Name: 100% Fresh Milled Hamburger Buns: Fluffy u0026amp; Soft Whole Wheat Yeast Buns
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1,050 g hard white wheat (BEFORE milling); 531 g warm water; 1 tbsp yeast; 112 g melted salted butter (1 stick); 168 g honey; 3 eggs (one for egg wash)

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These 100% fresh milled hamburger buns are soft and fluffy. What better bun for your delicious grilled hamburger piled high with yummy toppings?

I love this bun recipe because it is simple, easy to make, nutritious, and soft! Creating a hamburger bun that is nutritious for the family and not just empty calories was important for me this summer season!

Let me show you how to make these fluffy 100% fresh milled hamburger buns with yeast!

What is fresh milled flour?

Fresh milled flour is grain berries that are freshly milled and used in a recipe. Fresh milled flour is beneficial because it contains the bran and germ of the wheat which contains important minerals and nutrients.

Store-bought flour has the bran and germ sifted out, leaving it devoid of any nutritional value. Fresh milled flour is the best type of flour to consume that will actually nourish your body.

The Secret to Soft Bread

The secret to soft, whole wheat bread is a technique called tangzhong. A tangzhong is flour and water (or milk) heated on the stove to make a thick paste (also called a roux).

This thick paste is added into bread dough in order to hold moisture during the baking process and to create a fluffy, soft bread. A tangzhong is simple to make and improves any bread recipe!

Ingredients

Melted butter
Honey
Salt
Eggs
Yeast
Hard White Wheat

Equipment

Flour mill
Oven

How to Make Fresh Milled Hamburger Buns

Step 1: Mill the flour and measure out the water.

Weigh the grain berries as listed in the recipe and mill the flour. In a separate bowl, measure out the warm water.

Step 2: Make the tangzhong.

From the milled flour and measured water, pull out 1/2 cup of flour and 1 cup of water from the recipe. Place the flour and water in a pan and whisk at medium heat until it becomes a thick paste. Allow to cool.

Step 3: Bloom the yeast.

In the remaining warm water, mix in the yeast and cover the bowl for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom.

Step 4: Mix together the ingredients.

Once the yeast is bloomed, add in the flour, melted butter, honey, salt, eggs, and tangzhong. Mix the dough thoroughly with your hands (or a stand mixer and dough hook) until the dough is cohesive and smooth.

Step 5: Complete the first rise.

Let the dough rise in a warm spot for 2-3 hours or until it is doubled in size.

Step 6: Shape the dough.

To get roughly the same-size buns for even baking, weigh the entire dough and divide the weight by 16 (i.e. 1,424 g of dough / 16 buns = 89 g per bun).
Cut the dough into 16 pieces and weigh each one to be roughly the same weight.
After weighing, shape each ball of dough into a ball and place on a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 7: Complete the second rise.

Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until the buns have doubled in size.

Step 8: Bake the buns.

Bake the buns at 350 F for 15 minutes. While the buns are baking, prepare an egg wash with one egg and 2 tbsp of water. Whisk the mixture.
After 15 minutes, pull the buns out of the oven and brush them with the egg wash (for a shiny finish) and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Step 9: Allow the buns to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Storage

Store the buns in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for up to 6 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these buns be made with store-bought whole wheat flour? Yes, you could make this recipe with store-bought whole wheat, however, it will be dryer. Try using 1/2 cup less than the recipe calls for.

Why are my hamburger buns turning out dense? If your buns are dense balls, they did not rise long enough. If they are flat and dense, they are over-risen. Watch for the dough to double in size.

Can I make hot dog buns or dinner rolls from this dough? Yes, this dough can be made into many shapes for many different uses such as dinner rolls or hot dog buns.

These 100% fresh milled hamburger buns are soft and fluffy, easy to make, and nutritious! Don’t make hamburgers without these delicious buns!