I have been enjoying experimenting with yeast and a bread machine this past year. I would really like to make bread the old way of slapping the dough on the breadboard to increase the gluten strands, but my thumbs won’t let me. So, I do the dough in a bread machine and a last rise on the counter in summer and the stove in winter. I also make a loaf from start to finish in the bread machine.
One of my favorites is making hamburger or hot dog buns! They are fairly easy and turn out so tasty. There are many recipes on the intertubes you can go to for burger buns, but this is the best I have tried.
Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns
1 ¼ C water
1 large egg
6 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Mix together
3 T white sugar
4 C bread flour( OK, I have played with this for several times...you could replace a ¼ C to ½ C with other flours...like whole wheat or rye or something you really like, but, start with a 1/4C)
1/3 C nonfat dry milk
3 T potato flakes
1 T + 1 tsp vital wheat gluten
2 tsp salt (I use coarse Baleine sea salt)
Mix dry ingredients together.
2 tsp yeast (I use Red Star Quick-Rise Yeast...½ tsp per Cup of flour)
Note: you have to be careful with the kind of yeast you use...follow the instructions on the yeast label. Your recipe might be older and using a different kind of yeast)
Everything at room temperature
For the Bread Machine: First, add all liquids to bread machine pan, then flours and yeast last. Set on dough cycle.
Or, if you are making by hand :
Incorporate all the dry ingredients together, the yeast, and add the liquids and stir, then knead it for 20 min,... slap on dough board a few times while kneading...let sit for 30 min in a slightly warm place, covered.
After the first rising, knead again , slap dough to create more gluten strands. Let rise another another 30 minutes.
For bread machine or by hand:
Shape dough into hamburger or Hot Dog buns on a parchment lined baking sheet, you should get 12 out of this recipe, let rest and rise for 30 minutes lightly covered in a slightly warm spot.
For the egg wash: 1 whole egg, very scrambled, seeds...I have used black & white sesame, nigella, caraway, or better than bagel from TJ’s. Brush the buns with the egg wash and sprinkle seeds.on top
Bake @ 375 for 15-20 minutes until browned.
They freeze very well, but I recommend slicing them in half before freezing.
I wish you all well for the coming holiday seasons!!!
We always enjoy a new voice in WFD, just take the plunge and create a diary...you might be the spark for a whole new generation of creative cooks!