Mr. and Mrs. Bun's Buns are an easy homemade recipe for a denser bun that holds up well to juicy foods such as hamburgers, pulled pork, and BBQ chicken sandwiches.
The Making of Mr and Mrs Bun's Buns
A copycat recipe
One of the hardest parts of having a proper burger is deciding on which kind of bun. Do we go with a Kaiser roll? Onion bun. Soft and mushy? Hard to bite into? Well, that problem has been solved with this copycat recipe for Mr. and Mrs. Bun's Buns.
The hardest part for me was how to size the recipe. The original recipe was written with 10 ½ pounds of flour and 3 pounds of milk.
Who weighs their milk, and how much are 3 pounds of it? Well, 3 pounds of milk = 6 cups. Now that is easier to convert from 65 to 6. 4 ½ pounds of water is equal to 9 cups of water, again, much easier to understand...right?
I think so.
So I converted the recipe, from 65 buns to only 6.
What do you need to make these easy buns?
- Flour
- Salt and sugar
- Yeast (active dry)
- Milk (regular or buttermilk
- An egg (preferably at room temperature)
- Oil
- Warm water
Yep, that's it. Sounds pretty easy and it is.
How much time does it take to make homemade buns?
Since much of the time is hands-off, it's really not hard to make these buns, but it does have two rise times, 45 minutes in the bowl and then another 45 minutes after you have shaped them and put them on either parchment paper or a silicone Silpat liner. I prefer the reusable liner.
Hearty, not Super Soft
These buns are not your super-soft like those that come out of a package. These are denser, and heartier so, hold up very well to those thick juicy burgers. No more falling apart in your hand while you enjoy that pulled pork or BBQ sandwich filled with succulent meat and tasty wet sauce running down your arm.
Can these buns be stored?
While I think these buns are best when used the same day as they are made, they can be stored for a short time. Unlike the buns you buy in a grocery store, these have no preservatives so they are prone to molding within a few days, even when stored in an "air-tight" container.
To toast or not to toast, that isn't even a question...
I believe ALL buns need to be toasted. End of story.
You can toast them dry, cut side down, directly on the grill, until toasty. If you are using a skillet or indoor grill, they benefit from a light brushing of melted butter or oil on the cut side of the bread before placing them cut side down on the griddle. And of course, you can always toast them, cut side up, in your toaster oven or broiler. You may find, that due to the small amount of sugar used, they take a little longer to brown up. But do keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
Add a topping, or not...
You can serve these plain, or add a topping while they bake such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or even Everything but the Bagel topping. If you add a topping, when you have 10 minutes of cooking time left, lightly brush the tops of the buns with an eggwash a sprinkle one or more toppings on the bun.
So what's for dinner tonight? Here are some ideas that are ideal for Mr. and Mrs. Bun's Buns.
COFFEE-RUBBED CHEESEBURGERS WITH TEXAS BBQ SAUCE
CARAMELIZED ONION BACON BURGER
SIRLOIN BEEF AND LAMB BURGERS WITH FETA AND CILANTRO MINT SAUCE
Mr and Mrs Bun's Buns - Easy Homemade Hamburger Buns
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour 420 Grams
- 1 ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup 2% buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or another oil
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 package active dry years 2 ¼ teaspoons
- ¾ cup warm water (between 100º and 105º F - 38ºC)
- Optional Ingredients
- Egg Wash (1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon water
- Sesame, Poppy, or Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
- Place the flour, salt, egg, buttermilk, oil, sugar, yeast, and warm water into the work bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix 5 - 7 minutes, allot to rest and rise in the bowl for 45 minutes.
- Punch the dough down and divide it into 6 equal portions. Roll into a ball and place on a baking sheet that is covered in either parchment paper or a silicone Silpat liner. Flatten slightly. Allow to rest and rise for 45 minutes.
- Set the oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Place the cooking sheet in the center of the heated oven and bake 10 minutes - brush the tops of the buns with the egg wash and sprinkle with optional toppings (if using). Continue to bake 5 minutes or until the tops of the buns are nicely browned.
Notes
Nutrition
The making of Mr and Mrs Bun's Buns, a Copycat Recipe
Cindy says
Great recipe. Use for burgers and I like the taste and texture. Easy to throw together and look great!
Linda Baker says
So glad you liked them. I love that they are study enough to hold up to aa pulled pork or BBQ chicken as well. Happy Cooking! Cheers ~ Lindy