Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns

Summer is the time of year when everyone thinks about grilling outdoors. Homemade buns make hamburgers and hot dogs taste out of this world. If you live in an area where the temperature gets so hot you don't want to heat up your oven, make a bunch of buns early in the season and freeze them. To give them a heartier texture, you can substitute 2 cups of King Arthur Premium Whole Wheat Flour for an equal amount of King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour.

20 mins
20 mins
2 hrs 30 mins
18 buns
Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns







  6. Shape each piece into a ball. For hamburger buns, flatten the balls into 3 1/2" disks. For hot-dog buns, roll the balls into cylinders, 4 1/2" in length. Flatten the cylinders slightly; dough rises more in the center so this will give a gently rounded top versus a high top.

  7. For soft-sided buns, place them on a well-seasoned baking sheet a half inch apart so they'll grow together when they rise. For crisper buns, place them 3" apart. Or shape buns and bake in either our hot dog bun pan or our hamburger bun pan.

  8. For the second rising, cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.




Tips from our Bakers

  • We give you this fairly wide variation for a couple of reasons. First, you'll find in the summer that you'll need a bit more flour to absorb a given amount of liquid than you will in the winter. This is because it's humid and flour acts somewhat like a slightly dampened sponge as a result. Second, this particular dough should be quite slack, i.e., very relaxed in order to make soft and tender buns. So you want to add only enough more flour, past the 6-cup point, to make the dough just kneadable; sprinkling only enough more to keep it from sticking to you or the board.
  • Want to keep your rolls fresher longer? Try the tangzhong technique, an Asian method for increasing the softness and shelf life of yeast bread and rolls. Begin by measuring out the flour, milk, and water you’ll be using in the recipe. Add 2 tablespoons water to what you’ve measured for a total of 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (150g). Next, combine all of the water, a generous 1/2 cup (68g) of the measured flour, and 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon (190g) of the measured milk in a saucepan set over medium-high heat. Cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it thickens and forms a thick slurry; this will take about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer the cooked mixture (slurry) to a bowl, and let it cool to lukewarm. Combine the slurry with the remaining flour, milk, and other dough ingredients. Proceed with the recipe as directed.