This Kaiser Rolls recipe is perfect for any occasion. These rolls are soft, and fluffy and have a slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with any meal. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or just want to have some delicious bread on hand, these Kaiser Rolls will not disappoint.
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Kaiser Rolls
There’s something about the process of making these rolls that feels almost meditative. For me, this is a true kitchen staple, and one of the rolls that I grew up with in Egypt. While I know making bread from scratch can seem like a project, this recipe uses simple ingredients and I promise this recipe is really straightforward to follow. The reward is more than worth the effort.
As they bake, the most incredible, comforting aroma fills my entire house, building the excitement. And the final result is that perfect, soft and fluffy texture I look for—versatile enough to elevate a weeknight dinner, or to make the absolute best platform for a juicy, homemade burger
Kaiser Rolls
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour 500g plus more if needed
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast one ¼ oz envelop
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup tap water plus more if needed
- ½ cup cold milk
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- A little Oil for greasing a bowl
For garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Poppy seeds
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer combine flour, yeast, salt and sugar.
- In a measuring cup or microwave safe bowl combine cold milk and water, microwave for 30-45 seconds to warm them a bit.
- Add cold butter, this will reduce the mixture temperature a bit, then beat in one egg.
- Turn the mixer on and slowly pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and knead until you have a consistent and elastic dough that leaves the sides of the mixing bowl but still sticks to the bottom.
- Turn the dough into a clean working surface and knead with hands for a couple of minutes, If the dough is too sticky lightly dust your surface with flour.
- Lightly grease a large bowl with oil then place the dough in, cover and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough to deflate and divide into 12 equal balls about 70g each.
- Cover the balls with plastic wrap lightly brushed with oil.
- Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
Shaping Kaiser rolls:
- Take one ball of dough, keeping the rest covered, and roll into a long rope about 14-inch long.
- Tie the rope into a knot with about an inch open loop.
- Take the bottom tail up and over and tuck it into the center of the loop.
- Pull the other tail and wrap it under the loop pinching the ends together to seal under the bun.
- Place on the parchment lined sheet pinched side down. Repeat until you are done with all the rolls.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap brushed with a little oil and let them rise for another hour.
Baking:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water.
- Brush rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with some sesame seeds or poppy seeds or both.
- Bake in the center of your oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes / Variations
- Bread flour - I like to use King's Arthur Flour, however any brand of bread flour will work.
- Active dry yeast - For this recipe, you will want active yeast and not rapid-rise yeast.
- Salt - Table salt will work just fine in these homemade rolls.
- Unsalted butter - This will give your rolls a little fat to help keep them moist.
- Eggs - Eggs act as a binder and help give the rolls their airy texture.
- Cold milk - This will help activate the yeast and create a softer dough. Whole milk works best in breads.
- Sugar - Just a touch of sugar adds a hint of sweetness to balance out the savory flavors in these rolls.
- Oil - You can use any type of neutral flavored oil. I like to vegetable or canola oil in baking.
- Toppings - You can use sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or a mixture of both on top of your rolls.
How to make Kaiser Rolls
- In the bowl of your stand mixer combine flour, yeast, salt, and sugar.
- In a measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl combine cold milk and water, and microwave for 30-45 seconds to warm them a bit.
- Add cold butter, this will reduce the mixture temperature a bit, then beat in one egg.
- Turn the mixer on low speed slowly pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and knead until you have a consistent and elastic dough that leaves the sides of the bowl but still sticks to the bottom.
- Turn the dough into a clean working surface and knead with hands for a couple of minutes, If the dough is too sticky lightly dust your surface with flour.
- Lightly grease a large bowl with oil then place the dough in, cover lightly with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let the dough rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough to deflate and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll dough into round balls.
- Cover the balls with plastic wrap lightly brushed with oil.
- Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
Shaping Kaiser rolls:
- Take one dough ball, keeping the rest covered, and roll it into a long rope about 14 inches long.
- Tie the rope into a knot with about an inch open loop.
- Take the bottom tail up and over and tuck it into the center of the loop. To make a loose knot.
- Pull the other tail and wrap it under the loop pinching the ends together to seal under the bun.
- Place the unbaked rolls on the parchment-lined sheet pinched side down. Repeat with the remaining rolls.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap brushed with a little oil and let the dough rest and rise for another hour.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water.
- Brush the shaped rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with some sesame seeds poppy seeds or both.
- Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the center of your preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Variations to make it your own
- Instead of shaping these rolls into knots, you can also shape them into round dough balls so that they bake up into sandwich rolls.
- You can also shape them into buns for hot dogs, by rolling them into logs and then not folding them.
More Tips
- To get equal rolls, you can use a kitchen scale to weigh the dough balls to ensure they weigh the same.
- Even if you are not sprinkling the top of the rolls with the seeds, you still want to brush the tops with the egg wash so that they brown.
- Check the expiration date on your yeast, fresh yeast will give your rolls the best rise.
- If your house is on the cooler side and you can't find a warm place, you may need to allow the dough to rise in the oven with the oven light on.
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Once the rolls have cooled, place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze - To freeze the rolls, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and then with a layer of aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. And, then freeze them for up to three months.
Make Ahead
My family prefers these rolls fresh, however, you can make them up to 24 hours ahead if you need to save a little time.
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- I typically serve homemade Kaiser rolls with our favorite meals such as hearty soups like this Lebanese Lentil Soup or this Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup.
- You can also use them as sandwich rolls with your favorite cold cuts.
Your questions answered: FAQs
Sesame seeds are larger and oval-shaped with a nutty flavor, while poppy seeds are smaller and round with a slightly sweet taste.
The difference between the two is that in order for bread dough to turn out correctly, it needs a higher gluten content, so bread flour contains more gluten than all-purpose flour.
Related Recipes
- These Fluffy Butter Dinner Rolls are perfect for any occasion! They are soft, buttery, and easy to make.
- Sweet Bread Rolls also known as Shoreek are a delicious treat for any time of day. They have a slightly sweet taste and are perfect for spreading with jam or butter.
- These Stuffed Rolls are full of cheese and savory flavors. They make a great snack but they also go well with soup.
- Looking for a cozy, rustic side to complement your meal? Try this classic Irish Soda Bread with Raisins recipe—it’s simple, hearty, and perfect with soups, stews, or on its own with a smear of butter.
Beautiful and delicious, Kaiser rolls are very common in Egypt, but we are more likely to see them in a rounded form, like burger buns. Leave me a comment below and let me know if you have ever tried these rolls.
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Stephanie
You have All Purpose flour shown in the ingredient picture but use bread flour in the recipe.
Amira
Sorry for the confusion Stephanie, it is bread flour not all purpose. The image label is wrong. We'll correct it right away. Thanks