Homemade Kaiser Rolls Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/18/22
Homemade Kaiser Rolls

The Spruce

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 17 mins
Total: 37 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Yield: 12 rolls
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
219 Calories
5g Fat
36g Carbs
7g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 219
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 305mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 78mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Crusty Kaiser rolls are an Austrian traditional food. The rolls are made to resemble a crown by using a special stamp or fashioning a knot with a rope of dough. This version uses the knot method.

Enjoy these delicious Kaiser rolls with burgers or a variety of deli meats and cheeses. They make fantastic sandwiches!

Finish these rolls with an egg wash and sesame seeds, or leave them plain or top them with poppy seeds. 

Ingredients

For the Kaiser Rolls:

  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water, about 105 F

  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

  • 4 cups bread flour, divided

  • 2 tablespoons dry milk powder

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • Oil, for greasing the bowl

For the Toppings:

  • 1 large egg white

  • 1 teaspoon water

  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds, or poppy seeds, optional

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Kaiser rolls
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  2. Combine the water and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer; let stand for 10 minutes.

    Combine water and yeast
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  3. Add 2 cups of flour and beat until smooth.

    Add flour
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  4. Switch to the dough hook and add the remaining flour, milk powder, sugar, salt, 3 tablespoons of butter, and the beaten egg.

    Add eggs
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  5. Mix on medium speed for about 6 minutes. If too soft or too stiff, add more flour or water, about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon at a time, or until the dough is soft yet pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If you are not using a mixer, mix well with a wooden spoon and knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.

    Mix into ball
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  6. Oil a large bowl. Gather the dough into a ball and place in the bowl. Turn to coat all sides with the oil.

    Put dough in bowl
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  7. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

    Cover with plastic wrap
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  8. Portion the dough into 2- to 3-ounce pieces, depending on how big you want the rolls.

    Portion the dough
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  9. On a lightly floured surface, roll a piece of dough into a rope about 12 to 15 inches in length.

    Roll dough into strip
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  10. Grasp both ends and make a simple, loose overhand knot with the rope, leaving a bit of space in the middle and 2 long tails of dough.

    Knot dough
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  11. Take each tail of dough and wrap loosely around the loop part of the dough, pinching the ends together on the bottom. This will form the "knot."

    Knot dough
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  12. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces. Arrange the rolls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    Put on baking trays
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  13. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or clean kitchen towels and let rise at room temperature for about 1 hour.

    Cover loosely with plastic wrap
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  14. Make an egg wash with 1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon of water. 

    Make an egg wash
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  15. Brush over the rolls and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, if desired. Or, simply brush a little melted butter over the tops before or after baking.

    Brush over the rolls
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  16. Heat the oven to 375 F.

  17. Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden brown.

    Bake rolls
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  18. Use for your sandwich or burgers and enjoy!

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