier final texture. I do NOT recommend using a gluten-free flour blend that uses heavier flours (such as garbanzo bean flour) as that will result in a denser final texture.

Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum is the replacement for gluten in gluten-free flours and helps the ingredients to bind better together, so make sure you add it if your gluten-free flour blend doesn’t already include it.

Baking Powder: In addition to the yeast, baking powder helps the dough to rise even more. If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use certified gluten-free baking powder.

Psyllium Husk Powder: Psyllium husk powder adds structure and binding power to the dough, and in my opinion, adding psyllium husk powder really makes a big difference in how gluten-free yeast breads turn out. Make sure to use the powdered version. If you only have whole psyllium husks, you can grind the husks into powder using a coffee grinder or your high-speed blender.

Instant Yeast: I like using instant yeast because there is no prior activation period necessary and you can mix it directly with the other dry ingredients. If you only have active dry yeast, make sure to activate the yeast before you add it to the other ingredients (mix the yeast with the warm water and sugar and let it sit in a warm place for 5 minutes until the mixture is foamy).

Sugar: Sugar is the “food” for the yeast to feed on in order to be activated. I used white sugar, but you can also use light brown sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar.

Storing/Freezing: To store, place the cooled pumpkin dinner rolls in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, wrap the dinner rolls in various layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat the rolls in the oven at 300F for a few minutes until warm before serving.

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Rising Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: gluten-free pumpkin dinner rolls

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram and hashtag it #dishbydish

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Gluten-Free Baguette Recipe (Dairy-Free) »

About Felicia

Hey you! I’m Felicia, a Singaporean girl who moved to Buenos Aires for love. A couple of things about me: I love food, writing and food photography. I wrote a grain-free ecookbook that I know you’ll love and I also do freelance writing and photography if you want to work with me. Follow me on this blog as I navigate the world of cooking gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free.

Did you make a recipe? Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram. I love to see what you cook!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Grace Lim says

    September 06, 2022 at 9:11 am

    Hello Felicia,
    This soft golden pumpkin dinner rolls are so extraordinarily yummy when I eat them with a rich spread of butter.

    I usually enjoy eating them anytime, not having to wait till dinner – haha you know what a bread lover I am!

    I am so thankful for all your bread recipes which are so easy to make.

    Love you,
    Mum

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Felicia Lim says

      September 07, 2022 at 5:03 am

      Hi mummy, both you and I love bread rolls, like mother like daughter!

      Reply

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I’m Felicia: a girl from Singapore who moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for love. My husband is Celiac so I test and share gluten-free recipes on my blog! I help people with food intolerances and allergies cook and eat delicious, healthy food! Stay a while, and let's be friends! ♥

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