Description
These homemade hamburger buns are soft, fluffy, and perfect for your favorite burgers or sandwiches. Made from a rich dough with milk, butter, and a hint of sugar, then topped with a buttery egg wash and sesame seeds, these buns bake to a golden perfection and provide a delightful texture and flavor that store-bought buns can’t match.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 egg white (for egg wash)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 package instant yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 3 ¼ cups all purpose flour
Fats and Toppings
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided use, room temperature)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Heat Milk: Warm the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 181°F or until small bubbles form around the edges. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Let it cool to about 105-110°F, stirring in 2 tablespoons of butter and salt until the butter melts.
- Activate Yeast: In a separate bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and granulated sugar. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the yeast mixture to the cooled milk mixture. Beat the whole egg and mix it in thoroughly.
- Mix Dough: Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add 2 cups of flour to the wet ingredients and mix. Gradually add the remaining flour until the dough forms a soft, slightly sticky ball. Knead on medium-low speed for 4-5 minutes to develop gluten.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 90-100 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Shape Buns: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions, rolling each into a ball. Flatten each ball to about ½ inch thickness and 3 inches in diameter. Arrange on the baking sheet, cover, and allow to rise again for 60 minutes until doubled.
- Prepare Egg Wash: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and let it cool slightly. Whisk the egg white until foamy and blend in the melted butter. Brush this egg wash over the risen buns and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the buns for 18-20 minutes or until they turn a golden brown color.
- Cool: Remove buns from the oven and allow them to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure that the milk cools to the proper temperature before adding yeast to avoid killing it.
- You can substitute all-purpose flour with bread flour for a chewier texture.
- For vegan buns, swap the butter with plant-based margarine and omit the eggs, using an egg replacer or additional water instead.
- Store cooled buns in an airtight container or freeze for longer storage.
- Sprinkling sesame seeds is optional but adds great flavor and texture.
