Fluffy Sweet Rolls – Buchteln

Name: Fluffy Sweet Rolls – Buchteln
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Ingredients: 450g of Flour; 70g of Sugar; 1 pack of Vanilla Sugar; 7g of Dry Yeast (1 packet); A pinch of Salt; 180ml of Lukewarm Milk (below 40°C); 60g of Unsalted Butter (softened); 1 Egg; 2 teaspoons of Nutella per roll; or Raspberry Jam, Blueberry Jam, Apricot Jam; 30g of Melted Butter; 30ml of Milk; 1 tablespoon of Sugar

120 min prep30 min cook150 minutes

Updated 10 Mar 2026

Soft and fluffy with a warm, sweet filling, Buchteln are a delightful treat perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Traditionally enjoyed in Germany and Austria with vanilla sauce, these pillowy yeast rolls get a buttery, moist twist in this recipe.

Brushed with melted butter before baking and coated with a light milk syrup, they turn out slightly crisp on the outside and soft inside. Fill them with jam, Nutella, or chocolate spread, and finish with a dusting of powdered sugar for an irresistible homemade treat!

Ingredients

For 12-14 pieces

Dough

450g of Flour
70g of Sugar
1 pack of Vanilla Sugar
7g of Dry Yeast (1 packet)
A pinch of Salt
180ml of Lukewarm Milk (below 40°C)
60g of Unsalted Butter (softened)
1 Egg

Filling (optional)

2 teaspoons of Nutella per roll
or Raspberry Jam, Blueberry Jam, Apricot Jam

Before Baking

30g of Melted Butter

Milk Syrup (after baking)

30ml of Milk
1 tablespoon of Sugar

Fluffy Sweet Rolls – Buchteln ingredients

How to make it

1/ Warm the Milk and Butter: Heat the milk and butter in a saucepan or microwave until the butter is melted. Let it cool to below 40°C.

2/ Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, vanilla sugar, dry yeast, and salt. Mix well.

Flour Sugar Vanilla sugar, Dry yeast, Salt

3/ Knead the Dough and Let It Rise: Add the egg and the cooled milk-butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Knead with a hand mixer fitted with dough hooks for about 5–7 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 60 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Flour, Sugar, Vanilla sugar, Salt, Dry yeast, Egg, Milk Butter

4/ Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish or oven-safe pan with butter.

5/ Divide the Dough and Add the Filling: Divide the dough into 12–14 equal pieces and flatten each slightly with your palm. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of Nutella or jam in the center—my younger daughter always insists on more, but too much filling can leak out, so this amount works best!😄 Seal the dough tightly and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.

Buchteln - dough sealed in the baking dish

6/ Second Rise: Cover with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise for another 30 minutes in a warm place.

7/ Bake: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Before baking, brush the rolls with melted butter (do not use milk). Bake for 25–30 minutes, checking for a golden brown color.

8/ Finish with Milk Syrup and Sugar: While still warm, brush the rolls with a mixture of milk and sugar to enhance their moisture. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Buchteln brushed with milk and sugar syrup

Good to know

⭐️ The Secret to Fluffy & Moist Buchteln! ⭐️
⭐ The Perfect Baking Dish for Soft and Fluffy Rolls (12–14 rolls in a 26cm dish):

For the best texture, bake Buchteln in a 26cm round baking dish or any oven-safe gratin dish. Placing the rolls close together helps them rise beautifully and stay soft inside while getting lightly crisp on top.

⭐ Brush with Butter Before Baking!:

For ultra-light and fluffy Buchteln, brush the tops with melted butter before baking to enhance the texture and flavor.

⭐ The Key to Moist, Irresistible Buchteln – Milk & Sugar Glaze!:

Right after baking, brush the rolls with a simple milk and sugar syrup to lock in moisture and add a delicate sweetness. This extra step keeps them soft and gives them that bakery-quality finish.

⭐ Make Them Picture-Perfect with Powdered Sugar:

A dusting of powdered sugar transforms Buchteln into a bakery-style treat, making them look as good as they taste. Perfect for special occasions, brunch spreads, or a cozy afternoon snack.

⭐ How to Store & Reheat Buchteln Like a Pro:

Freshly baked Buchteln are the best, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one day. To keep them from drying out, cover them with plastic wrap. The next day, gently reheat in the microwave to bring back the fluffiness.

For longer storage, freeze them individually wrapped and placed in a freezer bag. When ready to eat, let them thaw naturally and warm them briefly in a toaster for a fresh-from-the-oven texture.

⭐ Our Family’s Favorite Weekend Treat!:

In our house, Buchteln are a weekend brunch staple! While I love the jam-filled version, my family is all about Nutella, so I always make extra chocolate-filled rolls. They never last long – they disappear in no time! 😄