Ingredients:
1 cup Lukewarm water
2 tbsp Butter, at room temperature
1 large Egg
3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1 1/4 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Yeast
TOPPING
3 tbsp Butter, melted
Preparation:
Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough.
Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it's nearly doubled in bulk.
Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball; flatten to about 3" across. Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for about an hour, until noticeably puffy.
Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter.
Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Remove them from the oven, and brush with the remaining melted butter. This will give the buns a satiny, buttery crust.
Cool the buns on a rack.
Yield: 8 large buns.