Homemade Hamburger Buns

Beautiful Burger Buns

• • 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 large egg

  • 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (King Arthur Flour was used)

  • 1/4 cup sugar

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast

*For best results (a smooth, slightly soft dough), use the smaller amount of water in summer (or in a humid environment), the greater amount in winter (or in a dry climate): and something in between the rest of the time.

Topping

3 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

• 1. Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients--by hand, mixer, or bread machine--to make a soft smooth dough.

  2. Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it's nearly doubled in bulk.

  3. Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 8 pieces (regular). 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 noticeable puffy.

  4. Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter.

  5. Bake the buns in a preheated 375F 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.

  6. Cool the buns on a rack

Yield 8 large buns or (twice the sliders which I decided to make on this day).