Easy Korean Salt Bread with Dinner Rolls

This is a recipe for crispy Korean salt bread that’s trending in Korea. No dough is needed! I’ll show you how to make it in just 10 minutes using dinner rolls that can be found anywhere.

What is Salt Bread?

Salt bread actually originated in Japan, where it is called shio pan. “Shio” means “salt” in Japanese. It resembles a croissant in shape. A Japanese bakery created it after studying French bread and discovering that salt in bread was trending in France at the time. In 2003, they reinterpreted the concept with a Japanese twist.

The bread is rolled into a croissant-like shape with a whole piece of butter inside. As it bakes, the butter melts, creating air pockets in the soft interior while frying the outer crust to a crispy texture. The outside is golden and crunchy, but when you tear it apart, the inside pulls apart in tender, chewy layers.

When Did It Become Popular in Korea?

Over the years, many Japanese bakery breads have made their way into Korea. Korean bread-making techniques originated with those learned from Japanese bakeries. Even today, because the two countries are so close, Koreans often crave the breads they tried during trips to Japan. Korean bakeries often recreate and sell these nostalgic flavors.

Salt bread was once only available in Japan, but it began appearing in Korea around 2021. Since then, it has remained hugely popular. Each bakery offers its own variation in terms of crispiness and chewiness, but Koreans tend to prefer a thin, shatteringly crisp crust with a soft, layered interior that tears apart beautifully. Now, four years later, it’s possible to enjoy salt bread in Korea that’s just as delicious as the original Japanese version.

What Does It Taste Like?

As its name suggests, salt bread has a distinctly salty flavor. With a whole piece of butter baked inside, it also has a rich, nutty butter aroma and taste. While the French often prefer hard breads like baguettes, the Japanese and Koreans tend to favor soft breads. Salt bread offers the best of both worlds. Its crust is thinner than a baguette’s, yet thicker than a pastry’s. This gives it a delicate, shattering crispness when you bite into it.

Trendy Breads in Korean Bakery

In Korea, dessert and bakery trends change incredibly fast. For example, the Dubai chocolate trend—currently popular worldwide—actually ended in Korea last year, and Basque cheesecake had already been trending in Korea years before it became a global hit. Now, salt bread seems to be slowly making its way into Europe. Aside from salt bread, here are some other bakery items currently trending in Korea.

10 Best Korean Bakery Bread in Korea

• Bagels

Bagels are hugely popular in Korea right now, but not the dense, chewy kind you might be used to. Most Koreans don’t enjoy hard bread, so Korean-style bagels are soft yet pleasantly chewy. The menus have also evolved to suit Korean tastes, with flavors like pretzel bagels and salt bread bagels. The fillings are what make them stand out—Korean bakeries offer unique cream cheese varieties, such as scallion cream cheese (a current hit), lemon curd cream cheese, basil cream cheese, and more, all generously spread inside soft bagels.

• Mammoth Bread

A classic Korean bread, this large, flat loaf is topped with a crumbly, nutty streusel-like topping and filled sandwich-style with buttercream, strawberry jam, chestnuts, or other fillings. The current trend is to layer multiple thick fillings—such as sweet red bean paste, whole chestnuts, ganache, buttercream, and jam—creating 3 to 5 layers of flavor. Korean ingredients like black sesame or pumpkin are also trendy additions.

• French Toast

Yes, it’s the thick brioche soaked in sweet egg mixture you know—but with a Korean twist. Instead of syrup, it’s topped with a generous layer of crème brûlée cream, then lightly torched for a caramelized finish, adding visual appeal. The current favorites are crème brûlée French toast and matcha cream French toast, both piled high with luscious cream. In Korea, it’s often nicknamed “Puto” 프토 (short for French toast in Korean). You’re more likely to find these at cafés rather than bakeries.

Dinner Rolls Are Called “Morning Bread” in Korea

In Korea, dinner rolls are called morning bread (mo-ning-ppang). The name comes from the fact that Koreans often eat them in the morning, usually spread with strawberry jam. In contrast, in Western countries, these rolls are typically served alongside dinner, which is why they’re called dinner roll. It’s a fun little cultural difference.

There are many recipes using dinner roll. This is a Korean salad bread recipe made with dinner roll.

The Difficulties of Salt Bread Recipe

Making authentic salt bread is really challenging. Every step matters—from preparing the dough and resting it, to the way you roll in the butter, and even the thickness of the dough. The butter should melt just enough to create a crispy crust while keeping the inside chewy and full of buttery flavor.

Even people who enjoy baking regularly find it tough to make this at home. That’s why many Koreans simply buy it from bakeries, or they use dinner rolls to make a quick and easy version in just 10 minutes. While it’s not 100% the same, this shortcut recipe tastes very close—about 80% similar—and is popular among Koreans living abroad who miss the authentic salt bread flavor.

Also, bread tends to be expensive in Korea. Salt bread usually costs around 5,000 won (about $4) per piece and can go up to 7,000 won ($5.50). To save money, many Koreans choose to make this salt butter roll at home using dinner rolls. This easy recipe is actually going viral in Korea right now.

Why Use Coarse Salt?

Because coarse salt doesn’t melt completely on buttered bread, it stays on top, even after baking. Its larger grains add a crunchy texture and enhance the salty flavor with every bite. This texture is one of the key features that make salt bread so special.

Simple 3 Ingredients

You can easily make this at home with only 3 ingredients. It wouldn’t be honest to say the taste is exactly the same as the original—I’d say it’s about 80% similar. Still, the outside is crispy, and the inside is soft and full of buttery flavor.

The three simple ingredients are butter, salt, and dinner rolls. You might already have these at home, so let’s make some delicious salty bread with just these!

Home Salt Bread Recipe

Slice the dinner roll in half, then add a thick piece of butter inside. On the bottom half of the roll, make a deep cross-shaped cut. This allows the butter to melt and flow out, which helps the bottom become crispy and fried in butter, enhancing the flavor.

On the top half, spread melted butter evenly and be sure to sprinkle coarse salt on top! The crunchy texture of the salt is what makes this bread so special.

Best Drink to Enjoy with Salty Bread

• Americano

I don’t think any sweet drinks can truly bring out the flavor of this salty Korean bread. The slightly bitter, unsweetened taste of an Americano pairs best with the salty, rich buttery flavor of the bread. That’s why I highly recommend it.

Kitchen Guide

• Samsung Oven with Air Fryer, Microwave: US

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