Kittencal's Hamburger/Burger Buns

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

These are the best homemade buns for burgers they bake out soft and light and the dough is a pleasure to work with, they also make wonderful sandwich buns too, this will yield between 12-14 buns depending on how big you make them, I sometimes add in 1/2 teaspoon malt powder but it is not necessary --- Canadian residents can use all-purpose flour, U.S. residents use bread flour

• Total Time: 2 hrs 22 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 22 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 3/4 cup warm whole milk
• 4 tablespoons sugar (for a less sweeter bun reduce to 3 tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup melted Crisco shortening (I use butter flavor)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose white flour (U.S. residents use bread flour, you may need more four start with 3-1/2 cups and add in more while m)
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 tablespoon sesame seed

Directions:

1. Proof the yeast in 1 cup warm water with 1 teaspoon sugar; let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
2. In a heavy duty stand mixer, fitted with a kneader hook, add in the 3-1/2 cups flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, melted Crisco, warm milk and salt (and the malt powder if using).
3. Add in the proofed yeast; mix to create a soft semi-sticky dough that holds around the blade, adding in more flour as needed (do not add in too much as it will create a heavy bun, dough should be semi-sticky.
4. Knead dough for 7-8 minutes.
5. Remove dough, and let rest on the counter, covered with a clean dish towel for 10 minutes (this is an important step!).
6. Knead the dough gently for 30 seconds with hands.
7. Place dough in a large well-greased/oiled bowl.
8. Cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 60-90 minutes, or until double in size (I like to rise my dough in the oven, just set oven to 200 degrees and warm for 3 minutes, then turn off the heat while you are making the dough, this will create a perfect temperature to raise dough in, and usually takes only 1 hour to rise with oven method).
9. Punch down dough.
10. Shape into large balls, and place on a large greased cookie sheet (you should get 12 balls on the sheet).
11. Cover with a light clean tea towel, and let rise in a warm place for 30-40 minutes, or until almost doubled (warm oven rise should take 30 minutes.
12. Set oven to 375 degrees.
13. In a small bowl, mix together 1 egg white with 1 tsp water; whisk/mix well.
14. Carefully brush the tops and sides of the buns with the egg/water mixture.
15. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
16. Bake for approx.22 minutes, or until golden brown.

Reviews

[Lemon Girl]

This is an AWESOME recipe, I had made it several times as listed, the last time I made them I was out of milk so I substituted buttermilk, the results were even more amazing!!! I will never buy another store bought bun again.

[etherealnyte]

Followed the recipe to the T, except that instead of using a stand mixer I used a wooden spoon and my hands. Came out BEAUTIFUL. One of my favorite bread recipes so far, hands down!

[dna414]

These buns were a big hit. I followed the recipe as written except I only used one package of yeast which is 2 1/4 teaspoons instead of one tablespoon as written. Will be making these again.