Craving the perfect burger at home? Elevate your homemade burgers with these soft, fluffy Homemade Burger Buns.
Golden brown and lightly sweetened with honey, these buns are the ideal base for any burger—whether you’re stacking them with juicy patties or creative vegetarian fillings.
Made from scratch, they offer a deliciously tender bite that far surpasses store-bought versions.
Ingredients List
Crafting soft and airy burger buns requires a few key components to strike the perfect balance of taste and texture. Below is a breakdown of the ingredients used for these buns:
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (warmed to about 110°F / 43°C)
- 1 packet instant yeast (2¼ tsp)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (divided)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
Topping
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Required Kitchen Tools
Having the right tools in your kitchen ensures the bun-making process is both efficient and enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Stand Mixer with Dough Hook: Great for kneading the dough evenly and quickly.
- Mixing Bowls: For activating the yeast and combining ingredients.
- Kitchen Towel or Plastic Wrap: To cover the dough while it rises.
- Bench Scraper or Knife: Helpful for dividing the dough into equal portions.
- Baking Sheet: Greased or lined with parchment paper for baking the buns.
- Pastry Brush: For applying the egg wash evenly over the buns.
- Oven Thermometer (optional but recommended): To ensure your oven is at the correct temperature.
Dough Preparation
Making burger buns from scratch begins with crafting a soft, enriched dough. This dough is slightly sweet, tender, and ideal for holding all your favorite burger toppings without falling apart.
Mixing the Ingredients
Begin by warming the milk to around 110°F (43°C)—warm to the touch but not hot. Pour it into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Sprinkle the instant yeast over the milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes to activate. You’ll see it start to foam slightly.
Next, add the honey, egg, 2½ cups of the flour, and salt. Mix on low speed for about 5 minutes, until the dough begins to come together. Gradually add the remaining ½ cup of flour, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is soft and slightly tacky.
Add the softened butter and continue mixing for an additional 3 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic at this stage.
First Rise
Remove the dough hook, then cover the bowl with a clean, damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. This first rise is essential for developing flavor and structure.
Shaping the Burger Buns
Shaping the dough correctly ensures evenly sized and smooth burger buns that bake up beautifully.
- Deflate and Shape Dough:
Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to release the air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and press it into a large rectangle. - Divide Dough:
Using a bench scraper or knife, divide the rectangle into 8 equal portions. - Form Round Buns:
Take each portion and roll it into a smooth, round ball. You can cup your hand over the dough piece and move it in a circular motion on the work surface—this tightens the surface of the dough and helps form a perfect round shape. - Second Rise:
Place the shaped dough balls on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving enough space between them to allow for expansion. Cover loosely with a towel and let them rise again for about 30 minutes, or until puffy and nearly doubled in size.
Baking the Burger Buns
Once your buns have risen, it’s time to bake them to golden perfection. This final step transforms the soft dough into pillowy buns with a delicate crust and a fluffy interior.
Egg Wash and Topping
Before baking, prepare an egg wash by whisking together 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon of water. This wash gives the buns a shiny, golden-brown finish. Using a pastry brush, gently coat the tops of each bun with the egg wash. If desired, sprinkle sesame seeds over the tops for that classic burger bun look.
Oven Temperature and Baking Time
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once heated, place the baking sheet with the buns in the center rack of the oven. Bake for approximately 18–20 minutes or until the tops are beautifully golden and the buns sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Once baked, transfer the buns to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. This ensures they set properly and remain soft and moist inside.
Serving and Presentation
Homemade burger buns are incredibly versatile and can complement everything from traditional cheeseburgers to veggie or pulled pork sandwiches. Here are a few presentation ideas to make your burgers shine:
Suggested Uses and Pairings
- Classic Cheeseburger: Layer with grilled beef patty, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles.
- Gourmet Option: Try with blue cheese, arugula, caramelized onions, and fig jam.
- Vegetarian Favorite: Load with a grilled portobello, hummus, avocado, and sprouts.
Storage Instructions
Once you’ve baked your homemade burger buns, proper storage will help maintain their softness and flavor so you can enjoy them beyond the first day.
Keeping Buns Fresh
After the buns have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Avoid refrigerating, as this can cause the buns to dry out more quickly.
Freezing Homemade Buns
To extend their shelf life, these buns freeze beautifully:
- Wrap each bun individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped buns in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container.
- Freeze for up to 1 month.
When ready to use, let them thaw at room temperature or warm them briefly in the oven for that just-baked freshness.
Homemade Burger Buns
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup whole milk (warmed to about 110°F / 43°C)
- 1 packet instant yeast (2¼ tsp)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (divided)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
Topping
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the milk to about 110°F (43°C). Pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Sprinkle in the yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes until slightly foamy.
- Add honey, 1 egg, 2½ cups of the flour, and salt. Mix on low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining ½ cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl and is soft but not too sticky.
- Add the softened butter and mix for another 3 minutes until fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Remove the dough hook, cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Press into a large rectangle and divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball by cupping your hand over it and moving in a circular motion.
- Place the dough balls on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced evenly apart. Cover loosely and let rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
- Whisk 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Gently brush the tops of the risen buns with the egg wash. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top if desired.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until buns are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Transfer the buns to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before slicing and using.
Conclusion
Homemade burger buns bring a whole new level of flavor and texture to your favorite burgers.
Soft, slightly sweet, and perfectly golden, these buns are worth every step of the process. With just a few simple ingredients and a little patience, you can craft buns that rival—or even surpass—those from your favorite bakery.
So preheat that oven and get rolling—you’re just one batch away from burger perfection.
