Homemade Buns and Rolls

Prep Time: 3 1/2 hours

Cook Time: 15-17 minutes

Total Time: about 4 hours, with rising time.

Yield: 20 standard hamburger buns

Source: Chef John at allrecipes.com

Link: Homemade Hamburger Buns

Ingredients:

• 4 tsp active dry yeast
• 7 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 cups warm water
• 2 large eggs
• 6 Tbsp oil
• 6 Tbsp white sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 Tbsp milk
• sesame seeds

Steps:

1. Mix the yeast, 1 cup flour, and warm water in a large bowl until smooth. Let stand until the starter mixture is foamy, or about 10 minutes.

 

 
2. Lightly beat two eggs in a separate dish and then whisk them into the starter. After the eggs are fully incorporated, whisk in the oil and sugar. Add the salt last, whisking thoroughly.

 
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3. Add about 4 cups flour until the mixture becomes more stiff and doughy (switch to a big spoon!).

 
4. Turn over onto a floured surface and top with about 1/2 cup flour. You will use your hands to knead in the flour until the mass of dough holds it's shape as a soft ball.

 

 
5. Continue kneading the dough until smooth and elastic (about 6 minutes) adding just enough flour to prevent it from sticking to the counter. You should see small bubbles forming under the surface.

 
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6. Coat a large bowl* with oil and transfer the dough into it. Let rise until doubled in bulk (about 2 hours).

 
7. Gently transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface (don't punch it down). Pat to flatten bubbles and form into a slightly rounded 5 x 10 inch rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.

 

 
8. Cut into 16 equal-ish pieces. You will still need to trim off bits of dough here and there to make equal sized buns or rolls; ending up with about 20 pieces for buns or more for rolls.

 

 
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9. To make rolls, think of making each piece of dough into a pillow. Tuck the long sides down under, and repeat with the short sides.

 

 

 
10. To make hamburger buns, first form each piece into a roll, then gently pat and stretch the rounds into flat disk shapes about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.

 
11. Arrange the buns/rolls about 1/2 inch apart on a baking sheet and let rise until they are twice their original size (45 minutes to an hour). While the buns are rising, make an egg wash by whisking together 1 egg and 1 Tbsp. milk.

 
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12. Gently brush the buns with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a 375 F oven for 15-17 minutes; until the tops are a rich golden brown. Let the buns set on the baking sheet for a couple minutes before transferring to a cooling rack (you do need to put them on a cooling rack or else the bottoms will become soggy). Have fun with these!

 

*Note: always use a steel, glass, or ceramic bowl for bread making. For some reason, plastic doesn't work as well.