Easy Sesame Bread Rolls
Soft and fluffy, these Easy Sesame Bread Rolls are unbeatable straight from the oven. No prior baking experience needed – these dinner rolls are incredibly simple to make.
Raise your hand if you’re a fan of warm, homemade bread. Warm, soft homemade dinner rolls has been a comforting staple at family meals for generations. Top them with nutty sesame seeds and they’re taken to the next level.
This is a 2 rise bread recipe. The 2nd rise is important for texture and flavor.
Bread rolls without stand mixer
Did I mention how easy they are? And you don’t need a mixer, they’re made by hand.
Steps to making the Easiest Bread Rolls
- Activate the yeast: Combine the yeast with sugar and 1/2 of the warm milk until bubbles appear – this activates the yeast.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, butter, salt, and eggs.
- Bring it together: The yeast mixture is mixed into the flour (this can be all-purpose flour or bread flour) mixing until a sticky dough ball forms.
- Knead the dough: Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky.
- First rise: Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Shape the rolls: Punch down the dough, divide into equal pieces of the same size using a pastry cutter or sharp knife, and shape into rolls. To easily do this, cut the dough in half, then cut those in half. Continue this way until you have 16 dough pieces.
- Second rise: Place rolls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet/baking tray, cover, and let rise again for 1 hour.
- Prepare for baking: Brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds (poppy seeds or black sesame seeds can also be used)
- Bake to perfection: Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown.
- Cool and enjoy: Let rolls cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
You can enjoy these simple white bread buns as a side to a meal with softened or melted butter, use as a Burger Bun, use for sandwiches, serve as an appetizer and dip into Bacon, Sage Butter or dunk into soup.
Best way to store bread rolls
They will keep at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or refrigerated in a sealed container or bag.
Freezing bread rolls
You can freeze the individually wrapped unbaked dough balls for up to 3 months.
What flour is best for bread rolls
I use all-purpose/plain flour for these rolls as this results in softer rolls. Bread flour can be used, but the rolls will be chewier.
Best yeast for bread rolls
I like active dry yeast. This needs to be activated in warm liquid before mixing. Instant yeast can also be used and with this, you can skip the activation and mix it right in with the ingredients before mixing.
Festive way to serve bread rolls
Elevate your holiday spread with a stunning bread roll wreath. Made with rosemary bread rolls, shaped into a festive circle, add a touch of elegance to any Christmas table.
If you’ve tried these Easy Sesame Bread Rolls or any other recipe on the blog, then don’t forget give the recipe a star rating. You can also ask a question or leave a comment in the area below.
Easy Sesame Bread Rolls
These easy rolls are soft and fluffy and perfect for any family meal.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk, warmed to 100-110 °F (38-43°C)
- 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, melted (see note)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3 cups (390 grams) all-purpose flour/plain flour, plus more for kneading
- 1 egg yolk, whisked
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add the yeast, sugar and ½ the of the milk to a small bowl and mix. Let stand for 10 minutes until foamy.
- In medium bowl, whisk together the rest of the milk, butter, salt and eggs. Set aside.
- To a large bowl add the flour and mix in the wet ingredients until well combined.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, dusting lightly with flour as needed until elastic and smooth and no longer sticky. - Coat a bowl lightly with oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or towel and leave in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Line a large baking sheet/tray with parchment paper.
Divide the dough into 16 balls by cutting the dough in half, then cut each of them in half and repeating this until you have 16 pieces (you can weigh them for accuracy). - Place on the baking sheet/tray, close to each other. Cover with a towel and place in a warm area to rise for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Brush the tops of the rolls with the egg yolk. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
Note: To melt the butter, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 50% power until melted.
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 60Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 42mgSodium 142mgCarbohydrates 3gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 2gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 2g
This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.
16 Comments on “Easy Sesame Bread Rolls”
I am an experienced baker. My family always made homemade bread for the holidays so I know what good bread is. I decided to give this recipe a try because it looked so delicious and so simple at the same time. I love that no electric mixer or heavy kneading is required. I made this yesterday. I find that it’s excellent! I did not get each of my rolls to be the same size but now I’m happy about that because several are snack size, some are dinner roll size, and a few are sandwich size. ย All of them look and taste like they came from a baker. I will NEVER buy grocery store rolls again. They take a little time to make but most of that time is to allow the dough to raise. So, you can be busy doing other things at the same time. ย Just a note: ย I used the pre-packaged dry yeast that contains 2.5 teaspoons of powder. I used the whole packet and everything came out fine. Absolutely delicious and beautiful to look at. Thanks for posting your recipe!!
Thank you so much for the glowing review, it is very much appreciated.
I made these last night and my husband suggest I serve them for Thanksgiving. He loves them so much I’m using them to make his lunch sandwich. thank you ๐
That’s a wonderful idea. I love them for sandwiches too ๐
Big fail! Started with the brand new yeast I bought…never foamed up. Should have quit there.
I’m so sorry the yeast failed you, I’ve had it happen to me. I hope you give them another go.
Great! I’m not normally great at making bread so I was amazed by these – delicious!
I’m not a great bread baker either, so I was very happy that I was able to develop this easy recipe. Thank you so much for the feedback.
Hi Janette,
Great recipe!ย
I made the rolls, made 8 for sandwiches. This recipe is fool proof, so easy with ingredients found in most kitchens. Will be making them often. Already sharing the recipe with a friend in Belgium.ย
I am wondering if they could be adapted as a sweet roll? Like the buns in the UK that are filled with cream and jam?ย
TTFN
Rosemarie
Thank you for the nice compliment on the rolls. I’ve never thought about making them into cream buns, but now you have me thinking ๐
These were so good I’m back to make them again, by request of my 11 year old. Thank you!
I love to hear this because children can be the toughest critics ๐
I just tried this recipe and wow I was impressed! I have only just started baking about a month ago and have tried my hand at a few rolls – these are by far the best. I wanted them to use for the kids lunch rolls at school so I made 8 larger rolls from the recipe. I also used 1 tablespoon of brown sugar as I didn’t have any other sugars in the pantry. The rolls are so fluffy and taste absolutely delicious! I wish I could add a photo as a testament!
I love how fluffy they are too. Thank you for sharing your experience, you can send me the picture if you like ๐
Light and fluffy and pretty easy to make, these rolls were a huge hit! As they cooked their shiny tops caught my eye every time I walked by the oven. My last few bread attempts have been horrible. Thank you for a recipe even I can make!
I love how light and fluffy they are too. Thank you so much for the feedback.