These homemade sandwich rolls are the perfect yeast bun to use as a vessel for any of your favourite sandwich fillings. A crispy yet soft sandwich bun is so easy to make you will never use store-bought again!

When I think of sandwiches I think about some of the best sandwiches and some of the worst I have had in my life. As kids, we have probably all have memories of PB and J’s, tuna fish, ham and cheese and Nutella. As as we get older our tastes usually change and the toppings and fillings in our sandwiches become a little more sophisticated. One fact that remains, however, is that the bread you use can make or break a sandwich.

This homemade sandwich roll recipe, like many yeast dough recipes, requires some wait time but the recipe itself is simple enough for any and everyone to follow.

Crusty on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, these homemade sandwich rolls are used for anything from a sloppy Joe to a hamburger to a prosciutto and arugula sandwich. So good!

5 buns on a parchment paper cookie sheet

You will notice that in this recipe (as with most of my recipes that call for yeast) I use active dry yeast. You can, for the most part, use instant yeast if that is what you have on hand, however, if you don’t mind letting it sit for a few minutes, I say get yourself some active dry yeast.

There is something so satisfying about baking homemade bread of any kind. As a sandwich bun, these homemade rolls are next-level delicious. It will definitely bring your sandwich level up a few notches.

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What is the purpose of scoring the top of the sandwich buns?

One might think scoring the top of the bread is just for decoration. And while it does add a level of fancy, it actually serves a purpose. When in the oven, the dough rises and expands. When we score the dough it gives the dough a little extra room to expand so the buns won’t end up with big air pockets.

To get a really nice looking score, remember to use a really sharp knife!

How to store homemade buns

When wrapped individually in an airtight container or plastic wrap, these homemade sandwich buns will last at room temperature for up to 5 days. Kept wrapped in plastic they will also last in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How to thaw buns without them becoming soggy

Once you take them out of the freezer place on a paper towel. Thaw half way and allow the paper towel to soak up the moisture. Flip over the buns and allow the opposite end to drain onto a paper towel. This will help allow the right amount of moisture to remain intact. Alternatively, you can put them back in the oven to crust up nicely again.

How to make homemade sandwich buns

In the bowl of your stand-up mixer (yes, you’re going to want to use one of these), mix water and sugar and sprinkle yeast on top and let sit. Stir to combine.

Add the flour and olive oil to the yeast mixture and start to knead using the dough hook. Add the salt and continue kneading until smooth and elastic.

mixing the dough in a silver mixing bowl

Move the dough to a lightly floured surface and form into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl making sure all sides of the dough are oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit and rise until doubled in size. Punch the dough (your kids will get a kick out of this part!) and divide it into 5 equal portions.

dough before and after rising and making sandwich balls

Form into smooth balls and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise again.

dough balls on a cookie sheet before and after rising

Preheat the oven and place an empty oven-safe tin into the oven on the bottom rack. Score the tops of the buns and then pour hot water into the empty pan. Immediately place the pan with the buns onto the rack above and bake until ready.

scoring the dough before and after baking

The reason for the water in the pan is to create steam, a very important step for keeping the surface of the dough moist.

For a shinier top coat on your buns, you can use a bit of melted butter to create that sheen but not a necessary addition.

Once finished, remove to cool. Fill it with your favourite sandwich toppings and enjoy the BEST sandwich!