Malachi’s Homemade Burger Buns

A kitchen crisis turned into a family baking session. These delicious homemade buns are the result of that little tug on my skirt.

The kitchen was humming with the usual dinner time chatter. My husband and I were mid conversation while prepping for Sloppy Joes when the “oh no” moment hit because we were out of burger buns.

The conversation immediately shifted to the logistics of a last minute store run. Who was going? Which store was closest? But before we could decide, a little hand tugged at my skirt. I looked down, and there was Malachi.

“Mommy,” he said simply, “why don’t we just make some?”

It wasn’t just that he believed we could make them. He fully expected them to be delicious. In his world, the kitchen is a place of magic, and if you need bread, you bake it. What a wonderful life we live where a child’s faith turns a kitchen crisis into a family baking session. These buns are the result of that little tug on my skirt, and honestly, they are better than anything we could have bought at the store.

The Ingredients

1 cup warm water
2 tbsp dry yeast
2 tbsp sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour (remember to fluff your flour before measuring)
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs (one for the dough and one for the egg wash)
Toppings such as everything bagel seasoning, salt, or sesame seeds

The Directions

1. Bloom the Yeast

Start by pouring your warm water into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and the dry yeast. Let it sit for a full 10 minutes. You want it to be nice and frothy before you move to the next step.

2. Mix the Dough

In the bowl of your stand mixer, add your fluffed flour and salt. Pour in your yeast mixture, one egg, and the oil. Use the dough hook attachment on low speed until everything starts to come together.

3. The Knead

Knead the dough with the mixer for 5 to 10 minutes. You want the dough to be smooth and elastic. Feel free to add a little more flour if the dough feels too sticky.

4. The First Rise

Before letting it rise, hand knead the dough into the shape you want, which is typically a smooth round ball. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 30 minutes.

5. Divide and Shape

Since this is a simple yeast dough and not a sourdough, there is no need to punch it down. Go ahead and cut the dough into eight equal pieces. Roll them into small balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or an oiled pan. Flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand.

Eight raw dough balls placed on a silicone baking mat on a pink tray, ready to bake.

6. Egg Wash and Bake

Preheat your oven to 400°F. While the oven heats, let the buns rise on the tray for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Six dough balls on a baking tray inside an oven, some sprinkled with seeds.

Right before they go in, brush the tops with your egg wash and add your everything bagel seasoning, salt, or sesame seeds. Bake for 10 minutes or until they are a beautiful golden brown.

Six freshly baked golden homemade burger buns on a pink tray.

Do you have a family burger bun recipe that you swear by, or would you try these with your next meal? We would love to know if these become a part of your family dinner traditions!

Let me know on IG @theams_haveit with what you think!