We are going to try to keep our cool here. But the sight of that plastic-wrapped aluminum tin of yeast rolls to the left just about sends us over the edge. We can't buy them in New York (although we have—more than once—carried them, frozen, on a plane from Tennessee).
Sister Schubert's rolls have cult status in the Deep South. Every Southerner we know had a grandmother who made these rolls from scratch, pinched over like two swollen lips, covered in butter, browned on top. And yet every Southerner we know has abandoned all homemade efforts in favor of Sister Schubert's. Which is why we loved this article from The New York Times by one of our favorite food writers (and fellow Southerner) John T. Edge. It's everything we always wanted to know about Sister but were afraid to ask...
To be fair, the article also prominently addresses Marshall's biscuits, which, like Sister Schubert's rolls, have their roots in Alabama. Interestingly, both brands are now made by the same company, which is based in Ohio. (We're considering sending Faith on a fact-finding mission.)
The article also makes an important distinction. These rolls and biscuits are nothing like the sticky, exploding dough that pulses out of the Pillsbury cans. These taste homemade. These are pre-baked, just until barely done but not brown. These are good enough to serve at Thanksgiving.
And yet as Sister Schubert's has become a bigger and bigger phenomenon, we've never heard much about who started the company—until now.
• Read the article: But Surely They're Homemade? from The New York Times.
• Visit the Sister Schubert's website.
We eat Sister Schubert's rolls warm, with butter, any chance we get, and they are divine when stuffed with a little ham or pork tenderloin. They aren't as good leftover, in our opinion, so clean your plate.
Who else is a Sister Schubert's fan?
Related: Recipe: Potato Dough Rolls
(Image: Sister Schubert's)
Hmm. Here's one Southerner who hasn't given up homemade for Sister Schubert's! My mom/grandma/great grandma all made their southern-style yeast rolls from scratch (but ONLY for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).
I follow tradition and make my own, around Christmastime every year. I have a non-Southern acquaintance who calls them "crack bread." Thanks for passing on the article; now I really want to make some rolls!
view lasomnambule's profile
These are a STAPLE in our southern house. My aunt still does make homemade yeast rolls for a lot of our holidays, but these are wonderful to pull out for parties and more casual events.
You cannot throw a big cocktail party in Kentucky without Sister Schubert's stuffed with country ham.
view lotusmoss's profile
Has anyone seen a way to buy them online? Northerner here, never tried them before, but now I MUST!
view gochrisgo's profile
I love them but I have found recipes that are also easy to make and freeze.
view swoosan30's profile
@gochrisgo: You can buy them online at the Sister Schubert's website. Or find a Wal-Mart...
view Elizabeth P's profile
I can still find the plain ones here. But I am lazy so I generally look for the ones with the sausage stuffed ones. Occasionally you can find those or the cinnamon rolls.
But for folks in the DC metro area: Harris Teeter is the key.
view Clairebell's profile
My mom buys some kind of Sam's club biscuits that she likes to serve, but I make my own. Yeast rolls for holidays. I'm in an area with lots of great fresh baked goods available, so wouldn't rely on this. Curious to try Sister.
view Kate (NC)'s profile
FYI - if you have a Chick Fil A nearby, they use Schubert rolls for their Chicken Minis in the morning.
view harryfrank's profile
A friend who owns a restaurant maintains it's more about ego than about food when a person insists upon making something from scratch that he can buy pre-made that tastes as good or better. All hail Sister Schubert. And she makes more than the puckered-lips dinner rolls...biscuits, even cornbread on occasion, though I see that less often than the others.
view 39520expat's profile
Sister Schubert knows her stuff! I was born and raised in the South and am a constant defender of making things from scratch, but these rolls are just amazing! Kroger has even started making a generic brand of them that are pretty darn good too. Also, the sausage rolls she makes are sinfully delicious!!!
view 7lina7's profile
On Saturday we had a big dinner at my parent's house. My mom passed over a plate of brown'n'serve rolls to my 14 year old son - who loves all things bread - and he just stared at them sadly for minute, then said "NO SISTER SCHUBERTS??????"
view abaxSC's profile
My SO loooooooooooves those.
view UptownGirl's profile
The "Sister Schubees" (as my family affectionately calls them) Dinner Rolls are equally as delectable. A larger, "dinner size" roll perfect for sandwiches - you can get a whole piece of my dad's beef tenderloin with a little horseradish sauce too - favorite. food. ever.
view audreyb's profile
Thank you so much for this post! I moved to North Carolina a few years ago & had not yet heard of Sister Schubert or her yeast rolls. I absolutely adore yeast rolls, so I had to try these as soon as possible. I baked up a pan with tonight's dinner and they were great! It's still much cheaper to make yeast rolls by hand, but if I'm ever short on time & need to satisfy a craving, I'll definitely turn to Sister again.
view Nougat's profile
When I lived in NY I ordered them online...they arrived still frozen and perfectly delicious!
view mbskip's profile