Lucy Makes Honey Butter Rolls Recipe with Sourdough Discard

These viral honey butter rolls, inspired by Lucy Makes are soft, fluffy, and made with sourdough discard and yeast. A simple from-scratch recipe with rich honey butter flavor everyone will love.

I’ve been following Lucy Makes (Lucy Smith) on Instagram, and the moment I saw her honey butter rolls, I knew I had to try them—and share them with you. This version uses sourdough discard and yeast for a soft, fluffy roll with that rich, buttery honey flavor. It’s one of those recipes that feels a little extra special but still fits into real life, making it perfect for family dinners or when you just want something warm and homemade on the table.

Lucy’s rolls are huge, but I decided to make mine just a little smaller. They’re still quite large and bakery-style, but if you prefer smaller dinner rolls, simply divide the dough into more sections before shaping.

These rolls are:

• incredibly soft and fluffy
• lightly sweet with honey flavor
• easy to make with sourdough discard
• perfect for holidays or Sunday dinner
• delicious served warm with honey butter

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

If you love soft homemade rolls, this recipe is going to become a favorite. The sourdough discard adds a little bit  of flavor without making the rolls tangy, while the yeast keeps the process simple and reliable.

I also love that this recipe works for real life. You don’t need an active bubbly starter or an all-day baking schedule. Just a little sourdough discard from the fridge and a few pantry staples.

The texture is what really makes these rolls stand out. They bake up super soft, fluffy, buttery, and golden on top with just a little sprinkle of coarse salt to balance the sweetness.

And if you’re feeding a crowd, this recipe is easily doubled.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through these links. I only recommend products I personally use and trust. Your support helps keep this blog running—thank you!

Key Ingredients

You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are a few important ones:

Sourdough Discard: This recipe is perfect for using up extra sourdough discard. You can use discard straight from the fridge.

Honey: Honey adds the perfect subtle sweetness and pairs beautifully with the buttery flavor of these rolls.

Yeast: A little yeast keeps the rolls light and fluffy while helping them rise more quickly than a traditional long-fermented sourdough roll recipe.

Butter: Softened butter adds richness and helps create that soft bakery-style texture.

How to Make Lucy’s Honey Butter Rolls

Step 1: Mix the Dough

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, warm water, sourdough discard, egg, honey, salt, and yeast. Using a dough hook attachment, mix on low speed for 1–2 minutes until the flour is absorbed. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue mixing for about 10 minutes until the dough becomes soft and smooth. Add the softened butter and mix for another 2–3 minutes until fully combined. The dough should look smooth, elastic, and slightly shiny.

Step 2: First Rise

Cover the dough and let it rise for 1–2 hours, or until nearly doubled in size.

Step 3: Shape the Rolls

At the end of the rising time, divide dough into 8 equal sections using a bench scraper. Using your hands, shape each piece into a tight dough ball and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you’d prefer smaller rolls, simply divide the dough into more sections before shaping. Cover and let the rolls rise for about 1 hour.

Step 4: Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Whisk together the egg wash ingredients and brush over the tops of the rolls for that extra golden shine. Sprinkle the top of your buns with coarse sea salt. Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Serve warm with honey butter.

Serving Suggestions

These sourdough discard honey butter rolls pair perfectly with:

• soups and chili
• holiday meals
• roast chicken
• barbecue
• weeknight dinners
• homemade cinnamon honey butter

They’re also incredible warmed up the next day with a little extra butter and honey.

Baking Tips & Variations

• Make smaller rolls by dividing the dough into 12–16 portions instead of 8.
• Use active sourdough discard straight from the fridge or room temperature discard.
• For extra flavor, brush warm rolls with melted honey butter after baking.
• This recipe doubles easily for holidays and gatherings.
• Be sure to fully knead the dough so the rolls bake up soft and fluffy.

Recipe FAQs

More Sourdough Bread Recipes

If you love baking with sourdough discard, here are a few more recipes to try next:

• Sourdough Strawberry Sweet Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe With Coconut Oil and Honey
• Same Day Sourdough Sandwich Bread Recipe
• Fluffy Sourdough Pancake Recipe with Discard
• Sourdough Sandwich Bread Made with Fresh Milled Flour

Want more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to my newsletter to receive the latest recipes, sourdough tips, and simple from-scratch inspiration.

If you make this recipe, please leave a rating on the recipe card below! I’d also love for you to tag me @autumn.chasingoursimple on Instagram so I can see what you’ve been baking!