Ingredients:
3/4 to 1 cup (170g to 227g) lukewarm water, depending on humidity
2 tablespoons (28g) butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
3 1/2 cups (418g)
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
Directions:
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.