Homemade Burger Buns

Homemade Burger Buns are easy to make and will make you ditch the store bought burgers! These Burger buns taste a million times better than store bought. This is a perfect recipe that's super soft and has the perfect texture. 

(makes 8)

Ingredients

For the dough

500g all purpose flour (3.5 cups)
2 tsp instant dry yeast (7g)
3 tbsp melted butter + extra for brushing
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp dry milk powder
1 large egg
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 cup warm water (250 ml)

For brushing

1/4 cup Fresh milk/water
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp melted butter

Directions

1. In a large bowl, add the yeast, warm water, melted butter, olive oil, sugar, salt and the egg. Mix well. Let it sit for 10 minutes. 
2. Mix the milk powder with the flour and add it to the wet mixture little at a time. Keep mixing with a spoon until you form a very sticky dough. (You can also use an electric beater with the dough hook or a stand mixer)
3. When you have form a dough, transfer it to a slightly floured surface and knead well for about 10 minutes. Add only 1 tbsp of flour at a time if its too sticky. (It will be quite a sticky dough but not very sticky)
4. Apply oil over the dough and put it into a clean polythene bag and put a tight knot at the edge (make it airtight), keeping space for the dough to rise.
5. Refrigerate this dough for at least 4 hours or overnight is best. (This is called slow rising the dough)
6. Once it has risen, let the dough come to room temperature, cut the knot, transfer the dough it into a slightly floured surface and roll out the dough and divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. (weigh each dough to see whether they are equal in weight). 
7. Shape each dough ball by pulling and folding its edges under to create a smooth outer skin.
   
8. Place each dough ball in the baking tray lined with parchment paper. If you are going to bake the buns in two batches place them in individual square shaped parchment papers.(Putting the dough balls on the oil papers will prevent the burger bun getting handled too much after the second rise, therefore this will help to get beautiful round burger buns)
9. Press them gently and flatten the dough balls with your palms to make 2 inch diameter circles.
10. Cover them and let it rise for another 1 1/2 hours in the baking tray itself. 
11. Dissolve the sugar in the milk/water and then mix in the melted butter. 
12. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. 
13. After the burger buns have risen, brush them all over with milk mixture. 
14. Sprinkle some sesame seeds if desired. Bake the burger buns for 30 minutes. 
    
15. As soon as the buns are baked and taken from the oven, apply melted butter using a brush and close it with a foil or clean cloth to make it sweat. (This step will make the buns soft)
16. Slice the burger buns and serve with any filling. Enjoy!