Homemade Soft Hamburger Buns
Elevate your grilling game with these Homemade Soft Hamburger Buns! Crafted from simple ingredients, this recipe yields six delicious, slightly chewy buns that stand up wonderfully to all your favorite burger toppings. Unlike store-bought buns, these are made with love and care, offering a delightful homemade taste and texture. Using an automatic bread machine simplifies the kneading process, but you can also make the dough by hand if you prefer a more traditional approach. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or enjoying a cozy family dinner, these buns will impress everyone at the table. Perfectly golden on the outside and soft on the inside, they're a versatile base for hamburgers, sliders, or even sandwiches.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
milk
1 cup (Warm and slightly cooled)
butter
4 tablespoons (Softened)
all-purpose flour
3 cups (Unbleached)
salt
1 1/4 teaspoons (Regular table or kosher salt)
sugar
2 tablespoons (Granulated)
yeast
2 teaspoons (Active dry yeast or instant yeast)
dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon (Optional)
egg white
1 (Beaten)
water
1 tablespoon (For mixing with egg white)
sesame seeds
as desired (For sprinkling on buns)
Instructions
1
Warm the milk and butter together in a saucepan over low heat until the butter begins to melt. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
2
In a mixing bowl or bread machine, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and optional dried onion flakes. Mix well.
3
Add the warmed milk and butter mixture to the dry ingredients. If using a bread machine, start the dough cycle now. If mixing by hand, stir until combined and then knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10-15 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Add a bit of additional flour or water as needed.
4
Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning it to coat all sides. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place until it's doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
5
Once risen, punch down the dough to release any air bubbles. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into six equal pieces.
6
Roll each piece into a smooth ball and arrange them in a lightly greased hamburger bun pan. Cover the pan with a towel and let the buns rest for 10 minutes.
7
Gently press down on the tops of each dough ball to flatten them slightly. Cover again and let the buns rise until puffy, about 1 hour.
8
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a small bowl, mix the beaten egg white with 1 tablespoon of water.
9
Just before baking, brush the tops of the buns with the egg white mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a delicious finish.
10
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the buns are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a rack before slicing in half horizontally.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this recipe for?
This recipe is for making Homemade Soft Hamburger Buns that are perfect for grilling and sandwiches.
How many buns does this recipe produce?
This recipe yields six delicious homemade hamburger buns.
What are the main ingredients for these buns?
The main ingredients include milk, butter, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and optional dried onion flakes.
How should the milk and butter be prepared?
You should warm the milk and butter together in a saucepan over low heat until the butter begins to melt, then let it cool slightly.
What type of flour is recommended?
The recipe calls for three cups of unbleached all-purpose flour.
Can I use a bread machine for this recipe?
Yes, an automatic bread machine can be used to simplify the kneading process using the dough cycle.
How long do I need to knead the dough by hand?
If kneading by hand, you should do so on a lightly floured surface for about 10-15 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
What is the purpose of the dried onion flakes?
The dried onion flakes are optional and add a hint of extra flavor to the bun dough.
How long is the first rise?
The dough should rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, which typically takes about 1-2 hours.
What should I do after the dough has doubled in size?
Once risen, you should punch down the dough to release air bubbles and turn it out onto a floured surface.
How many pieces should the dough be divided into?
The dough should be divided into six equal pieces to form the buns.
How do I shape the buns?
Roll each of the six pieces into a smooth ball and arrange them in a lightly greased hamburger bun pan.
Is there a resting period after shaping?
Yes, after placing the dough balls in the pan, cover them and let them rest for 10 minutes.
Should I flatten the dough balls?
Yes, after the 10-minute rest, gently press down on the tops of each dough ball to flatten them slightly before the second rise.
How long is the second rise?
The flattened buns should rise covered for about 1 hour until they are puffy.
What temperature should the oven be set to?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
What is used for the egg wash?
The egg wash consists of one beaten egg white mixed with one tablespoon of water.
When should I apply the egg wash and toppings?
Brush the tops of the buns with the egg white mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds just before putting them in the oven.
How long do the buns need to bake?
Bake the buns for 15-20 minutes or until they reach a golden brown color.
How should the buns be cooled?
Remove them from the oven and let them cool on a rack before slicing them horizontally.
What is the texture of these buns?
These buns are perfectly golden on the outside and soft with a slightly chewy texture on the inside.
Are these buns suitable for sliders?
While shaped for standard hamburgers, the dough is versatile enough to be used for sliders or sandwiches.
Can I use active dry yeast?
Yes, you can use either active dry yeast or instant yeast for this recipe.
What if my dough is too sticky or dry while kneading?
You can add a bit of additional flour or water as needed during the kneading process to reach a smooth, elastic consistency.
Do I need a special pan for this?
While a hamburger bun pan is suggested for shape, you can also use a standard lightly greased baking sheet.
Are these buns better than store-bought?
Yes, they offer a delightful homemade taste and texture that stands up better to toppings than many store-bought options.
What toppings go well with these buns?
They are a versatile base for all your favorite burger toppings, sliders, or sandwich fillings.
Is the sugar necessary?
Yes, the two tablespoons of granulated sugar help feed the yeast and contribute to the browning and flavor of the buns.
How much salt is used?
The recipe uses 1 1/4 teaspoons of regular table or kosher salt.
Can I make these for a BBQ?
Absolutely, these buns are designed to elevate your grilling game and impress guests at a summer barbecue.