Description
This homemade hamburger buns recipe yields soft, fluffy, and perfectly golden buns with a slightly buttery flavor and optional sesame seed topping. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, these buns are ideal for burgers, sandwiches, or sliders and bring bakery-quality results right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ cup whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided and room temperature
- 1 egg (room temperature)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 package instant yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- Sesame seeds (optional)
For Topping
- Additional butter and/or egg wash (1 egg white whisked with melted butter) for shiny top
Instructions
- Heat and Prepare Milk: Heat the milk to 181°F in a saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form on the sides, but do not boil. Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl or stand mixer bowl.
- Add Butter and Salt: Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter and salt into the warm milk until the butter melts. Let the mixture cool to 105-110°F, about 10 minutes.
- Activate Yeast: In a separate large bowl, combine warm water, instant yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
- Combine Mixtures and Egg: Add the yeast mixture to the cooled milk mixture. Beat the egg and stir it into the combined liquids.
- Add Flour and Knead: Using a stand mixer with a dough hook, add 2 cups of flour and mix. Continue adding flour gradually until the dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on medium-low speed for 4-5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to a large oiled bowl and cover. Let it rise at room temperature for 90-100 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Shape Buns and Second Rise: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, shape each into a ball, flatten to about ½ inch thick and 3 inches in diameter. Cover and let them rise until doubled, about 60 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prepare Egg Wash and Brush: Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and let cool slightly. Whisk 1 egg white until foamy, then add melted butter and whisk to combine. Brush the tops of buns with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
- Bake: Bake buns in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
- Cool: Remove buns from oven and allow to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for best yeast activation and dough consistency.
- Do not overheat the milk; temperature is crucial to avoid killing the yeast later.
- Let dough rise in a warm, draft-free area for optimal proofing.
- Egg wash creates a shiny, golden crust, but you can omit it for a matte finish.
- Adjust flour quantity as needed depending on humidity and flour type for soft but not sticky dough.
- For extra softness, brush buns with melted butter right after baking.
