Fluffy Soft Bread Rolls - The only recipe you'll ever need!!

Soft bread rolls are a quite common, but making them at home can be a bit of a challenge! In this recipe I bread down every step so you can make delicious soft rolls every time! Soft rolls, baps, burger buns, barn cakes or whatever you want to call are readily available, so why not bake your own?!

Following an artisan recipe and making them at home is extremely rewarding- and delicious. Expect this recipe to take 3-4 hours to make and you should have 9 delicious rolls at the end!

The trick to making quality soft bread rolls is to be quick to get the dough mixed, divided and moulded. Being fast ensures you get a soft, close knit crumb and a great spring in the oven.

The 7 Things You’re (Probably) Doing Wrong!

Improve Your Baking Skills With My Free Email Course- Sign Up Here!

What you need to make soft rolls

To make soft rolls, you’ll need the following equipment:

A heavy duty baking tray
Mixing bowls
A metal and plastic dough scraper
A bag, lid or plastic wrap (to cover the bowl and the tray)
Scales, if you don’t a decent set you might want to try these scales from Myweigh
A baking stone
A rolling pin (or you can use your knuckles)

Using a thermometer will help you with controlling proofing times. For accurate dough temperature readings try this thermometer from Gdealer. Aim for dough temperature between 25C and 30C (77-86F).

What if I don’t have a baking stone?

A baking stone conducts heat into the loaf. Using one increases the height of the oven spring and helps to give an even bake on the base of the loaf. If you don’t have a baking stone, preheat the thickest baking sheet that you have.

Can I use a dutch oven to make this recipe?

If you would rather use a dutch oven to make bread rolls recipe, providing it’s big enough to fit the tray, you can. Simply preheat the dutch oven and drop the tray of proofed rolls inside and bake without the lid. If you are looking to get a dutch oven, I recommend getting this one from Challenger.

Ingredients

560g White bread flour
360g Water
11g Fresh yeast (5g dried yeast)
11g Salt
11g Sugar
6g Vegetable oil

Using instant yeast or active dried yeast to make this roll recipe

If using instant yeast, divide the amount of fresh yeast used by 3 and follow the same method as fresh yeast.

Active dried yeast needs to be activated before use. In this case, warm 20 grams of water to 35C (95F) – no higher! Add the yeast with half a teaspoon of sugar, whisk and leave to stand for ten minutes before adding to the dough. Remove 20 grams of water from the recipe.

Changing the size of the recipe

This recipe makes 9 large rolls. If you want to change the size of the recipe, use the bakers formula.

How to make soft rolls

1) Weigh the ingredients

Weigh the ingredients. Add the sugar to a large mixing bowl with the water and whisk.

2) Knead into a dough

Once dissolved, add the remaining ingredients and using a dough scraper in a clockwise motion combine into a dough mass. After about a minute the dough will start to form so turn it out of the bowl and onto a workbench. Slow knead with a stretching action for 2-3 minutes, followed by 6-8 minutes of kneading as intense as you can.

In a dough mixer:

Add all the ingredients to the mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook attachment. Mix on a low speed for 3 minutes then increase the speed to a fast knead for 5 minutes.

3) Bench rest

Rest the dough on a lightly floured area of the work surface for 5 minutes while you line a baking sheet with baking paper.

4) Divide into equal pieces

Divide into 100g pieces and line up in two rows on the workbench.

5) Shape into rounds

Starting with the first one that was divided, shape into balls. Place the dough piece between the table and the palm of your hand and apply pressure using a circular motion, using your fingers more, whilst raising your hand up to cup the dough piece. Place the rolls on the baking sheet at equal distances from each other 3 x 3.

Less is better when it comes to moulding the rolls. More shaping usually creates a more uneven roll. Don’t worry about them being perfect rounds, after proofing you will hardly notice.

6) Flatten the rolls

To encourage batching it’s a good idea to flatten the rolls with a rolling pin or with your knuckle.

7) Final rise

Cover loosely with a bag (don’t let it touch the dough pieces) and proof in a warm place for 2-3 hours, spraying with water occasionally to prevent the rolls from drying out. Preheat the oven with a baking stone to 250C (480F).

Always preheat the oven with only bottom heat if your oven allows, this helps to get the stone thoroughly hot.

8) Test if they are ready

Once they are nicely batched together poke the dough using a finger. If a dent remains after 3 seconds, the soft rolls are ready, if it springs straight back up, give them a little longer.

Bake the rolls quickly!

Put in the oven and drop the temperature to 230C (450F), turn the top and bottom heat on if your oven allows. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a golden colour is achieved. If you do not have a top heat oven setting, use the grill setting to brown the tops of the baps. After 8 minutes, open the oven door quickly to remove the steam.

To make rolls soft they should be baked quickly to retain moisture. These rolls should be golden within 15 minutes. Switch to using the broiler midway through the bake if you have issues.