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French Onion Rolls with Caramelized Onions and Gruyère Recipe

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4.2 from 10 reviews

French Onion Rolls are soft, fluffy rolls filled with sweet, caramelized onions and melted Gruyere cheese, capturing the delicious flavors of classic French onion soup in a handheld bread form. These rolls feature a slightly sweet, tender dough with a rich, cheesy, and aromatic filling, perfect as a savory snack or accompaniment to meals.

  • Total Time: 5 hours
  • Yield: 15 rolls

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for the baking pan)
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (562 g)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 envelopes Instant Yeast
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 large egg yolks

Caramelized Onions:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 large sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Assembly:

  • 6 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (divided)
  • 1 large egg (beaten, for egg wash topping)
  • 15 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough: Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan or similar size and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and kosher salt. Warm milk and butter together over medium-low heat until butter melts; ensure mixture is lukewarm. Pour liquid into dry ingredients. Beat egg and egg yolks in a separate bowl, add to flour mixture, and knead with mixer on medium speed for 5-7 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 30-40 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
  2. Caramelize the Onions: Heat butter and olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat until butter melts. Add sliced onions, thyme, and salt, stirring to coat. Lower heat to medium-low, add water, cover, and cook for 15 minutes to soften onions. Remove lid and cook, stirring intermittently, until onions are deeply caramelized, about 25 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Assemble the Rolls: Divide dough into 15 equal portions (about 70 grams each). Portion caramelized onions and half of the grated Gruyère evenly onto each piece, topping each onion portion with approximately ½ tablespoon of cheese. Roll each dough piece into a thin circle, place onion and cheese mixture in the center, close dough around filling, pinch tightly, and place seam side down in the prepared pan.
  4. Proof the Rolls: Cover the baking pan with a clean dish towel and let the rolls rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in size and puffy. If dough was refrigerated overnight, rising time after assembly may be closer to 1.5 hours.
  5. Bake the Rolls: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush each roll with beaten egg wash, sprinkle with remaining Gruyère cheese, and top each with a fresh thyme sprig. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Using a stand mixer with a dough hook simplifies kneading, but dough can be mixed and kneaded by hand for about 10 minutes.
  • The dough will be wet and sticky; this is normal and results in a soft roll texture.
  • Dough can be risen overnight in the fridge for deeper flavor development and convenience.
  • If rising dough in the fridge, allow extra proofing time after shaping the rolls before baking.
  • Grated Gruyère can be substituted with similar melting cheeses like Emmental or Comté if unavailable.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Baking
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/french-onion-rolls-with-caramelized-onions-and-gruyere-recipe/