Soft bread rolls
These simple soft bread rolls are so easy to make, they’re the perfect recipe for kids who want to get their hands messy in the kitchen.
This easy soft bread roll recipe is one of my favourites. They’re everything a good roll should be, light, soft, and fluffy. Homemade rolls are much nicer than shop bought ones, especially if you eat them while they’re still a little bit warm from the oven.
We’ve made them with our favourite bread recipe which uses milk and an egg, and makes them softer and even more delicious than some bread recipes and definitely my favourite.
Not all baking with kids has to involve making cookies, cakes and other sweet treats. This simple recipe for soft bread rolls is a great example of that. It’s perfect for getting kids busy in the kitchen without any added sugar!
I love making bread at home and these soft bread rolls are no exception. I think bread always tastes best when it’s straight from the oven and if you eat it when it’s still warm I find it quick forgiving so it doesn’t matter if your don’t measure everything 100% accurately, or knead it or prove it properly. That means its great for beginner bakers so even if you’ve never tried making your own bread, don’t be put off, just try it!
Making bread rolls means you don’t need a special loaf tin so are a great bake to start with.
How can kids help make these soft bread rolls?
Bread rolls are so easy, so even if you’ve never made bread before, your kids will love making these.
Even little kids can help make these easy soft rolls. They can measure and mix all the ingredients together. And then there’s kneading the dough. We sometimes use our mixer to help the kneading process along but I always give my kids the chance to try doing some by hand. My kids always enjoy getting to touch and handle the dough and feel how the texture changes the more you knead it.
If you want some extra tips on how to knead bread check out our kitchen skills guide, or see some of our favourite bread recipes including our easy bread recipe for kids.
How long to homemade bread rolls keep?
I think these rolls are best served still a little bit warm from the oven, and they won’t keep for as long as most store bought rolls, but they will still be nice after a day or two. Keep them in an airtight bag or bread bin to maintain their freshness.
Can you freeze homemade rolls?
Yes, these rolls should freeze well for up to a month. Once you’ve baked them allow them to cool down fully before wrapping them in cling film and popping them in a freezer bag. Defrost them fully before serving them. You can even heat them a little in the oven before serving them if you like.
What can I use instead of bread flour?
If you don’t have any white bread flour to hand, you can substitute it for an equal amount of plain or all-purpose flour. It wont have quite the same texture as it might have had but it will still taste nice.
What other easy bread recipes for kids can i make?
If your kids enjoyed making these bread rolls they might also some of our other easy bread recipes for kids including:
Finger rolls
Soda bread
Homemade bagels
Hedgehog rolls
English muffins
Breadsticks
Shaped dinner rolls
Dough balls
Homemade pita bread
Homemade garlic focaccia
Useful equipment
You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make this soft bread rolls.
Digital scales
Freestanding mixer
Mixing bowl
Wooden spoons
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Baking tray
Wire rack
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Ingredients
500g (4 cups) strong white bread flour
7g sachet fast action yeast
2 tsp caster sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
250ml milk
How to make soft bread rolls
Mix the dry ingredienets together
Start by getting your kids to measure out the flour and add it into a large mixing bowl or freestanding mixer.
In separate corners, get your kids to add the sachet of yeast, the salt and the sugar. Make sure when they’re adding the salt and sugar that they use their fingers to level the teaspoon so that you add just the right amount.
Add the wet ingredients
Measure out the milk. If you have them, digital scales on the ml setting are a great way of measuring liquids accurately. Heat the milk in the microwave or gently on the hob until it is just lukewarm. It should feel a nice comfortable temperature if you put your finger in it.
Get your kids to crack the egg into a small bowl. We never add ours straight in just in case any shell goes in. If it does simply fish it out with a larger piece of shell or a teaspoon. Add the egg to your mixing bowl.
Slowly pour the milk into your mixing bowl, getting your kids to stir it as you do. Or, if you have a free-standing mixer (or a bread machine), turn it on with your bread hook attachment as you pour in the milk.
Make the bread roll dough
Mix everything together until you have formed a nice, soft, sticky bread dough. If you’ve got a dough hook on your freestanding mixer (or a bread machine), that’s the quickest way of making the dough. If you don’t use your hands, or wooden spoons, to bring everything together.
If you need to you can add a little more milk if your dough is too dry, or indeed another table spoon or so of flour if it is too wet.
Once everything has mixed in and formed a dough, you’ll need to knead it for around 10 minutes until it becomes soft and smooth.
We tend to do most of our kneading in the mixer and then the kids finish it off with their hands on the work top. The kids love getting involved and kneading and bashing the dough, but won’t necessarily do it for long enough which is why starting in the mixer works well.
If you’re doing by hand, get your kids to hold the dough with one hand, and stretch it away from them with the other hand before bringing it back together. And repeat.
Prove the bread roll dough
Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with cling film. Leave it to rise somewhere warm for 45 minutes or so, or until it has doubled in size.
Make the soft bread rolls
Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Take the dough out of the bowl and knock it back on your worktop (bash it to knock the air out).
Divide the mixture into eight equal portions. Unless you have older children if you let them divide the dough, it’s unlikely to be very even so you might need to do that yourself.
Roll each portion into a ball – we make the top neat by tucking in the bottoms as we make them round with our hands. Pop them on your prepared baking tray a few centimetres apart as they’ll grow as they prove and bake.
Cover them loosely with cling film and leave the rolls somewhere warm for 30-60 minutes to rise again.
Bake the bread rolls
Preheat your oven to 220C / 200C Fan / 425F.
Once the rolls have doubled in size, bake them in the oven for 10-15 minutes. They’re ready when the top has turned golden and if you tap on the bottom of a roll it should sound hollow.
Remove them from the oven and leave them to cool on a wire rack.
Serve and enjoy.
Easy bread rolls
Ingredients
- 500 g (4 cups) strong white bread flour
- 7 g sachet fast action yeast
- 2 tsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 250 ml (1 cup) milk
Instructions
Measure the dry ingredients out
- Start by measuring out the flour and add it into a large mixing bowl or freestanding mixer.
- In separate corners, add the sachet of yeast, the salt and the sugar.
Add the wet ingredients
- Add the egg to your mixing bowl.Measure the milk then heat it gently so it's lukewarm. Add the milk to your bowl.
Make the bread roll dough
- Mix everything together until you have formed a nice, soft, sticky bread dough. If you've got a dough hook on your freestanding mixer (or a bread machine), that's the quickest way of making the dough. If you don't use your hands, or wooden spoons, to bring everything together.If your dough is too dry add a splash or milk, or if it's too wet you can add another tablespoon of flour.
- Once everything has mixed in and formed a dough, you'll need to knead it for around 10 minutes until it becomes soft and smooth.
Prove the bread roll dough
- Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with cling film. Leave it to rise somewhere warm for 45 minutes or so, or until it has doubled in size.
Make the soft bread rolls
- Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Take the dough out of the bowl and knock it back on your worktop (bash it to knock the air out).
- Divide the mixture into eight equal portions and form balls with each piece of dough. Pop them on your prepared baking tray a centimetre or so apart.
- Cover them loosely with cling film and leave the rolls somewhere warm for 30-60 minutes to rise again.
Bake the soft bread rolls
- Preheat your oven to 220C / 200C Fan / 425F
- Once the rolls have doubled in size, bake them in the oven for 10-15 minutes. They're ready when the top has turned golden and if you tap on the bottom of a roll it should sound hollow.
- Remove them from the oven and leave them to cool on a wire rack.
Pin soft bread rolls for later
Similar recipes
If you liked this soda bread, you’ll love our simple bread recipes including:
Tiger bread
Homemade English muffins
Homemade pitta bread
Easy white bread recipe for kids
Finger rolls.
Or why not try one of our favourite easy bakes for kids.
This recipe was first published in November 2019 and republished with slightly altered ingredients in February 2024.
can you use whole meal flour for this ?
Hi, yes you can. Just don’t use quite as much wholemeal flour (maybe 3/4 as much), and if it feels too dry add a wee bit more water.
Used this one a few times and it’s great. Any tips to keep the outside a bit softer? Still good but looking for really soft ones.
Thanks, i’m glad you like them. If you swap the water for milk (warmed up a bit) that should make them a wee bit softer.
The bread was delicious despite the simplicity of the recipe. I had never baked bread before but I found the recipe very ease to follow and the result was excellent. Many thanks for publishing this recipe.
I’m so glad you like it and found it as easy as we did. I love homemade bread – there’s nothing better than eating some when it’s still warm from the oven!