Hamburger Buns

Hamburger Photo

Nothing says the start of summer quite like hamburgers cooked on the barbecue!

Here is my Hamburger bun recipe, unfortunately you will need a stand mixer for this recipe. The brioche style enriched dough requires a lot of power and time to develop the structure of the gluten and the correct crumb for the buns.

Hamburger Buns

Ingredients

1/4 cup warm water (not hot approximately 45ºC)

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided

3/4 cup whole milk, warmed

3 large eggs

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1/2-inch pieces


Sesame seeds (optional)

Directions

Stir together 1/4 cup water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Combine warm milk and 2 beaten eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. 

Stir in yeast mixture. 

With the mixer running on medium-low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt. Increase speed to medium, and beat until dough is very sticky, about 2 minutes. 

Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, until well incorporated, about 4 minutes. 

Stop the mixer, and add butter. 

Beat on medium speed until dough is smooth, elastic, and pulls away from sides of bowl, about 8 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl if needed. 

Transfer dough to a bowl lightly greased with oil

Cover with plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.


Preheat the oven to 375°F. 


Turn dough out onto a clean work surface. 

Divide dough into 8 portions. 

Shape dough portions into balls

Place them 2 inches apart on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet.

Cover buns loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel, and let rise at room temperature until almost doubled in height, about 1 hour.

Whisk remaining egg to make egg wash. 

Brush buns on a baking sheet with egg wash. 

Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired. 

Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown, approximately 14 to 18 minutes. 

Transfer buns to a wire rack, and let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing open. 

Store buns at room temperature in a ziplock plastic bag for up to 3 days.