Best Homemade Kaiser Roll Recipe
You won’t believe how yummy and EASY this Homemade Kaiser Roll Recipe is! It’s PERFECT for Hamburger buns, Sandwiches, and Dinner Bread Rolls. These Kaiser Rolls or some may call them simple Sandwich Rolls, are perfect for those end-of-the-month moments when money is tight and grocery supplies are running low.
I’ve got over 20 homemade bread recipes anyone can make, that are super easy and oh-so delish! All use basic pantry ingredients, so they are very inexpensive to make.
I lived on a tight budget for many years, so I’ve learned how to create something delicious out of almost nothing, like these Homemade Kaiser Rolls. And guess what? You can totally do it too!
I’m here cheering you on, and I guarantee you’ll be amazed by how easy and delicious this Kaiser recipe is. Let’s turn those basic pantry ingredients into mouthwatering goodness!
It’s amazing how we always seem to run out of so many things by the end of the month, but hey, the good news is that I’m always prepared with a pantry full of simple cheap ingredients to make just about anything and I hope you are too!
Homemade Kaiser Sandwich Roll Recipe
These Kaiser Rolls are an all-time favorite that are soft, fluffy, and truly deelish! My family loves them and they are great for making ahead and freezing too!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Kitchen tools and gadgets for this Kaiser Bun recipe:
- Cooking Sheet~ I use a clay pizza round or baking sheet because cooking is very even and everything browns really nicely. I rarely burn anything when I use my clay baking sheets.
- Large mixing bowl ~ Although I have loved my big glass bowls over the years, I’m kind of a plastic with rubber on the bottom kind of girl these days…just so easy and makes just as good dough (don’t let anyone fool ya)
- Mixing spoon
- Pastry Brush ~ this is for spreading the egg wash on the top of the Kaiser bun. I LOVE my silicone ones.
- Sharp Knife ~ for cutting the slits on the top of the Kaiser Bread
Kaiser Roll Tips, Facts, and Ideas
- You DO NOT need a Kaiser Roll Stamp in order to shape Kaiser Rolls! Follow the simple step-by-step instructions and see just how easy it is to make a beautiful top without a Kaiser Roll Stamp.
- Kaiser Rolls can be made in any size you would like. It is a personal preference as to how big your Kaiser rolls are. In this Kaiser recipe, I tell you how to make 2 sizes.
- You can freeze Kaiser Rolls! Make sure you use an airtight container or bag to keep them fresh from the freezer.
- Kaiser Rolls make GREAT hamburger buns.
- For easy clean up you can use parchment paper.
- You do not need to use bread flour.
- The egg wash creates a golden brown crisp crust and shiny finish.
- Kaiser Rolls are sometimes called Bulkie (Bulky) Rolls in different parts of the world, but they are basically the same thing.
Our Favorite
Homemade Bread Recipes
Kaiser Roll Ingredients:
- 2 packages active dry yeast or (if you use bulk yeast 1 1/2 Tbsp.)
- 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°), divided
- 4 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons cold water
- Optional – poppy seeds or sesame seeds
Directions:
These are simple step by step instructions you’ll be able to use for making these easy Kaiser Rolls.
Proof Your Yeast
Put all of your dough ingredients into your large bowl. We start by dissolving the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water then Add 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly or foamy.
Then add the oil, salt, remaining warm water, sugar, and 4 cups of flour. Beat on low speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining (dry ingredients) flour to form a soft dough ball.
Turn your dough onto a lightly floured counter; knead until smooth and elastic (elastic means a little stretchy) This takes about 6-8 minutes of kneading. See the process for “How to Knead” in the picture below. It’s EASY and doesn’t have to be done perfectly!
Let Dough Rise
Place the ball of dough back into a lightly greased bowl. I usually just lightly spray with cooking spray.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rest. It should rise until doubled when in a warm place or at least at room temperature for about 1 hour.
Divide Dough
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface again; divide into 16 equal pieces or 8 equal pieces if you want bigger rolls OR 6 BIG equal pieces of dough.
I’m making 6 BIG Kaiser Rolls and I’m feeding 5 adult-size peeps and it was plenty!
Shape each piece of dough into a ball and then press down to flatten them just a bit to spread out to the size of dinner rolls you’d like.
Make sure to place each piece of dough 2 inches. apart on greased baking sheets (you can also use parchment paper for easy clean up) because they will be having another rising time again for a second time.
Cover the shaped rolls again and let them rise until doubled. This will take about 30 minutes.
With a sharp knife (I like non-stick knives), cut a 1/4-inch.-deep across on tops of rolls.
Make your egg wash by beating egg whites and a splash of cold water; brush the over rolls with a pastry brush. The picture looks yucky but trust me…this is what makes the crust golden brown, shiny and crispy!
Place rolls into a preheated oven at 400 degrees. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to wire racks to cool.
Wait to cut until somewhat cooled down.
Makes 16 rolls small rolls, 8 medium rolls or 6 HUGE rolls (adult size)
We had these homemade Kaiser Rolls with this super simple Crockpot Barbequed Chicken and melted cheese on top! They were so yum and so filling…great end of the month meal for practically nothing!
Homemade Kaiser Roll Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 packages active dry yeast or if you use bulk yeast 1 1/2 Tbsp.
- 2 cups warm water 110° to 115°, divided
- 4 tablespoons sugar divided
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons cold water
- 1 tsp poppy seeds or sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add 1 tablespoon sugar; let stand for 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly/foamy. Add the oil, salt, remaining warm water and sugar and 4 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
- Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place back into bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 16 pieces or 8 if you want bigger rolls…I divided into 6 because I’m feeding 5 adult size peeps!
- Shape each into a ball and than flatten just a bit to spread out a little. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Beat egg white and a splash of cold water; brush over rolls with a pastry brush.
- With a sharp knife (I like non stick knives), cut a 1/4-in.-deep cross on tops of rolls
- Brush top of kaiser buns with the egg wash
- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to wire racks to cool.
- Makes 16 rolls small rolls, 8 medium rolls or 6 HUGE rolls (adult size)
Notes
Nutrition
Feel free to ask any questions you may have!
Enjoy my friends!!
Try these yummy recipes with your new Kaiser Rolls ~
Quick Easy Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Healthy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Baked Potato

Need to work on shaping these buns. Used bread machine flour and bread machine yeast. They look fantastic
That’s awesome Lori! Yes it just takes a little practice sometimes!
If you pinch the sides down to the bottom like you’re making a balloon put the pinched side down. It seems to make a perfect roll shape. Hope that helps.😉
That’s a great tip Kimberly! Thanks so much for taking time to help out!
These look super delicious! I’ve been wanting to teach my daughter how to make rolls, so we’ll be making these soon!
Super easy too! Bread baking is a skill that can be used foreverrrrr. Enjoy!
I just love these rolls, I’ve been missing Kaiser rolls from my local bakery. These are even better. Fluffy and delicious.
Super fluffy! Happy you enjoyed them! 🙂
A delicious and easy recipe! Nothing quite as yummy as homemade rolls!
Mmmmm Yes!
This is a wonderful recipe! It looks easy enough for me to make, too!
It’s super easy Christina!
I never would have attempted this on my own because I thought it would be too hard to get it just right. This recipe makes it so easy! No more store-bought rolls for us.
Yes! Once you make your own and see how easy they are and how delicious they taste…it’s hard to go back to store bought.
Made these today for dinner they were very good. I used vegetable oil instead of olive oil.
Hi Carrie! So awesome that you made these and loved them! You can totally use different oils and still get a great roll! Thank you for taking the time to comment! Blessings to you!
Great recipe! You need to get rid of your Zaycon link. They are no longer in business. I know this because they cancelled my pickup and kept my money!
Hi Jolene! Thanks so much for letting me know about the Zaycon link still in post! I thought I had removed them all 🙁 That was a super sad situation. Enjoy the recipe and thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful rolls.
You are welcome Gaye and thank you also!
These look and sounds so heavenly!!! 🙂