Hot Dog Rolls/Sausage Rolls

The very best hot dog or sausage enveloped in a soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet homemade bread roll. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of baking your own rolls, which can elevate your hot dog experience to a new level of deliciousness.

Hot dog rolls or sausage rolls are one of the best finger foods you can have. It is a perfect snack for lunch, too. I make them especially for game day. Indeed, these rolls, as are the savory sausage or hotdog with the fluffy rolls, are irresistible. The snap of the sausage goes deliciously well with the fluffy roll and buttery crisp exterior. This recipe is very easy to make and just needs a few ingredients that will be readily available in your kitchen.

Why Choose Homemade Hot Dog Rolls?

1. Flavor: Homemade rolls offer a rich, buttery flavor that's often missing from store-bought versions. The combination of fresh ingredients and careful baking ensures a taste that’s simply unbeatable.

2. Perfect Texture: Store-bought rolls can sometimes be too dense or overly soft. Homemade rolls, however, have a light, airy texture with a slightly chewy crust, ideal for holding your favorite sausages without falling apart.

3. Freshness: Baking your own rolls means they’re fresh out of the oven, free from preservatives and artificial ingredients. There's nothing like the aroma of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen.

4. Customization: Whether you want to add a hint of herbs, a sprinkle of seeds, or even a dash of cheese, homemade rolls allow you to experiment and create a roll that's uniquely yours.

Sausage/Hot dog Rolls Ingredients

Here are all the things you need to make these delicious rolls:

Hotdog/Sausages: You can use any sausage or hotdog you like.

Dry Ingredient: All-purpose flour is the main base of the soft rolls. Good quality flour will make the rolls soft and fluffy with a satisfying texture.

Wet Ingredient: Milk is the sole ingredient needed to knead the dough for the rolls. Water can be an option, too, but milk adds flavor and softness.

Butter: Butter is an essential ingredient for baking, especially bread. It gives the rolls a buttery flavor and improves their texture.

Egg: The egg binds all the ingredients together, works as a proofing agent, and makes the dough soft.

Flavoring: Salt and Sugar are the base flavorings for the roll. The sugar not only makes the rolls a little sweet but also helps raise the dough, as the yeast feeds on sugar.

Yeast: Yeast is the key proofing agent. It makes the dough soft and fluffy.

How to make Sausage/Hotdog Rolls?

• Bloom Yeast: In a clean and dry bowl, add warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Whisk in the egg. Now add the flour and salt. Mix until a dough forms.
• Add Butter: Add butter to the dough and knead again to incorporate. The dough will be sticky but manageable (you can sprinkle flour to handle). Grease a bowl and place it in it. Grease the top of the dough as well.
• Proofing the dough: Now cover it with a clean kitchen towel or cloth and rest it for 1 hour #0 minutes in a warm place or until it is doubles in size.

• Divide the dough: Once it is proofed, divide it into 10 to 12 equal pieces and form balls.
• Prepare the rolls: Place the dough ball over a flat, dusted surface and roll them out lengthwise about an inch thick. With the help of a knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough of the roll lengthwise to create slits. Slits shouldn't touch the 2 ends.
• Make the rolls: Place the sausage on one end and roll. Tuck at the end of the dough. Continue the same rolling method with all of the rolls.
• Baking preparation: Prepare the baking tray by greasing it or laying a parchment paper over it.

• Another proof: Lay the dog buns about 2 to 3 inches apart, seam side facing down. Cover them with the kitchen towel and let them rest for another 30 minutes.

• Bake the rolls: Brush them with egg wash. Bake them in the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until golden.
• Serve: Once cooked, brush them with some butter and serve them warm.

Alternative ways to cook Hot Dog Rolls

Traditionally, these Hot Dog Rolls are baked, but you can also try cooking them in an air fryer or deep fry.

Air Fryer

1. Preheat the Air fryer to 350 F.
2. Line the air fryer's basket with parchment paper or liner and drizzle oil over it.
3. Place the rolls and don't overcrowd.
4. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes. 

Cooking Tips

1. Gradually add flour to the milk mixture. The flour will gradually hydrate and form a dough.
2. Just knead the dough enough. Over-kneading will make the dough dense, and you might end up with a chewy texture rather than fluffy. If you are using a stand mixer for the dough, be extra careful since the mixer produces heat upon overmixing or over-kneading. This might kill the yeast, so the dough will not rise.
3. Use Lukewarm milk. Lukewarm milk will not only hydrate the flour fast but also helphelp dissolve the sugar, which actually activates the yeast.
4. Use room temperature Egg: Using room temperature eggs is crucial because they whip up better, especially when whisked by hand. It also helps bread or cake to rise, thus becoming fluffier and less dense.
5. Use room-temperature Butter. Bread also requires room temperature and softened butter. Cold butter will not be incorporated into the dough, making it a bit dry and flaking. Thus, why cold butter is often used in crusts, tarts, and pastries.
6. Experiment with different flour options. Feel free to use premium quality bread flour or even whole wheat flour for your dog rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I add Vegan milk to the recipe?

You can try vegan milk. But you might have to eyeball the ratio of milk to flour to make a soft dough. You can just add water, too, as a vegan alternative.

• How can I store Hotdogs or Sausage rolls?

You can put the leftover rolls in an airtight container and refrigerate it for a day. But if you are using dough as a leftover, I suggest you use it within 12 hours. The reason is that the dough might overproof and make the texture more chewy. 

• Can we freeze these Sausage rolls?

You can freeze the rolls, too, but we do not recommend freezing them. Since the rolls are upon thawing, you might need an extra hour to proof the dough of the rolls.

• How can I reheat These rolls?

You can also reheat the sausage or hotdog rolls in the air fryer or in the oven. Air fry or bake them at 350 F for 5 to 8 minutes. Cover them and bake for 3 minutes. Then, uncover them and bake until warm.

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