How To Bake Homemade Bread Rolls In An Air Fryer
I love to bake bread rolls for my family, but baking during the hot summer days is not so fun. The temperatures in Louisiana are already skyrocketing and I can’t imagine turning on the oven. It is going to take forever for the house to cool off. That is why I spent few days testing baking bread rolls in the air fryer. It took me a while to figure out the correct temperature and baking time, but I think I finally have a winning recipe for you.
These bread rolls are so delicious, buttery and fluffy. You can use them to make sliders or serve them with a saucy meal for dipping. We also like to have them for breakfast. I serve them with butter or cream cheese to spread and some cold cuts. You can serve them with jams and jellies too. The options are endless.
Equipment
- Measuring spoons and cups are essential for any baking recipe.
- You can use a stand mixer like this one, or knead by hand.
- I use a silicone brush to add some milk on top of the dough.
- This is the air fryer I used to prepare this recipe.
- You also need oven mitts to protect your hands from the high temperatures and the hot oven.
- Finally, you are going to need some cooling racks to prevent the bread rolls from soggy bottoms after baking.
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How To Measure Ingredients?
To make the dough for the bread rolls you need to differentiate between wet and dry measuring cups. We measure liquids in pitchers like these. For the dry ingredients we use measuring cups and spoons like these.
When you measure flour always scoop more than you need in your cup and use a knife to level it off. If you have a scale, use it, because measuring ingredients by weight is always more accurate.
One cup of flour contains exactly 4 oz or 120 grams of all-purpose flour.
Helpful Tips About Making The Dough
Use ingredients at room temperature for this recipe. This will help with yeast activation and proofing.
I use one large egg for this recipe. I separate one egg and I use the egg white for the dough. The egg yolk goes in a small bowl with a tablespoon of milk. I stir them together and I use them for an egg wash.
It is very important to add the flour gradually until you have soft and stretchy dough. If it is sticking to your hands and you cannot form it to a ball, then you need more flour.
When you make the dough, you might need more or less flour. It depends on the type and the brand of flour that you use. I recommend using bread flour for this recipe since it is higher on gluten.
Keep the salt away from the yeast! I always add the salt after I added at least one cup of flour. I never sprinkle salt directly over the yeast. This is very important because salt kills yeast, which can stop the fermentation process and the dough won’t rise.
Proofing And Baking
In this recipe you need to proof the dough two times. The first time is after you make the dough. I usually proof for 45 to 60 minutes directly in the mixing bowl. I cover the bowl with a towel or a plastic wrap.
The second proof is after you shape the bread rolls. You can proof the dough in the air fryer or outside. I recommend to proof at room temperature, but make sure to cover the bread rolls so they don’t dry out.
When you proof dough keep it away from vents and drafts. Rapid change in temperature can deflate the dough.
Baking time might be different depending on the air fryer or the altitude. I usually check my bread rolls after 10-12 minutes of baking. Total baking time should be about 15 minutes. Although, I like to flip the bread rolls when they are ready and bake the bottoms.
Can I Bake them in the Oven?
Yes, you can. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease an oven safe baking dish with similar sIze as the air fryer basket. Form the bread rolls and proof for 30 minutes. Then bake for 25-30 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
How To Bake Homemade Bread Rolls In An Air Fryer
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
- 2½ cups bread flour or high-protein all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
Instructions
- Crack one egg open and separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Put the egg white in the bowl of the stand mixer (or your mixing bowl) and the egg yolk in a small bowl.
- Add a tablespoon of milk to the egg yolk in the small bowl and stir it well. Cover and set aside. This will be your egg wash.
- Add the milk,sugar, yeast, two cups of flour and the salt to the mixing bowl. Start mixing on the lowest possible speed until you have a wet dough.If you don't have a mixer, use a wooden spoon to stir until you have a sticky dough.
- Keep adding flour gradually and continue mixing until you have a soft and stretchy dough. You may need two and a half to three cups of flour.If you are making the dough by hand, transfer it on a floured surface and knead.
- Once all the flour is incorporated and you have dough that doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl or to your hands start adding the melted butter (one tablespoon at a time).
- Once all the butter is incorporated you should have a soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.
- Remove the dough attachment and cover the dough with a towel or plastic wrap. Proof for an hour or until it is double in size.
- Once the dough has doubled its size punch it down and divide it to 9 equal parts (about 2.5 oz each). Roll them into balls and arrange them in the basket of the air fryer.You can bake the rolls on a baking paper or spray the basket with some non stick cooking spray.
- Proof for 30 more minutes (at room temperature).
- Use a food safe brush to spread the egg wash on top.
- Insert the basket with the bread rolls in the air fryer. Set it to bake at 320F for 15 minutes. Check the bread occasionally and adjust the baking time if needed. Once the tops are golden brown you can also flip the bread rolls over and bake the bottoms for 5 minutes. Since there are no heating elements on the bottom of the air fryer the bottom of the bread roll is lighter in color. This step is totally optional.
- Cool of the rolls on a cooling rack. Serve while warm.
- Store leftover rolls in a bread box for 2-3 days.
Notes
Other bread recipes you might like
Beautiful Flower Shaped Bread. Pillowy Soft
Festive Pull Apart Bread (Traditional Bulgarian Pitka)
Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread (Better Than Subway)