Soft Poppy Seed Rolls Recipe

Start by placing the poppy seeds in a pot and adding the water. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.

Once boiling, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to the minimum. Cook until all the water has been absorbed, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

After the water is absorbed, stir in the butter, mix well, and let it sit covered over low heat for another 5 minutes. The mixture should be dry by now.

Remove the poppy seeds from the heat and add the sugar. Mix thoroughly and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.

Finally, incorporate the egg white into the mixture, mix again, and set aside until needed.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, vanilla sugar, and salt. Mix well to distribute the yeast evenly.

Pour in the warm milk (at about 35°C or 95°F) and add the eggs. Begin mixing the dough with a fork or whisk, starting from the center and gradually incorporating the flour from the edges.

Once combined, knead by hand or use a dough hook attachment on a stand mixer for about 10-15 minutes until the dough is very soft but not sticky.

Transfer the kneaded dough to a clean bowl lightly greased with oil. Cover it with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot for 1 hour. During this time, the dough should rise to about 2 to 2.5 times its original size.

After the dough rises, punch it down gently and roll it out on a floured surface into a square about 4-5 mm thick.

Spread the poppy seed filling evenly over the surface and then roll up the dough tightly to form a log.

Cut the log into small sections, each about 5-6 cm wide, and place the pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Gently press them down with your hands.

Allow the shaped rolls to rise for another 15-20 minutes before baking.

In the meantime, mix the egg yolk with the tablespoon of milk and brush the mixture over the top of each roll for a beautiful glaze.

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Once baked, remove them from the oven and let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy your soft and aromatic poppy seed rolls!