She loves a heathly dose of mustard atop her bun, covered with a juicy burger, lettuce, tomatoes, a slice of real cheese and a big slice of pickle. What can I say- mom and dad have taught her well. She'll order a hamburger just about anywhere we go. And during the summer, it's our most requested dinner. Oh, sometimes we'll change up the toppings and add garlic, carmelized onions or bbq sauce. But a big, classic burger is everyone's favorite.
Nothing is worse than a flimsy bun that falls apart when you take the first bite of that juicy burger. No! We want something substantial that will hold up and even, gasp, impart some flavor to the party! These are my favorite buns. They are a snap to put together, very flavorful and even freeze well. I make these into hot dog buns as well.
Best Burger Buns
from King Arthur Flour
- 3/4 to 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 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.
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Directions
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1) Mix and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a soft, smooth dough.
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2) Cover the dough, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it's nearly doubled
in bulk. |
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3) Gently deflate the dough, and divide
it into 8-10 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.
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4) Brush the buns with about half of the melted butter. |
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5) 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.
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| 6) Cool the buns on a rack. |
