Soft Hot Dog Rolls Recipe (Easy Homemade Buns)
I used to buy hot dog rolls like these from a bakery. They tasted good, but they were always too small for my liking. So I decided to make a bigger version at home, using my favorite brand of hot dogs and a dough that would bake up extra soft and fluffy.
My family and I enjoy this homemade version even more. The bread is slightly sweet, and that sweetness goes so well with the savory hot dog. When you take a bite, you first get the tender bread, then the slightly firmer texture of the hot dog inside. The two flavors and textures balance each other beautifully.
The dough is simple to make, and I’ll show you how I shape it around the hot dogs to get those lovely spirals. There’s also a second rise after shaping, which is important for making the bread fluffy.
Why I Like Making These Hot Dog Rolls
- They keep well. I’ve refrigerated and frozen these rolls, and they stay soft when stored and reheated properly.
- They’re a good size. I wanted something bigger than the small rolls we used to buy from the bakery.
- I can choose the hot dogs. I use precooked chicken hot dogs, but you can choose your favorite brand.
- The bread is soft and fluffy. The dough has butter and oil, and I give the shaped rolls time to rise again before baking which makes it super tender.
- The flavors work together. The slightly sweet bread balances the savory filling.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a few ingredients to make these homemade hot dog rolls.
- All-purpose flour: I use regular all-purpose flour for the dough. It gives the bread structure while keeping it tender.
- Yeast: You can use active dry or instant yeast. I usually mix the yeast with warm water and sugar first, so I can see that it’s active before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Sugar: Adds a little sweetness to the bread, which tastes good with the savory hot dog. It also contributes the tender crumbs.
- Salt: Brings out the flavor of the dough.
- Warm water: Helps bring the dough together. Make sure it’s warm, not hot.
- Unsalted butter: Butter gives the bread a lovely flavor and aroma. I personally like using Lurpak unsalted butter because I enjoy its taste and smell. When I finish kneading, I can still smell that sweet, buttery aroma on my hands! You can use another good-quality unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Oil: Helps keep the bread tender. Use neutral oil.
- Precooked hot dogs: I use chicken hot dogs, but you can use your favorite precooked hot dogs or sausages.
How to Make Hot Dog Rolls
Step 1: Prepare the yeast
In a bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Leave it for about 10 minutes, until the mixture becomes foamy.
If you know your yeast is fresh and active, you can mix it directly with the other dough ingredients, but I’ve had a few bad experiences, so I like to make sure the yeast is working first.
Step 2: Make the dough
Add the flour, salt, unsalted butter, and oil to the yeast mixture.
Mix until the ingredients come together, then knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth and soft.
Step 3: Let the dough rise
Lightly grease a bowl, place the dough inside, and cover it.
Leave it in a warm place for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 4: Divide the dough
Gently knead the risen dough for about 1 minute to release some of the air.
Divide it into 5 equal pieces (about 45 grams each) and shape them into balls.
Step 5: Shape the hot dog rolls
Take one dough ball and flatten it into an oval using your hand or a rolling pin.
Roll the oval from its longest side to form a thick rope, then pinch the seam closed.
Using your hands, gently roll and stretch the rope until it’s about twice the length of the hot dog.
Wrap the rope around the hot dog in a spiral, covering most of it. Tuck the end of the dough underneath so it stays in place.
Repeat with the remaining dough and hot dogs.
Step 6: Let the shaped rolls rise again
Place the rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between them.
Cover and let them rise for another 20–30 minutes.
Don’t skip this second rise. The dough becomes puffy again, and this helps give the baked rolls the soft, fluffy texture I want.
Step 7: Bake
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake the rolls on the middle rack for about 13 minutes, or until golden.
Step 8: Brush with butter
As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush them with melted butter.
This adds flavor and helps keep the crust soft. Serve them warm with your favorite sauce.
My Tips for Soft and Fluffy Hot Dog Rolls
Give the dough enough time to rise. The first rise helps develop the dough, and the second rise makes the shaped rolls puffy before baking.
Make the dough ropes long enough. I stretch each one to about twice the length of the hot dog so I can wrap it around most of the sausage.
Keep the portions similar in size. Dividing the dough into five equal pieces helps the rolls bake evenly.
Brush with butter after baking. I do this while the rolls are still hot to add flavor and a softer crust.
Shape the hot dog rolls
Divide the dough into five equal portions, about 45 grams each.
Take one portion and flatten it into an oval. Roll it up from the longer side to form a cylinder, then pinch the seam closed.
Using your hands, gently roll the cylinder back and forth until it becomes a long, even rope, about twice the length of your hot dog.
Wrap the rope around the hot dog in a spiral, leaving the ends of the sausage visible. Tuck the end of the dough underneath and place the roll on your prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and hot dogs.
Can I Use This Dough for Other Filled Bread Rolls?
I’ve used a similar dough for my homemade tuna bread rolls. The tuna filling tastes wonderful, and if you like tuna, you’ll love these homemade delights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my hot dog rolls dense?
The dough may not have risen enough, or too much flour may have been added. Make sure the dough is soft after kneading and give the shaped rolls their second rise before baking.
Do I need to cook the hot dogs before wrapping them?
I prefer the hot dogs cooked; it’s my personal preference. I like to be sure that the meat is cooked through because these rolls don’t take much time in the oven.
Can I make regular hot dog buns with this dough?
The dough can also be shaped into plain, elongated buns instead of being wrapped around hot dogs. However, the baking time may differ depending on their size. My instructions and baking time here are for the wrapped version.
How to Store and Reheat Hot Dog Rolls
Keep the cooled rolls in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days in the fridge.
To freeze, once completely cool, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months.
I’ve stored these rolls in both the refrigerator and freezer, and I’m happy with how soft they remain. I think the butter, oil, and sugar in the dough help.
To reheat: Warm the rolls in the oven or microwave until heated through. Avoid overheating, as that can dry out the rolls.
Easy Bread Recipe You Must Try
⭐ Please Rate and Review
If you tried these soft hot dog rolls and loved them, please leave a 5-star rating and comment below. I’d love to hear how you served them!
Soft Fluffy Hot Dog Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon active dry yeast or instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 5 precooked hot dogs I use chicken hot dogs
Instructions
- Mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes, until foamy.
- Add the flour, salt, butter, and oil. Knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and soft.
- Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until doubled.
- Gently knead the risen dough for 1 minute, then divide it into 5 equal balls, approximately 45 grams each.
- Flatten one dough ball into an oval using your hand or a rolling pin. Roll it up from the longest side into a thick rope and pinch the seam closed.
- Roll and stretch the rope with your hands until it’s about twice the length of the hot dog.
- Wrap the rope around a hot dog, tucking the end underneath. Repeat with the remaining dough and hot dogs.
- Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let them rise again for 20–30 minutes, until puffy.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake on the middle rack for about 13 minutes, or until golden.
- Brush the hot rolls with melted butter and serve warm.
Notes
- If your yeast is fresh and active, you can skip the separate activation step and combine it directly with the other dough ingredients.
- The second rise is important for making the bread fluffy.
- Stretch each dough rope to approximately twice the length of the hot dog so it wraps around most of the sausage.
- I prefer Lurpak unsalted butter for its flavor and aroma, but another good-quality unsalted butter will work.
- Use precooked hot dogs for this recipe.
- Store cooled rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
This dough recipe looks amazing! I definitely think the whole family could enjoy this fluffy hot dog roll serving idea!
Nothing beats the fresh bread right out of the oven! These look really delicious.
You are right, these turned out awesome 🙂
My kids love pigs in a blanket. I haven’t made them in a while, so thanks for the reminder to make them again 🙂
You are most welcome 🙂
Ahhh! Those look so good. Pigs in a Blanket is my favorite finger food EVER. I can’t wait to make these. Om nom nom.
I often find myself with hot dogs in the freezer with no buns! I will have to bookmark this recipe and try this.
I love that you made your own buns VS the store bought crecents. These look fantastic!
These have more flavor and stay fresh longer too.
Ooh, this is a good one. I wouldn’t mind making these to go along with some other finger foods!
Hey Liz! You will love how light and delicious these rolls are.
Andddd I drool for these! These remind me of my youth, when my parents would drag me to parties and they had cocktail weenies. I would entertain myself with those! hahaha!
I’m glad that I’m not the only one who find these rolls entertaining 🙂
OH! My kids would LOVE these! They look so fluffy!
Thank you Reesa!
My mom used to make something similar when we were growing up! I haven’t thought about them in ages. My kids would love these!
This is so convenient. It’s way better than having to carry hot dogs and buns, and it is less messy. What a great recipe idea.
Thank you Pam 🙂
These look delicious! They’re perfect for the summer and I love the idea of taking them on a picnic. We plan to have many of those this summer!
If you tried this recipe, do let me know how you liked it.
We love these pigs in a blanket (that’s what we call them) here at our house. That is the best way to eat a hot dog in my opinion. These look so tasty.
Indeed, no mess and so convenient!
These soft fluffy hot dog rolls look so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this weekend.
I know these are going to be a big hit with my kids. They are so yummy and I have everything I need to make some already.
Ooooh, I love pigs in a blanket and using such a lovely recipe to make them is just brilliant. I will have to try this the next time I see my nephews.
These look like the perfect after school snack! And I love that they look so easy to make!
Oh, these look so good! I love baking bread, and NOTHING beats fresh baked bread in general. Pigs in a blanket with freshly made bread blankets?! WIN!
You are so right Natasha, I love home baked bread and rolls they always taste better than store bought.
My family would love these. The rolls look so delicious and fluffy.
Thank you Stacie.
These wouldn’t last long at my house. I swear my son would live off of hot dogs if he could.
I love hot dogs and that’s why I make these rolls often, I don’t blame your son 🙂
I love making these. I’ve never actually made them from scratch like this though. I’m glad I can use this recipe now.
I’ve had mini versions of these dogs, but not full-size! And not from scratch! i love it!
These were out of this world, I had to be a good girl and tried not to consume the whole batch 😉
tried to make these recipe and it tured out so great!!!! this recipe is so easy and simple but delicious!!!! crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside!!!! thank you so much!!!
Thanks for trying my recipe 🙂
Can I fry it instead?
I never tried frying it although sounds interesting now that you have mentioned it. why don’t you try frying one and if it works do let me know so I can share your experience with my readers 🙂
Hi I tried your recipe and it was easy enough but mine turned out pale from the oven. My husband said that’s because I didn’t egg wash the surface before sending them to the oven. Do we need to egg wash first? Don’t see it in your recipe. Also, possible for me to add more sugar to make the bread sweeter?
Hi Dee, Thanks for your comment. Some ovens do not distribute heat evenly and some have fans, and it affects the color of the cake and other pastry. Some use the broiler after the baking is done to add the light brown color to the pastry. You can brush the rolls with milk or eggs. It is ok to add a little more sugar to the dough.
Made them and loved them!! These are even better than the ones I used to eat as a kid! The dough was so easy to make and so tasty I ended up stuffing some leftover dough with crumbling feta and thyme cheese and we’re a huge hit too. Thank you for the recipe I’ll definitely be making these again!
Thank you Halima for your feedback and kind words 🙂 I’m glad that you have enjoyed this recipe.
Is this ready to use yeast or can you use the yeast that needs mixing with water first?
Would you add the other bits to it straight away?
Some types of yeast do not need to be proofed before mixing with flour. In this recipe, you can use any type of yeast you have but it’s best to read the instruction on the package to know how to use the yeast.
Simple, quick, aesthetically pleasing and the hubby prefers them to hot dog buns.
Thanks for your comment Jeni 🙂
These were easy to do and looked beautiful but were much too rich for our tastes. More like a crescent roll than a hot dog roll. Was hoping for something more like bread and less like pastry.
My kids loves these!! I doubled the recipe; however, the dough was a bit hard to work with. They still turned out good. What could I do better next time?
Hi, Thanks for trying my recipe. I would add a little more milk or water to the dough to make it softer. I use two brands of flour and one usually takes a little more water than the other. Hope this helped!
So easy!!!! This recipe is fun and easy to make. My family loves it!
Thank you for the feedback, glad that your family loved it 😊
It turned out great but i know for next time to make more i did not make enough but it was delicious! I hope other people will also enjoy. Thx for making this Recipe Muna!
I’m glad you liked it Ava, it means a lot to me 😊