Homemade Sub Rolls Recipe: Fresh & Fluffy Bread Delight

Crisp, golden sub rolls straight from your oven will revolutionize your sandwich game with this handmade sub rolls recipe.

Bakery-quality bread doesn’t require professional skills or complicated techniques.

Warm, fragrant dough rises with simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

Professional bakers know the secret to perfect texture lies in precise mixing and gentle kneading.

Each roll emerges with a delightfully crusty exterior and soft, pillowy interior that makes store-bought versions feel bland.

Homemade bread connects us to generations of traditional baking techniques.

These sub rolls promise to become your new weekend baking adventure, delivering restaurant-worthy results right on your countertop.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 2 hours

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Calories: 227 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredient List for Handmade Sub Rolls

• Active Dry Yeast: Magical microorganism that transforms flour into fluffy bread with robust rising power, choose fresh packets with recent expiration dates.
• Sugar: Feeds yeast's growth and adds subtle sweetness, helps achieve golden crust and smooth texture.
• Warm Milk: Provides gentle environment for yeast activation, supports tender crumb development.

• Bread Flour: High-protein powerhouse creating sturdy, chewy sub roll texture, select unbleached variety for best results.
• Salt: Enhances flavor complexity and controls yeast fermentation, balances overall taste profile.
• Eggs: Contribute rich moisture, provide structural integrity and luxurious golden color.

• Unsalted Butter: Delivers incredible tenderness and deep buttery notes, use cold cubes for optimal dough incorporation.
• Egg White: Creates beautiful glossy exterior when brushed, helps achieve professional bakery-style shine.
• Water: Supports egg white glazing technique, helps create stunning presentation.

Tools & Prep Needs for Sub Rolls

• Stand mixer: Essential for kneading dough efficiently and developing gluten.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for initial mixing and rising of dough.
• Baking sheet: Provides surface for shaping and baking sub rolls.
• Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and ensures easy roll removal.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Accurate measurements for ingredients.
• Pastry brush: Used for applying egg wash to create golden crust.
• Sharp knife or bench scraper: Helps divide dough into equal portions.
• Instant-read thermometer: Checks internal bread temperature for doneness.
• Damp cloth: Covers rolls during second rise to prevent drying.

How to Bake Handmade Sub Rolls

• Yeast Activation

Blend warm milk with sugar and yeast, allowing the mixture to become bubbly and alive with potential.

• Flour Foundation

Combine bread flour and salt in a mixer, creating a blank canvas for delicious bread.

• Dough Development

Merge yeast mixture with flour, kneading until a soft, pillowy texture emerges. Incorporate butter gradually, transforming the dough into a smooth, silky masterpiece.

• First Rise

Let the dough rest and expand, growing into a puffy, promising shape that hints at the deliciousness to come.

• Shaping Adventure

Divide the dough into six portions, gently rolling each into elegant rectangles. Carefully roll and seal each piece into a graceful loaf.

• Final Transformation

Allow loaves to rise again, then brush with an egg wash and make gentle scoring marks. Bake until the rolls turn a beautiful golden brown, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma.

• Bread Completion

Remove from the oven when rolls reach a perfect internal temperature, signaling they’re ready to be devoured and enjoyed.

Flavor Suggestions for Sub Rolls

• Work with cold, cubed butter at the start to create a flakier, more tender sub roll texture. Chill butter beforehand and cut into small, uniform pieces for even incorporation.
• Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free spot like near a preheated oven or inside a turned-off oven with the light on. This helps yeast activate and develop rich, complex flavors.
• Create precise diagonal cuts using a sharp razor blade or serrated knife to help steam escape during baking. This technique ensures beautiful, professional-looking crust with perfect expansion.
• Wrap fully cooled sub rolls tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and briefly warm in the oven for fresh-baked taste anytime.
• Experiment with adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, or dried oregano to the dough for a gourmet twist. Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on top before baking for extra crunch and flavor.

Serving Ideas for Sub Rolls

• Sub Roll Sandwich Adventures: Creative Serving Ideas
• Deli Delight Sandwich: Stack thinly sliced turkey, provolone cheese, crisp lettuce, tomatoes, and tangy mustard on these freshly baked sub rolls for a classic lunch experience.
• Meatball Marinara Magic: Fill the warm sub rolls with juicy homemade meatballs, cover with rich marinara sauce, and sprinkle generously with melted mozzarella cheese for a hearty meal.
• Breakfast Sandwich Transformation: Split the rolls, toast lightly, and layer with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar for a morning treat that beats any drive-through option.
• Veggie Lover's Delight: Create a vegetarian masterpiece by stuffing the rolls with grilled zucchini, roasted bell peppers, fresh spinach, and creamy goat cheese for a nutritious and satisfying sandwich.

Storing Freshly Made Sub Rolls

• Freshness Window: Enjoy homemade sub rolls within 2-3 days at room temperature. Store in a breathable bread bag or paper bag to maintain crisp exterior and soft interior.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Wrap rolls tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss. Refrigerated rolls can last up to 5 days, maintaining quality and taste.
• Freezing Technique: Flash freeze individual rolls on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Frozen sub rolls remain delicious for up to 3 months when properly sealed.
• Reheating Magic: Revive chilled or frozen rolls by warming in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Lightly mist with water before reheating to restore original bakery-fresh texture and crispness.

Rustic Handmade Sub Rolls

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• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Homemade classic sub rolls showcase delicious bakery skills with minimal ingredients. Crisp crusts and tender interiors invite sandwich lovers to craft memorable meals perfect for gatherings and quick lunches.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (450g) bread flour
• 1 cup (245g) whole milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 ½ tbsps (30g) granulated sugar
• 3 tbsps (42g) unsalted butter
• 2 tsp (11g) active dry yeast
• 2 tsp (12g) fine sea salt
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 1 tbsp water

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Whisk warm milk, sugar, and yeast until frothy and bubbly, allowing the mixture to bloom for 8 minutes.
2. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift bread flour into a stand mixer bowl, incorporating salt to create a uniform dry base.
3. Dough Formation: Combine activated yeast mixture and beaten eggs with flour, mixing on low speed to develop a cohesive, slightly rough-textured dough.
4. Butter Integration: Knead cold, cubed butter into the dough gradually, transforming it into a smooth, elastic consistency with no visible butter fragments.
5. Initial Proofing: Shape dough into a compact, taut ball and place in a greased bowl, covering with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise in a warm environment until volume doubles.
6. Shaping Rolls: Deflate dough and divide into six equal portions. Roll each into a rectangle, then tightly roll from the long edge, ensuring seams are meticulously sealed.
7. Final Proofing and Preparation: Arrange rolls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them adequately. Preheat oven to 400°F while rolls proof for 30 minutes.
8. Finishing and Baking: Brush rolls with egg white wash and score three shallow lines across the top. Bake until golden-brown and internal temperature reaches 195-200°F, approximately 15-20 minutes.

Notes

• Yeast Activation Timing: Ensure the yeast mixture becomes frothy and bubbly within 8 minutes, indicating active and healthy yeast for optimal bread rise.
• Dough Kneading Technique: Work butter gradually into the dough, avoiding visible chunks and developing a smooth, elastic texture for tender sub rolls.
• Proofing Environment: Choose a consistently warm, draft-free space to help the dough rise evenly and double in volume for light, airy texture.
• Scoring Precision: Make shallow, consistent cuts across roll tops to control bread expansion and create an attractive professional bakery-style appearance.

• Prep Time: 2 hours
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 227
• Sugar: 3.3g
• Sodium: 280mg
• Fat: 5.2g
• Saturated Fat: 2.6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36.9g
• Fiber: 1.4g
• Protein: 7.2g
• Cholesterol: 47mg