Brötchenrad: German Wheel Of Rolls

Savory German Rolls Perfect For Your Next BBQ

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If you're like me, you've probably already gotten your fair share of BBQ's in for the summer and are looking for new ways to stray away from the typical BBQ spread. If you've ever done BBQ the German way, you would know that Germans don't eat their marinated meat or sausages on buns (unless they're in a hurry and buy a brat from a food truck in a pedestrian zone). Instead, us Germans enjoy our grilled meats separately (and we eat them with forks AND knives!) with salads and rolls or baguette on the side. And I love it that way!

Mix Up Your Next BBQ With A Brötchenrad

Today I am sharing a recipe with you for a "roll wheel" or Brötchenrad, a cluster of rolls cuddled up against each other. They're perfect for sharing at BBQ's, and with the different toppings, everyone will surely be able to pick their favorite roll (I had a hard time deciding!). I chose to top mine three different ways. For the first option, I sautéed some bacon and red onion together, the second option consisted of shredded Emmentaler cheese (Emmi cheese makes a great one!) and the third option was topped with pumpkin seeds - my favorite seeds ever! The recipe for the rolls themselves also works great for breakfast rolls and is easy and quick to prepare.

BBQ & Beer

BBQ and Beer go together like Nutella and Crêpes! Add a little something to your beer this BBQ season by spicing it up with some Bepi Tosolini "Limone" lemon and herb liqueur. It's the quick, higher alcohol version of a Radler or beer shandy and I promise you this drink will be on repeat all summer long! Add this to your list of bring-along's for the next BBQ. Find out now where Bepi Tosolini Limone available in your area!

You Don't Want To Miss This: Peach & Brie Strudel Up Next!

Tried these rolls? Please rate this recipe and let me know how you liked them by leaving a comment below! I would also love to hear from you with any recipe suggestions or anything else you'd like to ask me! To not miss out on upcoming posts, please subscribe to receive weekly emails with new recipes!   Next week I will share a sweet and savory appetizer perfect for summer entertaining and grilling: Peach & Brie Strudel - addictive and delicious!

Ingredients for your Brötchenrad:

Brötchenrad Dough:

This dough is a great base for German bread rolls, you can cluster them together like I did for a party-appropriate wheel or bake them as separate rolls for a German breakfast.

• 2.5 c (300 g) all purpose flour
• 1 package (7 g) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 6.75 oz (200 ml) luke warm water
• 1 egg (for egg wash to brush on the rolls)

Brötchenrad Toppings:

• 2 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into strips, then fried crispy
• ½ red onion, small diced and cooked with the bacon
• shredded Emmentaler cheese (I used Emmi cheese)
• pumpkin seeds
• any other toppings you wish to use (try adding chocolate chips to rolls!)

Tools Used:

• Kitchen Scale
• Pastry Brush
• Cake Pan
• Stand Mixer

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift together flour, dry yeast, salt and sugar. Add in the oil and luke warm water and using the dough hook, knead on the highest setting for 5 minutes (or knead for 10 minutes using your hands), until the dough is smooth and does not stick to the sides of the bowl or your hands. If too soft, add more flour. If too tough, add more water.
2. Shape into 15 small rolls, making sure the seam ends up on the bottom of the roll. Place into a baking sheet or round cake form covered with parchment paper, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 to 60 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 190 degrees and place a baking sheet on the bottom baking rack.  Beat the egg with a little water, brush onto the rolls, then top with bacon and onion, shredded cheese and pumpkin seeds.
4. Once the oven reached temperature, pour one cup of water onto the baking sheet on the bottom rack and place the rolls (still on the backing sheet or cake pan) onto the middle rack. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown, then transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy with some grilled food, a salad or use as slider buns.