The Classic

• The classic dinner roll is round and warm and soft and makes the ideal accompaniment to stews, turkey dinners and soups. This kind of dinner roll is usually fluffier than it is flaky, resembling a little pillow on the plate or in the bowl. To achieve the soft, fluffy texture, you must be patient with the preparation of the dough and follow the instructions of the recipe closely. Check to ensure the yeast you are using is still active, because if it isn't you won't get the results you want. Pour roughly a half-cup of lukewarm water into a cup and then sprinkle yeast over the top of the water and add a pinch of sugar. If the yeast dissolves into the water and the water starts to bubble, the yeast is active. Allow your dough to rise according to the recipe before baking for the fluffiest rolls.

More Pastry Than Roll

• For those who prize a much flakier roll than the classic, biscuits that are more pastry than roll give the ultimate flaky look. For these, the key is to handle the dough in such a way that encourages those flaky layers. Rather than use a food processor to incorporate the butter into the dough, use your hands and pinch 1/8-inch-thick slices of chilled butter into the size of nickels. Roll the dough out and fold it into thirds, with slices of butter between each layer.

Taking Shape

• When creating the classic dinner roll, making the right shape before they rise and bake helps give them the look you want. When you roll the dough into balls, you shouldn't roll it all the way around. Hold the ball in one hand, but keep the same side facing up while spinning the dough in place with the other hand. This will help to seal the bottom and stretch the top for the ideal amount of rise when they are in the oven.

Serving Suggestions

• It's always a good thing to look for your creativity in the kitchen, but sometimes the simple way is the best way. Serving dinner rolls when they are warm with regular, salted butter is magical on its own, or for any of the dunking or sopping functions your dinner rolls are being used for. The flakier dinner biscuits also benefit from being served warm with butter.