Kaiser buns are an essential part of the holiday dinner, but do you ever find yourself wishing yours had more flavor? Consider making these sage and thyme kaiser buns. Sage and thyme are classic holiday herbs, and these buns have a lovely texture that your family will love. Just make sure you plan ahead, since you have to let the dough rest in the fridge overnight.

Ingredients (for the initial dough): 

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup bread flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon active, dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm water

Mix the water and yeast together, and let sit for a few minutes until the yeast dissolves. Then, add the other ingredients, and stir to combine. Place the dough in a covered container, leaving plenty of space on top. Then, let it rest in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 8 hours. Remove it from the fridge to let it warm about 2 hours before you're ready to proceed with making the rolls.

Ingredients (to add to the dough the next day):

• 3/4 cup water
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon active, dry yeast
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten

Place the water and yeast in a bowl, and stir to combine. Then, add the remaining ingredients, except for the egg white. Mix until a soft dough forms. Then, add the previously refrigerated dough to the bowl, and mix until both doughs have become one uniform mixture (about 3 minutes).

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for 5 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for an hour. 

Punch the dough down to remove excess air, then divide it into 24 portions. Shape each into a small bun. Place the buns on greased baking sheets, and let them rise for 30 minutes. Then, use a sharp knife to make a criss-cross slit in the top of each roll. Brush the tops of the rolls with beaten egg whites.

Bake your rolls for 15 - 20 minutes at 357 degrees F. The tops should be brown, and the rolls should sound hollow if you tap on their bottoms. Let them cool completely before slicing and serving them. They are delicious with fresh butter or when made into turkey sandwiches.