Easy Kaiser Rolls Recipe - Crispy Homemade German Rolls - All Tastes German (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

One of the most traditional German rolls are Kaiser rolls or Kaisersemmel called in German. The outside of these delicious buns is crispy and the inside is soft and fluffy. The dough for these amazing bread rolls is very easy to make and you only need a few ingredients.

The recipe for this crispy and fluffy rolls goes back to the 17th century. You can even find them on art paintings in castles from this time. According to legend, a Viennese baker named Kayser invented the Kayser roll around 1750.

History

Who the inventor of the Kaisersemmel is cannot be definitively determined.
One legend says that a Viennese baker named Kayser invented the Kayser roll around 1750. He is credited with recognizing that the flavor comes primarily from the crust and that the indentations in the roll increase the crust surface and therefore the flavor.

In the 18th century, the price and weight of the roll were regulated in a by law. According to a story, in 1789 the bakers' guild decided to send a deputation to Emperor Joseph II (1741 - 1790) to oppose this statute.

The prices of raw materials, such as flour, were expensive in relation to the fixed price of the roll, which meant that bakers could hardly make a profit. Therefore, the bakers wanted to set the price themselves.
The emperor was so taken with the bakers' craftsmanship that he approved the removal of the roll from the statute.

In these days the addition of the word "Kaiser" (emperor) in connection with food was regarded as the highest elevation of quality. Only the best was good enough for the beloved emperor. It could be believed that therefore the high quality of the bread roll gave the "Kaisersemmel" it´s famous name.

The elaborate method of production made the Kaiser roll a handmade luxury item until the middle of the 20th century.

German Bread Rolls

German “Brötchen” are famous all around the world. The crispy outside and the flavorful soft inside makes it one of the most popular German food choices.

They are perfect for all kinds of savory and sweet breakfast toppings but also a great base for hundreds of sandwich variations.

What Does Kaiser Mean in German?

Kaiser is the German word for emperor.

How Is a Roll Called a German?

A roll is either called "Brötchen", "Schrippe", "Weckle", "Wecken" or "Semmel", depending on the region.

How To Pronounce "Brötchen"?

Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Brötchen" in German.

German Dinners (Abendbrot)

Generally, Germans eat their primary meal of the day at midday but the evening meal is served cold and is made up of meats, cheeses, and bread.

The evening bread otherwise known as Abendbrot is served and eaten together as a family though everyone is allowed to assemble their open-faced sandwich to taste.

Ingredients You Will Need

Flour

Traditionally these rolls are made with wheat flour. All purpose-flour is the best choice for the buns.

Sugar

I use only 1 tsp. of sugar in this recipe, this is enough to activate the yeast.

Lard

In the original recipe lard is used for the dough. But you can use butter instead. I would not use oil instead.

Barley Malt

You will find barley malt in many German bread recipes. Barley malt is dried, roasted and ground grain. It supports the yeast and the fermentation and improves the texture of the dough. It also gives bread a fine malty aroma and provides a nicely brown crust. You can find barley malt in online stores.

How To Make These Traditional Rolls - Video Tutorial

Authentic German Recipe

Recipe

Easy Kaiser Rolls Recipe - Crispy Homemade German Rolls - All Tastes German (4)

Kaiser Rolls

Angela Schofield

Traditional crispy rolls that make an excellent sandwich base and complement soups and salads.

4.72 from 25 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine Austrian, Bavarian, German

Servings 8 Rolls

Calories 289 kcal

Ingredients

Pre-Dough

  • 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp. barley malt optional
  • 1 tbsp. yeast
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • ½ cup warm milk

Dough

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 tbsp. soft lard or butter
  • 1 tbsp. salt

Instructions

  • Add flour and barley malt (optional) to a large bowl, mix well and form a well in the middle.

  • Add yeast and sugar to the well.

  • Pour ½ cup of warm milk to the well and stir gently while incorporating some flour.

  • Cover and let rise in warm place for 20 minutes.

  • Add warm water, soft lard or butter, and salt to the bowl and knead for about 10 - 15 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

  • Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in warm space for 40 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

  • Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll each piece into a smooth ball.

  • Flatten the roll slightly and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

  • Press a Kaiser roll stamp into each ball of dough or slash a Kaiser roll pattern into the rolls with a sharp knife. (see video tutorial)

  • Cover the rolls with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for at least 20 minutes.

  • Preheat oven to 425ºF and place an oven-save container with water into the lowest rack.

  • Bake rolls for about 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven.

Notes

You can use an apple cutter instead of the Kaiser roll stamp which gives the roll the traditional Bavarian roll pattern. If you don´t have an apple cutter, cut a large cross in the surface of the roll.

Nutrition

Yield: 1rollCalories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 8gFat: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gNet Carbohydrates: 51g

Keyword authentic, budget friendly, traditional

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Decorating Tips

You can decorate the rolls with sesame or poppy seeds. Spray lightly with water and sprinkle with seeds
before baking.

What Are Kaiser Rolls Used For?

Serve with sweet or savory toppings. They make a great companion for a soup or salad.

More German Bread Rolls Recipes

Soft Pretzel Rolls

Buttermilk Rye Rolls

Easy Sour Cream Rolls

FAQ

What Makes a Kaiser Roll a Kaiser Roll?

The typical star-shaped signature look of this wheat bun makes it to a Kaiser roll. The star-shaped look of the roll is achieved either by cutting, pressed with a kaiser roll stamp or folding the dough.

Is a Kaiser Roll Crusty?

The rolls have a crusty outside that is crispy but not too hard. The inside of these rolls is soft, but dense and chewy. It is very filling and you will not overeat on these rolls even they are heavenly delicious.

Easy Kaiser Rolls Recipe - Crispy Homemade German Rolls - All Tastes German (2024)

FAQs

What makes Kaiser rolls different? ›

There are a few things that make these rolls different from other rolls. The first is the Kaiser roll's characteristic seeded topping. Before the rolls go in the oven, bakers will sprinkle the tops with an even layer of either poppy seeds or white sesame seeds.

What does Kaiser Roll mean in German? ›

Calque of German Kaisersemmel, from Kaiser (“emperor”) + Semmel (“roll”), so named in honour of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

Can Kaiser rolls be used for hamburgers? ›

What's cooking. Ground beef's potential has never been more celebrated than in this delicious sandwich inspired by a classic cheeseburger. Green bell pepper is sauteed and yellow cheddar is melted into the beef mixture, while toasted, buttery kaiser rolls serve as the perfect vehicle.

How to shape Kaiser rolls without a stamp? ›

If you don't have a Kaiser stamp, use kitchen shears and snip a 1/4-inch-deep “x” on the top of each rolls. Sprinkle the parchment-lined baking sheet liberally with your choice of either poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or cornmeal. As each roll is shaped and stamped, place it stamped side down on the sheet.

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

Although some people may confuse these sandwich buns with kaiser rolls, bulkies are not as sweet as them, and kaiser rolls are more commonly sprinkled with poppy seeds on top.

Why do Germans say Kaiser? ›

Throughout history, emperors in German-speaking countries have been known as Kaisers. The earliest Kaisers ruled during the Holy Roman Empire. Kaiser comes from the Old High German keisar, "emperor," and its Latin source, Caesar.

What do Germans call the end of bread? ›

In northern and western Germany, that would be "Kanten," or "Knust," to name just the most common terms. Bavarians and Austrians might call the crusty dry end of a loaf of bread "Scherzl"; elsewhere in southern Germany it's a "Rand." Jokingly, the heel is also known as "Hintern" (behind).

What is another word for Kaiser roll? ›

Kaiser roll
Alternative namesVienna roll, hard roll, water roll
TypeBread roll
Place of originAustria
Region or stateVienna
Main ingredientsFlour, barm, malt, water, salt
5 more rows

How to toast a Kaiser roll? ›

To toast buns, set your oven or toaster oven to broil and let it preheat for 5-10 minutes. Place the buns cut-side-up on a baking sheet and broil them for about 30 seconds, or until they turn golden brown.

What burger buns does Gordon Ramsay use? ›

Ramsay's burger has quite a few more ingredients than Fieri's.
  • Ground beef.
  • Brioche buns.
  • Bacon.
  • Cheddar cheese.
  • Egg yolks.
  • Frozen red chili.
  • Tomato.
  • Onion.
Jun 30, 2023

Why do restaurants put mayo on burgers? ›

The practice of putting mayonnaise on hamburgers is believed to have originated in the United States. The combination of mayonnaise and hamburgers likely became popular due to the creamy and rich texture it adds to the burger, enhancing its flavor and juiciness.

What makes a kaiser roll different? ›

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.

How long do Kaiser rolls last? ›

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 to knot Kaiser rolls? ›

Instead of rolling the dough pieces into ropes and knotting, shape each piece of dough into a balls, and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Center the kaiser stamp over a ball of dough and press down firmly, cutting nearly to the bottom but not all the way through.

What makes a potato roll different? ›

What exactly is a “potato roll”? A potato roll is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that replaces a portion of wheat flour with potato flour, which gives it a soft and sweeter taste and texture than normal white rolls. Potato flour is made from potatoes that are dehydrated and milled into granules or flakes.

What's the difference between Hawaiian rolls and regular rolls? ›

Flavor: Hawaiian Rolls are special as they are made with pineapple juice instead of water. The pineapple juice plus a little bit of sugar gives these yeast rolls their distinctive taste! So Soft: These sweet yeast rolls are oh so soft and tender.

What is the difference between hard rolls and soft rolls? ›

Hard rolls generally have a tougher, chewier crust compared to soft rolls. Sometimes “crusty rolls” is the term used for hard rolls. Soft Rolls: Soft rolls are small, soft and tender products. They may be the same size and shape of hard rolls but taste and crust of soft rolls are different than hard rolls.

Where are Kaiser buns from? ›

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6149

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.