Perhaps you always make a loaf with your dough but want to try rolls instead. Or maybe you’d like to try some different shapes for your weekly batch bake. Today I’ll be sharing three simple ways to shape dough for bread rolls.

Bread rolls are great to batch bake

Whilst this blog often talks about baking bread and baking loaves of bread, I don’t often mention making rolls. But at home I love to turn a batch of dough into rolls.

Not only can you fit a couple of batches into the oven at one time, but the results will freeze really well. They also defrost very quickly, meaning you can simply use what you need each day.

Watch the video below to view three simple shaping methods to make bread rolls.

Shape one: the basic roll

Take a piece of dough roughly 50 – 70g in weight. Pat the dough down, then stretch out the sides and fold into the middle.

Turn the dough over and use your little fingers to tuck the dough under to create a smooth top to the roll.

Shape two: the plaited roll

Take a piece of dough roughly 100g in weight and divide it into four equal pieces. Roll out each piece into a sausage shape. Then join the four pieces together at one end.

To plait four strands, cross strand 1 over strand 3. Then cross strand 2 over strand 3. Finally cross strand 4 over strand 2. Repeat this until you reach the ends of the strands and join them together.

Shape three: the knotted roll

Roll out a piece of dough into a long rope-shape, about 25 – 30cm long. Then fold the rope and tie in a knot. Then tuck the ends under the roll.

Used any tips from this blog to bake great bread at home? Do let me know in the comments.

You can check out more breadmaking recipes, hints and tips on the blog.

You can also join my supportive community of home bread bakers over on Facebook. From sharing great bakes and recipes to asking and answering key breadmaking questions, there’s plenty to learn and join in with.

Want to learn more about baking your own great bread at home?

Tired of turning out loaves that resemble bricks and instead want to know the secrets to light, fluffy bread? Want to see the steps I take to bake great bread in my home kitchen?

If you’re new to bread baking or just want to sharpen your skills, you can learn to bake great bread on my new online bread making course, launching soon.

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