Here’s a simple, reliable recipe for baked bread rolls (soft dinner rolls / buns)—great as a side for soup like vegetable beef soup or for sandwiches.
Soft Baked Bread Rolls / Buns
Makes: 12 rolls
Time: ~2 hours (mostly rising)
Ingredients
- 3½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
- 2¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (not hot)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp butter or oil, melted
- 1 egg (optional, makes rolls richer)
Instructions
- Activate yeast
Mix warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy. - Make dough
Add butter (and egg if using), salt, and flour. Mix until a soft dough forms. - Knead
Knead 8–10 minutes by hand (or 5 minutes with mixer) until smooth and elastic. - First rise
Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour, until doubled. - Shape rolls
Punch down dough. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll into balls. - Second rise
Place in a greased baking dish. Cover and rise 30–40 minutes. - Bake
Bake at 375°F / 190°C for 18–22 minutes, until golden. - Finish
Brush tops with melted butter for softness.
Variations
- Crusty buns: Bake on a tray and brush with water instead of butter
- Whole wheat: Replace 1 cup flour with whole wheat flour
- Garlic rolls: Brush with garlic butter after baking
- Burger buns: Shape slightly flatter and bake 15–18 minutes
Storage
- Keeps soft 2 days at room temp
- Freeze up to 2 months (reheat wrapped in foil)
If you want, I can:
- Make this no-yeast (quick rolls)
- Adjust for sandwich buns or slider rolls
- Pair it perfectly with your vegetable beef soup
Just tell me 😊
