Medias Noches Recipe: Soft Spanish Sweet Rolls for Any Time 2026

Medias noches are tender, lightly sweet little rolls that instantly bring back childhood memories of birthday parties where they appeared filled with cooked ham and cheese. Their soft, pillowy crumb and golden top make them irresistible whether you serve them savory or sweet.

With this recipe you can prepare them at home very easily, so you can enjoy them at any moment. The dough is forgiving and simple to work with, making it a great choice even if you are new to baking yeasted breads.

Once baked, these rolls stay soft for a couple of days in an airtight container, and they are just as good split and filled as they are eaten on their own. The hardest part of the whole process is kneading well and letting them rise properly so they turn out wonderfully spongy.

Ingredients for Medias Noches

This recipe makes 12 rolls.

• 380 g strong flour
• 4 g dry baker's yeast (or 12 g fresh yeast)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 70 g white sugar
• 125 g warm whole milk
• 2 M eggs
• 70 g unsalted butter at room temperature
• Beaten egg or milk for brushing

How to Make Medias Noches Step by Step

1. Combine the dry and wet ingredients

Put 380 grams of strong flour, 4 grams of dry baker's yeast, 1 teaspoon of salt, 70 grams of white sugar, 125 grams of warm whole milk and 2 M eggs into a bowl.

2. Knead until combined

Knead by hand or with a machine until all the ingredients are fully combined.

3. Add the butter and knead

Add 70 grams of unsalted butter at room temperature and knead for 15 more minutes, until you have an elastic dough.

4. Let the dough rise

Shape the dough into a ball and let it ferment until it doubles in volume.

5. Degas the dough

Remove the dough from the bowl once it has doubled in volume and degas it by kneading it a little.

6. Divide and shape into balls

Divide the dough into 12 portions of about 60 grams each and roll them into balls.

7. Let the rolls rise again

Place the balls of dough on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover them with plastic wrap and let them double in volume.

8. Brush and bake

Preheat the oven to 180 °C with top and bottom heat. Brush the medias noches with beaten egg and bake them for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9. Cool on a rack

Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a rack before filling.

10. Fill to taste

Once cooled, split and fill the rolls as you like.

Tips for the Best Medias Noches

Knead for elasticity

You can knead the dough with a stand mixer to save a good deal of time, though kneading by hand works too since this is a very forgiving dough. Simply work it until it feels very elastic.

Let them rise properly

The hardest part of this recipe is getting a good knead and letting the rolls rise correctly so they come out wonderfully spongy. Be patient during both rises and wait until the dough has genuinely doubled.

Store them well

Because these are homemade yeasted rolls, they keep well for a couple of days in an airtight container. Let them cool completely before storing or filling.

30 Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to lineup that covers cozy classics, well-known dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone at the table happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting sweet sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I make.

Mornings and lighter meals call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a filling Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I rely on.

For small plates and Mediterranean cooking, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out when I want the meal to feel a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and snug evening dinners? I'm always pointing people toward this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I need something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply soothing French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Whenever street food or party food is on my mind, I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, bold Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I serve as an easy starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole menu are needed for guests, I'll set dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this punchy Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like putting this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or closing things out with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on straightforward methods, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely come back to time and time again—whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for loved ones.

On the sweet side, the rich, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together easily. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a spot-on Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots around the world, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it's quick and still delivers terrific texture. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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