Whole Wheat Burger Buns

Have you ever made homemade burger buns? If not, you must do so as soon as possible. They are about a thousand times better than store-bought buns and can elevate almost any burger recipe to gourmet status.

📝 Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons (44 grams) warm whole milk, (between 105° and 120°F)
• 1 cup (237 grams) warm water, (between 105° and 120°F)
• 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet, 8 grams) instant yeast*
• 2 1/2 tablespoons (31 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, (at room temperature, slightly beaten)
• 2 cups (254 grams) bread flour
• 1 1/3 cups (160 grams) whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 3 tablespoons (43 grams) unsalted butter, (at room temperature)
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Sesame seeds, (optional)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the milk, water, yeast¹, sugar, salt and egg.
2. 2Add the flour to the bowl, and mix until incorporated. Mix in the salt and butter. Knead on medium-low speed for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the dough comes together into a soft yet slightly tacky dough (should not be unbearably sticky). Avoid adding too much extra flour because it will create tough buns. It's better to be sticky than dense, I promise!
3. 3Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours².
4. 4Line two baking sheets with parchment paper³. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts. Gently roll each portion of dough into a ball and place four to a baking sheet, 2 to 3 inches apart. If your dough is unbearably sticky, lightly grease your hands with cooking spray or lightly dust the tops of each dough ball with flour before rolling. Cover with a clean towel and let rise again until puffy and almost doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
5. 5Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the tops of the buns lightly with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake the buns about 15 minutes, rotating halfway through baking, until the tops are golden brown. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
6. 6Serve or store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month. Let defrost at room temperature before reheating in a 350°F oven until warmed or toasting.