Today, I’m crafting, for our fall picnic, some beautiful homemade hamburger buns. I’ve tried hamburger buns before, but ahem, it wasn’t my finest hour. They mostly became breadcrumbs as they ended up more pucks than buns. So I’m super excited to try out this recipe from a bread machine cookbook I picked up at a thrift store recently. And to be able to bake them in this beautiful bun pan? That has to make them so much more lovely, right? I can’t wait to get the hot dog bun pan, too.
Ingredients
- 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- *For best results (a smooth, slightly soft dough), use the smaller amount of water in summer (or in a humid environment), the greater amount in winter (or in a dry climate); and something in between the rest of the time.
TOPPING
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- Poppy seeds, if desired
Instructions
- Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough.
- Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it’s nearly doubled in bulk.
- Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball; flatten to about 3″ across. Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour, until noticeably puffy.
- Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter. Add poppy seeds, if desired.
- Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Remove them from the oven, and brush with the remaining melted butter. This will give the buns a satiny, buttery crust.
- Cool the buns on a rack.
- Yield: 8 large buns.
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:69]
The Results
Wow. Definitely the most impressive burger buns I’ve ever made. So light and fluffy and absolutely delicious! I love the pan, and, of course, the flour. Fantastic.
This post shared at Gallery of Favorites, Fresh Bites Friday, Friday Favorites, Frugal Fridays and I’m Lovin’ It.
