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. After kneading, you want to work fast to get the dough divided, shaped and on the trays to proof quickly. The rolls are proofed quickly to produce a great spring in the oven and a soft, close-knit crumb.
What you need to make soft rolls
To make soft rolls, you’ll need the following equipment:
- A heavy-duty baking tray
- Mixing bowls
- Ametalandplastic dough scraper
- A bag, lid or plastic wrap (to cover the bowl and the tray)
- Scales, if you don’t have a decent set you might want to try these scales from Myweigh
- Abaking 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.
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 not 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.
9) 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.
10) Remove, bang and cool
Remove from the oven and give the tray a bang on the table. The bang helps to prevent the rolls from collapsing. Cool for 1-2 hours.
