Sunday Bread Rolls
AI-generated image
Vegetarian German

Sunday Bread Rolls

Crisp, golden German-style bread rolls with a thin crackling crust and a light, pleasantly chewy crumb. A short overnight rise develops flavor while making these Sonntagsbrötchen practical for a relaxed morning bake.

48 min 8 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Combine the water, milk, and malt syrup in a small bowl. Crumble in the fresh yeast and stir until dissolved. Let stand for 5 minutes; the mixture should look evenly cloudy, not foamy.
2
Put the bread flour and salt in a large bowl. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until no dry flour remains. Knead in the softened butter, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky.
3
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 8 to 16 hours. The dough should rise noticeably and feel cool, aerated, and supple when pressed.
4
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 8 equal pieces, about 115 g each. Shape each piece into a tight round by pulling the edges underneath, then place the rolls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Eight shaped bread rolls arranged on a parchment-lined tray AI-generated image
5
Cover loosely and let the rolls rise at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes. They are ready when a fingertip pressed gently into the side leaves an indentation that slowly springs back.
6
Place a sturdy empty metal tray on the lowest oven rack and heat the oven to 240°C. Slash each roll once lengthwise with a sharp blade, then place the baking sheet in the oven and carefully pour 100 ml of hot water into the empty tray to create steam.
7
Bake for 10 minutes at 240°C, then remove the steam tray and reduce the oven to 220°C. Continue baking for 8 to 10 minutes, until the rolls are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Golden German Sunday bread rolls cooling on a rack AI-generated image

Why this recipe works

A cool overnight fermentation gives the rolls a deeper wheat flavor, while a small amount of milk and butter tenderizes the crumb without sacrificing the characteristic crisp crust.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Cool completely, then store in a paper bag or loosely covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze cooled rolls in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

How to reheat it

Refresh at 180°C for 5 to 7 minutes from room temperature, or bake frozen rolls for 10 to 12 minutes until crisp.

Nutrition / serving

264kcal
8.54 gprotein
49.61 gcarbs
3.93 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 13 Aug 2026 · updated 13 Aug 2026