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Freshly baked sesame burger buns on a cooling rack.

Burger Buns

Jennifer Ryan
Soft, fluffy burger buns baked fresh at home with golden tops and the perfect texture for burgers and sandwiches.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rising Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Bread, Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 328 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

Activate the Yeast

  • Add the warm water, instant yeast, and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer.
    2 cups warm water, 2 tablespoons instant yeast, ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until it smells slightly yeasty and looks active.
    A mixture of yeast and water bubbling in a metal bowl, ready for making burger buns.

Make the Dough

  • Add the lightly beaten egg, olive oil, and salt to the bowl.
    1 tablespoon salt, 1 large egg, ¼ cup olive oil
    A mixture of yeast, water, and oil bubbling in a mixing bowl.
  • With the dough hook running on low speed, add the flour one cup at a time.
    7¾ cups bread flour
  • Continue mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  • Test the dough by pinching off a small piece and rolling it into a ball. It should feel soft with only a slight sticky residue on your fingers.
  • If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, a few tablespoons at a time.
  • Knead the dough for about 8 minutes until smooth, soft, and slightly tacky.
  • Let the dough rest for 5 minutes to relax the gluten.
    A bowl of dough rising for homemade burger buns.

Shape the Buns

  • Lightly flour your work surface and turn out the dough.
    A round ball of dough on a marble surface, ready for making burger buns.
  • Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, about 135 grams each if using a scale.
    Dough shaped into a star pattern, ready for making burger buns.
  • Shape each piece into a smooth ball by pulling the edges into the center.
  • Place the buns onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
    Twelve round, uncooked burger buns arranged on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
  • Gently press down on each bun with your hand to create a wider burger bun shape.

Let the Dough Rise

  • Cover the buns with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap.
  • Place them in a warm spot and let rise for about 30 minutes, or until puffy.
    Twelve uncooked burger buns arranged on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Prepare for Baking

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
    Oven preheated to 400°F or 200°C and displayed in bold orange text.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and a splash of water to make the egg wash.
    1 large egg, 1 splash water
  • Lightly brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash.
    Brushing egg wash on freshly shaped burger buns before baking.
  • Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
    sesame seeds
    Close-up of soft, sesame-topped burger buns ready for baking.

Bake the Buns

  • Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown.
  • The internal temperature should reach 190–195°F when fully baked.
    Freshly baked burger buns topped with sesame seeds on a baking tray.

Cool and Serve

  • Transfer the buns to a wire rack and let cool completely before slicing.
    Freshly baked burger buns topped with sesame seeds on a cooling rack.

Notes

Tips and Tricks
  • Check your yeast: A strong yeasty smell means the yeast is active and ready to use.
  • Don’t add too much flour: The dough should feel slightly tacky, not dry.
  • Even sizing: Use a kitchen scale for evenly sized buns that bake consistently.
  • Warm rise spot: A slightly warm oven with just the oven light on can help the buns rise faster.
  • Golden tops: The egg wash gives the buns their shiny, golden finish.
  • Storage: Store cooled buns in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 11gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 641mgPotassium: 102mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 58IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
Keywords bread, bread roll, bun, burger, burger buns, dinner rolls, hamburger, rolls
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