Originally published on January 4, 2016
Just like any time you bake fresh bread, homemade hamburger buns are so much better than the store-bought kind. Mine came out a bit more like slider buns than they did hamburger buns, but luckily we were having beef on a bun, so size really didn’t matter. And while the sesame seeds aren’t completely necessary, I do think they give the buns an added touch.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 package dry active yeast
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Directions:
1.) In large bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of the sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over top; let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes.
2.) Meanwhile, in saucepan, heat milk, remaining sugar, butter and salt over low heat just until butter is melted. Transfer mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Let cool until the mixture is lukewarm, then add yeast mixture to it.
3.) Add 4 cups of the flour, 1 cup at a time, to the bowl of the stand mixer while running it at medium speed. Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a wooden spoon, mix in the remaining flour until a stiff dough has formed.
4.) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead, adding more flour if necessary, until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
5.) Punch the dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a log and divide into 16 pieces. Shape each into a ball by stretching the dough on top down towards the bottom, and then pinching and sealing. When finished rolling hamburger buns, place them 2 inches apart on a baking sheet and flatten slightly. Cover and let rise again until it’s doubled in size, about 1 hour.
6.) Whisk egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water and brush gently over the tops before sprinkling with sesame seeds.
7.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then bake the hamburger buns for 20 to 25 minutes, until the buns are golden on top and sound hollow when tapped. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
8.) Serve and enjoy!