Easy Chocolate Buns Recipe - Fluffy German Schokobrötchen

Soft, fluffy chocolate buns with pockets of melted chocolate chips (affiliate link) - the perfect treat for breakfast or a quick snack. These brioche-style chocolate chip rolls are a German classic sweet roll, and it's easy to see why every German child loves them.

Schokobrötchen, as they are called, are pillowy, buttery yeast buns that fill your kitchen with the most incredible smell as they bake. Golden on the outside, and soft and airy on the inside with little drops of chocolate bites throughout. They give you the ultimate breakfast treat without being overly sweet.

I grew up in Germany and was one of those kids who lived for these treats. Today, I make Schokobrötchen for my own children here in Bremen, and I am excited to share this German chocolate bun recipe with you so they taste just as good as they do from a German bakery.

What Are Schokobrötchen? (German Chocolate Buns)

Schokobrötchen are little yeast milk rolls studded with chocolate chips (affiliate link). Literally translated they mean chocolate bread rolls or chocolate buns.

Different to other American or UK chocolate buns, they are not filled swirled chocolate sweet rolls. They are not iced and only have a simple egg wash glaze. They are not overly sweet, only a hint of sweetness, which accentuates the chocolate chips (affiliate link) even more. They are also not as buttery as brioche bread, just a lot lighter.

They are bread roll-sized, perfect for little hands. No wonder that for many Germans they are part of a childhood memory. Children pick them up at the bakery on their way to school or buy them at the cafeteria.

Yeast breads are very popular in Germany, especially at Easter time. These are a variation of my popular Hefezopf recipe, a chocolate yeast bread divided into individual bread rolls.

How to make chocolate buns

This easy chocolate bun recipe requires just a handful of simple ingredients, though you need to factor in enough time for the dough to rise.
This is a small price to pay considering the joy these chocolate sweet rolls bring. 

Ingredients you'll need

For the detailed instructions and exact measurements, please jump to the printable recipe card

To make around 10 chocolate chip buns you will need flour, sugar, room temperature butter, one medium egg, instant yeast, lukewarm milk, a pinch of salt, and plenty of chocolate drops. For the flour, use German Type 550, UK plain flour, or US all-purpose flour. For the chocolate, use special baking drops rather than standard chips as normal chocolate will melt into the dough. To finish, you will need one egg yolk and a tablespoon of milk for the egg wash glaze.

Can You Make Chocolate Chip Rolls the Night Before?

You can prepare these chocolate buns the night before and bake them fresh in the morning. Simply follow the recipe until the second rise after shaping, then cover the shaped buns on their baking tray and place them in the fridge overnight for 10 to 12 hours.

Before baking, take the chocolate chip bread rolls out of the fridge and leave them on the counter for about 30 to 45 minutes to come back to room temperature. This step is important, as skipping it means the cold dough will not rise properly in the oven and your buns will turn out dense rather than fluffy.

Storage Instructions

These chocolate chip rolls are best enjoyed on the day they are baked, still warm from the oven. If you have any left over, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Do not store them in the fridge as this will dry them out quickly.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Chip Rolls?

Yes, these buns freeze really well. Once completely cooled, wrap them individually and place in a freezer bag for up to two months. To reheat, place them in the oven at 180°C / 356°F for about 10 minutes until warmed through.