There’s something truly special about homemade hamburger buns. Soft, warm, and fresh from the overn, they elevate any burger to the next level. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or just craving a delicious meal, making your own buns can be a fun and rewarding experience. Ready to get baking? Let’s dive in!
When I got started on my journey of making the food my family eats from scratch, I was terrified of making bread. I had made bread, multiple different recipes, and it took a bit before I could make a good loaf of bread. So, when I wanted to make some buns, I was terrified!
I just knew that it was part of the process and journey I was on. So, I put my big girl pants on and got to work.
Store bought hamburger buns are dry and crumbly and just aren’t very good. They do the job, but man when you have a homemade hamburger bun you’ll never go back!
All of my family members, from my adult children to my toddlers, they all love these buns, and some would even happily eat them on their own. Now, I’ve never wanted to eat a store-bought bun on their own, have you?
Yes, these taste WAY better than store-bought buns, but also, they are so much better for you because they don’t have all the extra crap ingredients in them! Sure, they don’t last as long on your shelf, but when you taste them, you’ll want to eat them and not have them sit on your shelf.
You need to make the BEST hamburger buns for your family, I promise you won’t regret it. Also, they are super easy to make and only take about 4o minutes to make!
What to serve with your buns
These buns can be used for so many dishes! They are soft on the inside and the flavor can go with just about anything!
Some of our favorites with these buns are:
- Sloppy Joes
- Shredded chicken sandwiches
- Hamburgers
- Shredded pork sandwiches
You can even use them for fried chicken sandwiches or even as hoagies for some club sandwiches.
If you’re looking to make a sweeter bun, for things like barbecue sandwiches, you can try these tips:
- Add in 2-3 tablespoons of sugar to the dough. This will enhance the sweetness of the bun without overwhelming it.
- Try adding 1-2 tablespoons of honey. It gives a slightly more complex sweetness (and my personal favorite way to sweeten breads).
- Instead of using water, switch out 1/2 cup of water for a 1/2 cup of milk to add richness and sweetness.
- If you want to add a hint of spice to your sweet buns, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough. You can also sprinkle a bit of cinnamon sugar to the top of the buns before baking.
Ingredients needed:
- Active dry yeast
- Sugar
- Butter
- Egg
- Salt
- Flour
- Sesame Seeds
How to make The BEST Hamburger buns
- Add yeast, warm water and sugar to a bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
- Whisk in egg and melted butter.
- Mix in salt and flour, one cup at a time. Continue to add flour until you have a soft dough.
- Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 5minutes. Or knead in a mixer for 3-5 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
- Do not let dough rise.
- Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape into balls.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Mix together egg yolk and water (for the topping) and brush on top of the buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown
How to shape buns
When I’m making these buns, I try to make them the same size. That way they will cook evenly but also it makes them look more appealing.
The most reliable way to ensure that your buns will be the same size is it divide the dough in equal portions by using a scale. For traditional hamburger buns, make them about 75-90 grams. You’ll want to weigh them before you start shaping them.
If you don’t have a scale or don’t want to use a scale, just do your best by eyeing the dough and divide into equal size pieces. I do this by cutting the dough in half, then cutting the dough in half again and then one more time so that I get 8 buns.
When I’m ready to shape my buns, I just roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball. You can use your hands to fold the edges of the dough underneath itself to create a tight surface, which helps achieve an even shape.
Tips for the perfect hamburger buns
Sometimes, when we make things from scratch, they don’t always turn out or sometimes we just need to understand a few things before what we are making turn out. So, here are a few things to help you make the best buns ever!
Dough not rising – How to avoid it
- Yeast: Make sure that your yeast is active. If it is old or expired, it may not work as effectively. Always check the expiration date of your yeast. To prevent using inactive yeast, proof it by dissolving the yeast in warm water (about 100 degrees F). If you need to, add a pinch of sugar. It’s active if it bubbles/froths after 5-10 minutes.
- Water Temp: Yeast won’t work if the water is too hot or cold. If it’s too hot, it will kill the yeast, while too cold will slow down the activity. Use a candy thermometer to make sure it’s about 110 degrees and then you’ll be fine.
- Kneading: Kneading helps develop gluten and if done too little, the dough won’t have enough structure to rise. Over-kneading can make the dough too stiff. Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic, but not tough. It takes me about 8-10 minutes kneading by hand and about 4-5 minutes in a stand mixer.
- Temperature: Let your dough rise in a warm (but not hot) spot. Ideally you want the temp to be about 75-80 degrees F. My kitchen is kept a little bit cooler than that so I will sometimes put it in my oven with the light on for it to rise. If the temperature isn’t warm enough, the yeast will struggle to activate, not allowing your dough to rise properly.
Creating a soft texture
- Try substituting part of the water in the recipe with milk (about a half a cup). The fat helps to tenderize the dough, making the buns soft.
- Hydration is key. A dough that’s slightly sticky and moist will result in a softer bun, as long as it’s not too wet to handle. Use a little extra water or milk if needed.
- Avoid overbaking. This can lead to dry, dense buns. Bake your buns until they are just golden brown.
With these tips, you’ll be able to create a batch of beautiful soft and flavorful homemade hamburger buns. Enjoy experimenting and adjusting the recipe to suit your tastes!
Thanks!
Thanks for being here, in this space with me. I wish I had learned how to cook when I was younger, but I didn’t. So this is my way to have things accessible for my kids, whenever they are ready to learn.
Let’s be friends! You can find me on find me on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
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Hamburger Buns
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 lrg egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 3-3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Topping
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add yeast, warm water and sugar to a bowl. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
- Whisk in egg and melted butter.
- Mix in salt and flour, one cup at a time. Continue to add flour until you have a soft dough.
- Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 5minutes. Or knead in a mixer for 3-5 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
- Do not let dough rise.
- Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape into balls.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Mix together egg yolk and water (for the topping) and brush on top of the buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
