Brötchen (Homemade German Bread Rolls)

4.75 from 4 votes

Brötchen (Homemade German Bread Rolls)

Try this recipe for authentic German Brötchen - that are crusty on the outside and soft inside. A super easy recipe with just 5 ingredients.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine German

Prep Time 20

Resting Time 8 20

Total Time 8 40

Servings bread rolls

Calories 359kcal

Author by Marita Sinden

Ingredients

2 teaspoon instant yeast
2 teaspoon honey
1 ½ cups water
4 cups all-purpose flour USA all-purpose flour, Germany Type 550, UK bread flour
1 ½ teaspoon salt

Optional Toppings

2 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoon seasame seeds
2 tablespoon sunflower seeds

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Warm the water until it's lukewarm (about 100–110°F / 38–43°C). Add the honey and stir until fully dissolved. Then add the yeast and let it sit for about 10 minutes. You should see bubbles forming on the surface—this means the yeast is active and working.
2 teaspoon instant yeast, 2 teaspoon honey , 1 ½ cups water
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until a thick, sticky dough forms.
4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon salt
Lightly oil a large container with a lid—rectangular containers work well for portioning later. Make sure there’s enough space for the dough to double in size. Transfer the dough into the container, cover it with the lid, and refrigerate for 8–12 hours or overnight.
After this time, preheat your oven to 446°F (230°C). For best results, use a pizza stone, but a standard baking sheet will work too.
Lightly flour your work surface. Carefully turn the container upside down and let the dough gently slide out. Avoid disturbing the dough too much—the air bubbles formed overnight will help give the rolls a soft, airy texture.
Use a knife or dough scraper to divide the dough into 6–8 equal portions. Shape each roll by folding the corners into the center to form a round shape.
Optional: If you'd like to add seeds (e.g., sesame, poppy, or sunflower), pour some onto a plate. Brush the top of each roll lightly with water using a pastry brush (affiliate link), then dip the damp surface into the seeds.
2 tablespoon poppy seeds , 2 tablespoon seasame seeds, 2 tablespoon sunflower seeds
Place the rolls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
Before baking, place an oven-safe bowl filled with water on the bottom rack of your oven. The steam will help create a beautiful, crusty exterior on the rolls. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Nutrition