These are my all-time favorite milk buns recipe, and they can be prepared in the oven or air fryer. These incredibly tender and airy milk bread pastries, which require only a few simple ingredients, have never tasted better.
If you recall from our air fryer orange cake recipe post, hubby is the baker in the family. He can turn any batter into magic. But when it comes to bread, I take over!
Along the way, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks from him. He is very precise. As you might have seen in our Instagram Stories when he recreated this bread recipe, and using a ruler to measure the dough.
What makes this milk bun recipe so good
This milk bun recipe can be made in the air fryer or in the oven.
They’re soft, flavorful, and buttered perfectly.
They fluff up like your favorite feathered pillow.
They can be made with water, but best with warm milk.
They are addictive and make your home smell like your favorite bakery.
This recipe has been tested and fool proofed over and over again.
Ingredient’s and how to make them
Follow these tips and tricks to make these bread buns perfect, each time.
With thanksgiving approaching, I am not only thinking about using my air fryer to make this delicious turkey breast, and these glazed carrots, or this instant pot collard greens; but I have been perfecting this homemade dinner rolls for months, as they are the ultimate side to make for any dinner gathering.
Here’s what you’ll need a quick step-by-step guide on how to make the milk roll .
All-purpose flour: I recommend that you sift the flour. It allows the flour to be light, lump free, and this also helps the flour to be mixed well with the other ingredients. Although sifting is not necessary, it does help.
Sugar & Salt: The sugar and salt will not only balance each other out, but also adds flavor to the dough.
Instant Yeast: I use Saf instant yeast. But any yeast brand is okay. The yeast is essential to help the dough rise.
Lukewarm Milk & Butter: You cannot have bread milk roll without milk. The milk helps to make the dough richer, provides that light creamy color, and softens the dough while mixing.
Eggs: Eggs is a binding agent that holds the bread together before and after the baking process. The egg yolk combined with the milk will help provide a crispy-golden outer layer.
Knead, Shape & Bake
Combine the ingredients & Knead the dough
I recommend using a high-quality mixer for this such as this kitchen aid mixer. If not, you may do this by hand. Note that the process will take longer if you choose to combine the ingredients by hand.
Sift the flour into bowl. Add the sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well to combine.
Warm the milk until it reaches about 110 degrees. If you do not have a thermometer, another way is to test the milk is to take your clean index finger and stick it in the middle of the warm milk. It should not burn but should be lukewarm.
Please be careful if trying this method. It can cause burns if the milk is too hot.
Beat the eggs, then pour the eggs in the mixture. Mix well until you start to see lumps starts to form.
Then slowly add the milk and butter. This is also the time you would want to set the timer to 12 minutes.
Shape the dough
Grease a large bowl and lightly grease it with oil or butter. Shape the dough into a ball using the fold under method, see picture 11 above.
Proof the dough
Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel, proof for one hour in a warm place, or until the dough fills the bowl.
Divide the dough
Once the dough has risen. It’s time to divide the dough. First roll the dough into a 12-inch square. To be more precise, you can use a ruler like my husband did 🙂
The take a piece and start rolling it into a small ball; using the fold under method. It’s best to use a scale for even size. Or use a round biscuit cutter.
Repeat the step until you have used all the dough. Place the rolled dough a large cookie sheet or baking dish lined with parchment paper.
Time for second proof
Once you have rolled the dough into the desired size and transfer it to the baking dish or cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper, cover the dough again with a clean kitchen towel and proof for 45 minutes.
Time to bake the bread
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees or 300 degrees in the air fryer.
Brush the top of the dough with the egg wash (milk and egg yolk), and bake for 18 minutes in the oven and 15 minutes in the air fryer, or until the top is golden brown.
Serving, storing, and reheating leftover milk bread roll
Remove the bread from the oven or air fryer, cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then gently remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack.
This milk bread roll is best with butter or with soups.
Leftover bread can be stored in an air tight container, free from moisture. The bread must be completely cooled before storing. The bread will stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature and longer in the refrigerator.
Notes
- (1) You can also use a 9″x2″ round pan or an 8″x8″ square pan. It may be easier to divide the dough into nine pieces for an 8″x8″ pan.
More Bread Recipes You’ll Enjoy
After trying this recipe, we recommend you try this Haitian bread soup recipe, this easy cloud bread recipe, this vegan Haitian bread recipe, this banana bread recipe, and plantain bread recipe.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy
By the way, it does warm our hearts to see the recipes you make from our site?
We’d especially would love to know if you tried this recipe, tag us on Instagram or Facebook so we can see your beautiful dish.
Also, we would appreciate if you could give it a star rating below!
Soft Milk Bread Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 Cups All-Purpose Flour Sifted
- 2 Large Eggs Lightly beaten
- 2 Tbsp. Butter Room Temperature; Plus more to sprinkle
- 2 Tbsp. Sugar Plus 1 Tsp.
- 1 ½ Tsp. Kosher Salt
- 2 ¼ Tsp. Instant Yeast Or 1 Packet
- 1 ¼ Cup Lukewarm Milk
- 1 Tbsp. Milk To mix with the egg Yolk
- 1 Egg Yolk To mix with the 1 tbsp. Milk
Instructions
- Warm the milk in the microwave. The temperature should read no more than 110 degrees. Set aside. Then beat the two eggs in a separate bowl. Set aside. Using a sieve or flour sifter, sift 5 cups of flour into a large standing mixing bowl. Add the sugar, salt, and yeast. Stir in the baking machine. While the machine is running, slowly add the milk. Once the milk is added, then add the beaten eggs. Use a baking spatula to help scrape the side of the bowl so that all of the flour is incorporated. While mixing, add the butter and set the timer to 12 minutes and increase the speed to do 2. Knead in the machine until the timer goes off. Lightly sprinkle flour to a clean surface aea and place the dough on the floured surface. Shape the dough into a ball using the fold under method. See pictures in the post. Place the dough in a large clean bowl, preferably lightly oiled to avoid sticking. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 1 hour in a warm location, or until the dough has doubled in size. Flour a clean surface, punch a whole in the middle of the dough, and transfer the dough to the floured surface. See pictures for guidance. Lightly press down onto the dough to the dough and shape it into a 12" square diameter.
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper, pull out a small amount of dough, shape it into a ball and roll it on a circular motion on a flour surface in a circular motion. Place the dough on the lined baking dish (or in a dish that's suitable to fit into an air fryer) about ½ inch apart. My dough was 1.25 ounces in weight. Repeat the steps until you have used all of the dough. Cover the dough with a clean towel. let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes. after the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a separate bowl, whisk together the 1 tbsp. milk and egg yolk. Uncover the dough, lightly brush the dop of the douh with the egg mixture. Be sure not to press down while adding the mixture as it will flatten the dough and it will cause it to not rise when baking. Bake the bread for 18 minutes in the oven on 325°Base with melted butter and enjoy.
Air Fryer Instructions
- If baking the bread in the air fryer, be sure to preheat the air fryer first.Bake the bread on 300° for 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Be mindful of the air fryer size. You may have to bake the bread in batches as they will not fit in the air fryer.
- Be sure to not press down on the dough while adding the egg mixture to avoid flattening the dough. This will cause the dough to not rise.
- Although the fold under method is not necessary, it does help with consistency. Also assures that the dough is rolled in a perfect circle.
- I recommend using a scale, ruler, dough cutter to help maintain even size rolls.
Ewa says
Can you prepare dough in the evening and bake the buns in the morning for breakfast?
Mirlene says
Hello, Ewa! Yes, just let it rise overnight on the counter covered with a clean towel. I would suggest doing it before going to bed.
Susan Sartor says
Anyway you could use a sour dough starter instead of yeast? Hubby cannot have yeast. This sounds amazing and the reviews are very favorable for a newbie bread maker
Mirlene says
Hi Susan, I am sorry, I have not experiment with the sour dough starter
Debbie says
Can the dough be frozen then baked at a later date ?
Mirlene says
Hi Debbie, no I would not recommend it as it may alter the rising process.
Ky says
Total hit, made two times for separate thanksgivings first time took about 8 minutes longer than recipe suggested to bake second time took at least 7-10 minutes more and was a wetter dough. Wish she would use gram conversion as well so I could confirm the flour each time. Everyone loved though!!
Mirlene says
Thank you very much, Ky!
Janine says
I made these using the dough hook on my mix master. Worked brilliantly, I proofed first up for 45 mins then again for 15min once made into rolls, so soft and fluffy. My sons loved these, will definately make again.
Mirlene says
So glad your sons loved the bread. Thank you, Janine!
Belinda Yung says
i use Ninja AF 101. Your recipe of milk bread without machine, I use hand. Preheat 300 degrees F for 10 minutes. AirFry 300 degrees F for 19 minutes. Cool down 15-20 minutes. Make 15 servings (15 milk bread). The milk bread is fluffy and soft. The house fill with the aroma of milk bread. Thank you.
If you have GF milk bread, please post it. I am very appreciated for your online recipes.
Teresa McKinney says
Hi, I am not seeing any measurements on the ingredients. I have never made yeast rolls and really looking for a great recipe. I just need the measurements.
Mirlene says
Hello,
Please scroll to the recipe card and you will see all the measurements there 🙂 Thank you!
michelle y perry says
how do you make these by hand? I make all my breads and buns by hand as I love to feel the dough as I make them. so can you also heat the milk in a pot and can you add the milk to the sugar and yeast to activate it then add the eggs, butter and flour after the yeast is activated? I am trying to adapt this recipe to my Mom’s recipe only changing it up to the milk instead of the water method she used in hers for something different to try out?
Mirlene says
Thank you for your comment, Michelle. You can make it by kneading the dough by hand on a clean counter. Instead of kneading it for 12 minutes, it make take a bit longer (about 15-18) minutes. Yes, you can remove the milk and use water. You can also heat the water on the stovetop. Please let me know if you have any other questions. If you are adding the eggs, be sure that the liquid is warm or cool enough to where it does to cook the eggs. Would love to know how it turn out. Thanks again.
Dana Sandonato says
I know we just met but, those are some nice buns, y’all! Haha. Seriously though, these are perfection. So soft and moist and perfect to add to all of the upcoming holiday dishes!
Mirlene says
hahahahahaha oh my! Thank you lol
Pamela Gill says
These were perfect! I added Maldon sea salt flakes before baking and drizzled honey and butter when they came out of the oven…..couldn’t stop eating them.
Mirlene says
Hahah They are really addictive. Thank you very much!
Chika says
excellent recipe and the first time my milk buns have turned out! they were a bit underdone in the middle so i extended the time in the air fryer to 19 minutes.
Mirlene says
Thank you, Chika
Andrea says
I could eat one pan of these fabulous looking buns by myself. They are perfect!
Mirlene says
hahahah Thank you, Andrea!
Carrie Robinson says
These looks absolutely heavenly! 🙂 I definitely need to add these to my Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Mirlene says
They are very good. Thank you, Carrie.
Katie Webster says
These look so good! I am adding them to our Thanksgiving menu!
Kristen says
These buns turned out perfectly! So soft and fluffy!
cy says
thank you for the easy recipe(:
I hope to try it out but would you able to have the ingredients listed in grams?
Mirlene says
hello,
Thank you Cy. We can definitely add the grams in the near future.
Steph says
This bread was so easy to make. My son even helped to make it.
Lana says
Hello.
The recepie doesn’t have eggs in the ingredients section. However, it says to add two eggs in the instructions to make dough.
Do we need to add eggs or not to make dough?
Thank you!
Mirlene says
Thanks Lana. Yes, add two eggs (room temperature).