These soft-crusted, tasty bread buns are absolutely perfect for your barbecue parties. They hold up perfectly under the weight of all the hamburger toppings, are delicious and look beautiful.

The hamburger season has definitely started in France. A hamburger bar or a hot dog bar is THE best hot weather meal idea. You assemble the toppings on a countertop, everyone is served a bun with the cooked meat and melted cheese and the rest is up to them.

Even if there are of course quite good store bought options available, best hamburger breads are the ones you pull out of your oven the same morning.

I recently perfected my new favorite recipe for bread buns and I can’t wait for you to try it. It’s a really easy recipe, the buns are pillowy and lovely, have a nice soft crust and are of course supremely delicious.

The BEST Hamburger Buns Recipe

Ingredients

• 700 g (5 1/2 cups) of all purpose flour
• 10 g (1 tbsp) dry yeast or 20 g fresh yeast
• 50 g (4 tbsps) sugar
• 10 g (1 1/2 tsp) salt
• 50 g (1/4 cup) butter
• 150 ml (2/3 cup) water
• 225 ml (1 cup ) milk
• 3 large egg yolks

Instructions

Stir together the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Heat the butter and the water in a small pot until the butter is melted.

Take the pot off the heat and add milk. Wait until the liquid has cooled down to lukewarm.

Pour the butter mixture on the dry ingredients and start mixing with a dough hook. Mix on low speed (1 or 2 on KitchenAid) until all combined then add egg yolks one at a time.

Keep mixing the dough for another 10 to 15 minutes. The dough is ready when it no longer sticks to the sides and becomes shiny and elastic.

Pat the surface of the dough smooth, cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for 2 to 3 hours or until doubled in size.

SHAPING INSTRUCTIONS

Dump the risen dough on a lightly floured surface and flatten it into a rectangle. Cut the rectangle up in (more or less) even-sized squares. The number depends on the size you want your buns to be. My kids are still (relatively) small so I prefer making 24 mini-breads. If you want bigger breads, cut 16 or even 12 squares.

To make a round bun:

Take a piece of dough with floured hands and pull it into a flat disc. Start folding sides towards the middle of the disc. Continue until a round ball is formed. Pinch well the last folds and place the bun this side downwards on a baking sheet to rise again.

To make a hot dog bun:

Take a piece of dough with floured hands and pull it into a rectangle. Fold the longer sides towards the middle and fold once more to form a sort of a sausage. Pinch both ends into a round shape. Place the seam side downwards on a baking sheet to rise.

Let the shaped buns rise on parchment lined baking sheets for about an hour until more or less doubled in size.

Heat the oven to 200C. Place an empty metal baking sheet on the bottom rack to be heated as well.

Brush the buns with egg wash made of an egg yolk mixed with some milk.

Place the baking sheet with the buns in the oven and throw 50 mL of water on the preheated baking sheet at the bottom rack just before closing the door. This will create steam that will result in the most wonderful soft crust.

Bake the buns in the oven for about 12 to 15 minutes until they look pretty and golden brown.

Let the buns cool on a wire rack. For the best expected, eat them on the same day. Serve accompanied by lettuce, hamburger steak, cheese, pickles, onions, sauces. There are infinite ways to fill a burger bun! A fresh salad on the side and you’ve got yourself a wonderful summer meal.

You can store the bread buns in an airtight container for about 2 days or freeze them for up to three months. Before serving defrost if frozen and reheat the buns on a barbecue or in the oven for a few minutes.

Lastly, I shall quote my kids who say: “Mom makes the best hot dogs in the world!” Yes, I am shamelessly bragging here. But honestly, try these, and you can brag just the same!

I hope you got some inspiration here. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more tips and recipes.

If you’re like me and you think that eating healthy is something you can and should encourage in your kids, you must definitely download my list of 30 Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids. You’ll have lots of healthy snacks to serve while all those hot dogs and burgers are being grilled up.