Kaiser Roll Recipe - Make Bread At Home (2024)

by Rachel Hemsley

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Also called the Vienna roll or hard roll, the Kaiser roll is generally a crusty, circular bread from Austria with the top surface divided into a flower or star pattern.

Kaiser Roll Recipe - Make Bread At Home (1)

It is a traditional Austrian food, often served with butter and jam, that can at first glance seem intimidating. However, through this article, you will learn just how to make this delicious confectionery yourself!

Contents

  • 1 Types of Kaiser Rolls
  • 2 Traditional Kaiser Roll Recipe
    • 2.1 Ingredients
    • 2.2 Instructions
  • 3 What Pairs Well With Kaiser Rolls?

Types of Kaiser Rolls

A traditional kaiser roll has no toppings, but that does not make it law! Some delicious additions include poppy seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin kernels, linseed, or even sunflower seeds.

There is also the variety known as Kimmelweck, which is topped with kosher salt and caraway seeds and is the bun of choice for the popular “beef on weck” sandwich!

If you’re not familiar, that’s a popular upstate New York lunch food composed of roast beef and our very own kaiser rolls.

Altogether, you can get a taste of Austria and the East Coast in one!

Traditional Kaiser Roll Recipe

Now that you know what a kaiser roll is and what kinds exist, it is time to learn to make your own!

Kaiser Roll Recipe - Make Bread At Home (2)

Ingredients

  • 6 cups of bread flour.
  • 1 tablespoon of coarse salt.
  • 1 ¾ cups of lukewarm water.
  • 1 tablespoon of honey.
  • 1 quarter-ounce envelope of active dry yeast.
  • 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temperature, plus extra for the bowl.
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature.
  • 2 teaspoons poppy seeds.

Once you have all these together, it is time to begin baking!

Instructions

  1. In an electric mixer, whisk together the salt and flour until the two are fully incorporated into each other.
  2. Attach the bread hook attachment to the mixer. If you lack this, a simple mixing blade will do, but you may need to run the mixer at a higher speed. Be careful of how strong your motor is – burning it out is never a good idea!
  3. In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the water, yeast, and honey before allowing it to sit for at least five minutes – or until foamy. This is a key part of the recipe, as not allowing the proper amount of time to pass will result in rolls that are flat or overly crunchy. Yeast, when it comes to bread, is never to be trifled with!
  4. Add two eggs to the wet ingredients and combine, before adding the wet to the dry.
  5. Mix and knead until the dough forms into a soft, stretchy consistency. You may need to add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches this desired texture. At this stage, it’s important to pay close attention to your mixer. If it’s designed to handle typical bread doughs, you should have no issues. However, if you’re trying your hand with a lesser stand mixer, taking multiple breaks is advised, so the motor has time to ease through the process.Kaiser Roll Recipe - Make Bread At Home (3)
  6. Begin to add butter, one tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated.
  7. Once this is finished, transfer to a buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until it doubles in size (about one hour).
  8. Punch the dough down (not literally; just compact it as much as you can!) and take it out of the bowl.
  9. On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into a 14 x 12-inch rectangle.
  10. Fold the dough into thirds, rotate, then repeat the process.
  11. Return the dough to a bowl and let rise until it has doubled again (about one more hour).
  12. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces and cover with plastic wrap.
  13. On a lightly floured surface, shape one piece of dough at a time into 5 x 3-inch rectangles.
  14. Seal the seam on the pieces of dough. Then roll it into a 12-inch rope.
  15. Tie the rope into a simple knot, then pull one end into the other and tuck it into itself. At this stage, should you not wish to cook the dough immediately, you can store it in the freezer for up to three weeks. Otherwise…
  16. Place the dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  17. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  18. Brush the tops of the rolls with egg wash and sprinkle them with poppy seeds.
  19. Bake the rolls for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
  20. Let cool on a wire rack, and enjoy!

Here’s a video showing more details on how to make kaiser rolls.

What Pairs Well With Kaiser Rolls?

When eaten as standalone treats, these rolls are generally used as a breakfast food, served with butter and jam.

With that said, they also fit well with most sandwiches and can be used in the aforementioned “beef on weck” sandwiches or even incorporated into your typical BLTs.

The recipe above described poppy seeds, but that’s just one example. Feel free to get creative!

Do you have any tips on baking kaiser rolls?

Kaiser Roll Recipe - Make Bread At Home (2024)

FAQs

What kind of bread is a Kaiser roll? ›

The Kaiser roll (Emperor roll, German: Kaiserbrötchen (German: [ˈkaɪ̯zɐˌbʁøːtçən]), Slovene: kajzerica, Polish: kajzerka, Hungarian: Császárzsemle), also called a Vienna roll (Wiener Kaisersemmel; as made by hand also: Handsemmel), or a hard roll, is a typically round bread roll, originally from Austria.

What is the difference between a Kaiser roll and a bun? ›

Although Kaiser rolls are bigger than standard burger buns, they make excellent burger bread. They have a soft fluffy inside and a crusty outside, and the additional crispiness on the exterior gives your burger an excellent texture.

Why are Kaiser rolls so good? ›

Texture and Mouthfeel: Kaiser rolls are known for their distinctive texture, and hard Kaiser rolls, in particular, have a crisp and crunchy exterior with a chewy interior. Some people enjoy the contrast in textures that hard rolls offer, finding the crunchiness satisfying.

What can you use instead of Kaiser roll stamp? ›

If you don't have a stamp, shape the dough into knots that resemble the classic kaiser roll — for details watch our short video on how to shape knots.

What is the difference between a kaiser roll and a bulkie roll? ›

They are either plain or topped with poppy seeds. They are similar to and sometimes equated with kaiser rolls, but kaiser rolls are noticeably sweeter.

Why are my Kaiser rolls dense? ›

Make sure the shaped bread doesn't rise too long before baking – it should only double in size. If it rises too much, the dough will collapse on itself during baking and the bread will have a dense, coarse or dry texture.

Are Kaiser rolls good for hamburgers? ›

Kaiser Roll

The bulk and fluffy interior of this classic bun, good versions of which can be found in most supermarkets, make it an excellent vehicle for big, juicy backyard burgers.

What is a Kaiser roll in English? ›

Meaning of kaiser roll in English

a round bread roll with a thick crust that usually has five lines cut into the top forming a star shape: We bought some kaiser rolls from the local delicatessen.

Do Kaiser rolls go bad? ›

When does kaiser roll expire? Unopened store-bought Kaiser rolls can last for about 2 to 3 days at room temperature, and another 2 days if stored in the refrigerator. If sealed and frozen, they can last a good 2 to 3 months.

How do you keep Kaiser rolls fresh? ›

It is generally best to store Kaiser rolls in a cool, dry place and to consume them within a day or two of baking for optimal freshness and texture. If they start to dry out, they can be re-moistened by wrapping them in foil and heating them in the oven for a few minutes.

Are Kaiser rolls good for sandwiches? ›

Kaiser rolls can be small or large. They can be used as soup rolls, dinner rolls, or sandwich rolls depending on their size. Smaller ones will be crustier and larger ones will be puffier and lighter. What makes them unique is their shape.

How do you cut Kaiser rolls? ›

Press down frimly, cutting to the bottom but not all the way through the dough. This is important; if you don't cut deeply enough, the shape disappears as the roll bakes; if you cut too deeply (all the way through), the roll will form "petals" as it rises and look like a daisy, not a kaiser roll.

What are Kaiser rolls used for? ›

We all know kaiser rolls are good for burgers...

But what you might not have known (until now) is that kaiser rolls make some awesome and easy mini pizzas! Instead of pizza dough, just grab a kaiser roll, cut it in half and top with your favorite pizza sauce, cheese and toppings.

How do you stamp bread? ›

It uses a spoon all around the edge, then the stamp goes in the center. Next, you pinch the dough with two fingers around the stamp. But you can do several rounds of stamps in the center instead, leave the dough plain all around. I imagine that each family has their own way to decorate their bread.

Is a Kaiser roll considered white bread? ›

Kaiser rolls are yeast-risen bread rolls, typically made of white wheat flour. They are large and round, crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside, They have a five-point pinwheel design on top, which is meant to represent a crown.

Is a Kaiser roll a hamburger bun? ›

Kaiser buns are usually larger in diameter than standard hamburger buns, which gives you ample room for bigger burgers and more toppings. The aforementioned texture also holds up better to juiciness and condiments than most other buns. They can absorb plenty of moisture without getting soggy and falling apart.

What kind of bread is hillbilly bread? ›

Description. A soft bread for those who like the smooth texture of a white bread and the health benefits of multigrain, Hillbilly Bread is the best of both worlds. This multigrain bread has 1.5 grams of whole grains in two slices! Make healthier sandwiches that your kids will love to eat, and you'll love to serve.

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