How long does it take to make Buns?

Divide the dough into 12 equal balls, arrange well apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover and let rise another 20–30 minutes; bake at 180°C (355°F) for 15–20 minutes.

2 hr 14 minTotal

26 minActive time

1 hr 48 minSetting

Step by Step

#	What to do	How long
1	Mix the flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl	1 min
2	Add the lukewarm water and olive oil and Knead about 10 minutes	10 min
3	Cover and Let rise about an hour in a warm place	1 hr
4	Divide the dough into 12 equal balls: cut it with a bench scraper and roll each piece under your palm into a smooth ball	3 min
5	Place the balls on parchment paper on a baking sheet, with space between each ball	1 min
6	Cover and Let rise another 30 minutes	30 min
7	Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F)	12 min
8	Bake 15–20 minutes	18 min

How to Tell It's Done

until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands
until the dough doubles in size
until the rolls have risen
until the rolls are golden

Tips

Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot. The dough is ready when it has doubled, and a gentle finger press leaves a dent that fills back slowly; if it springs right back, wait longer.
Leave space between the balls: they grow as they rise and in the oven, and when crowded they stick together and bake pale at the sides.
Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.

Common Mistakes

For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
Balls of equal weight bake in the same time: weigh the dough and divide it by weight, not by eye.
Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.

More Ways

Brush the balls with beaten egg, sprinkle with sesame or nigella seeds, and bake at 180°C (355°F) about 20 minutes, until the rolls rise and turn golden.

The full recipe: Buns →