Sometimes I wonder if Shane misses the pre-food blogging days when we used to just cook our food and eat it. Now, every time I make a new recipe for dinner, Shane asks “you’re going to put this on your blog, right?” Often, the answer is a resounding yes. I’m excited about the dish and can’t wait to share, even if that means delaying dinner for a few minutes so I can set up and try to achieve a good shot. The only problem is that I’m still very much a novice photographer so sometimes I take 50 pictures before I get one I like. As you might imagine, dinner isn’t terribly warm by that point. The solution is usually for us just to eat dinner while it’s hot and save leftovers that I can photograph later. Leftovers weren’t an option when I made these burgers, but Shane convinced me to take a few pictures anyway. In the interest of saving time, I threw them on a plate on the deck railing next to the grill, snapped a pic and called it a day. Not something I would normally do, but I’m trying to learn to be ok with shortcuts sometimes…a warm, juicy burger is worth it 🙂
This is probably only the second time I’ve made homemade hamburger rolls so I haven’t tried a ton of recipes, but frankly, I’m not sure I need to. These were just about perfect. They’re sturdy enough for burgers yet still soft and light with just a touch of sweetness. I joked on Twitter yesterday that I was too lazy to go to the store to buy hamburger rolls for dinner, so instead I was going to make them and that’s just what I did. These were so easy I really do think they took less effort than getting in the car and driving to the store. Lightly toasted on the grill, they were leaps and bounds better than anything I could have bought anyway.
Homemade Hamburger Rolls
from King Arthur Flour
(I made this recipe using my stand mixer so those are the instructions I’m including but you could absolutely do this by hand or in a bread machine if you wanted.)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
3/4 – 1 cup warm water (about 110 F)
Topping
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the butter, egg, flour, sugar, salt, yeast and 3/4 cup of the water. Mix on low speed until a rough dough comes together. Continue kneading on low speed until the dough is soft and smooth, about 5-7 minutes. You may need to add some of the remaining 1/4 cup of water if the weather is particularly dry where you are. There shouldn’t be dry bits of flour in the bottom of the bowl; if there are, slowly add a little bit of water at a time until the dough clears the sides of the bowl but clings to the bottom.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Add the dough to the bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and gently press to deflate. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces (or 8 if you want really large rolls). Shape each piece into a ball and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Flatten the ball into a disk about 3 inches in diameter. Repeat with all of the dough then cover and let the rolls rise for about an hour, or until they are noticeably puffy.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 F. Once they’ve risen, brush the tops of the rolls with half of the melted butter. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden in color. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and brush the tops of the rolls with the remaining butter. Let cool.
Makes 12 rolls
Haha I’ve definitely told myself I didn’t feel like going to the store, but was willing to make it myself. Strange how laziness works sometimes.
These were really tasty rolls, and I absolutely don’t mind you taking all the time you need every day to take all the photos of your excellent culinary creations before dinner!
I bow to you if that is how well a quick photo turns out.
Well said, Shane.
Thank you!! I tried making my own buns a few months ago (http://tinyurl.com/6jd7wyc) but they didn’t come out quite right. I’m very excited to try a new recipe!
These hamburger rolls look absolutely perfect! I’ve never made my own before but I’ve been wanting to. I’ll have to try out this recipe. 🙂
We eat a lot of cold food, too. I usually try to have some leftovers to photograph so we can just eat but you’re right, sometimes that just doesn’t happen. I’ve cut out so many recipes for hamburger buns and I really plan on making them one day. They just look so delicious. With a warm burger hot off the grill? That sounds like perfection.
These look amazing, Tracey! I’m all about high-quality hamburger buns…the only store-bought kinds that I really like are English muffins.
This recipe is going on my summer bucket list. Burger season is upon us! 🙂
You make it look so easy Tracey! Have you ever tried making “New England Style” hot dog rolls (top split)? We can’t get them in the Philly area 🙁
Yes, the best kind are homemade. They look wonderful!! This looks like the recipe I’ve made before too. I believe I subbed half milk for half of the water. I just made buns on Sunday for the wonderful chicken parm burgers you posted recently.
@Tom – I haven’t, we always buy them. The top-split are the only ones Shane will eat though! I didn’t realize they were specific to New England. I’ll add them to my to-do list for this summer 🙂
This post is making my mouth water! I love your blog! Unfortunately my husband is diabetic so the only 1 eating and getting overweight is ME trying out all these wonderful recipes with CARBS. GRRR I do love being creative in my kitchen.
I totally want a burger for dinner now. I wonder how quickly I could thaw the ground beef in my freezer. I know the rolls don’t take that long. =)
Regarding the hot dog buns, KAF sells a pan for baking the top-split ones.
These are the prettiest rolls, Tracey – so much better than anything you’d find at the store.
I’ve been wanting to make homemade hamburger buns! These looks delicious. I’m saving the recipe. (And the picture looks great as well!)
Those look delicious!
I have been dreaming of burgers for the last couple of days. This recipe is going to push me over the edge! I can’t wait to give them a shot!
I can only dream about throwing something on a plate and getting such a great photo. I love the shots you take. I was just saying the other night that my store-bought hamburger buns tasted way too sweet so I am going to follow your route and make them myself.
Wow, those look awesome, Tracey! And to think I *did* make a special trip to the grocery store for hamburger buns yesterday. Ugh! Well, next time we’ll go homemade. 🙂
I can totally relate to this post! My husband always asks if I’m putting our dinner on my blog too – even if it’s tacos haha 🙂 Your photo turned out perfectly though! I never would have guessed it was rushed. Beautiful buns as well 🙂
Wow! I definitely want to try this one. Making homemade burger rolls has been on the list for quite a while. This recipe looks great!! Perfect!
Your rolls are so pretty, Tracey! When I posted homemade hamburger rolls a year ago, I said exactly the same thing about avoiding the grocery store! Mine were also a King Arthur recipe, but a different one! I think making rolls is even more amazing than making a loaf of bread; they just look so perfect!!
These buns make me want to make burgers and buns!
The rolls are gorgeous! I am always looking for new yeast recipes… thanks for sharing 🙂 The ‘quick’ photo turned out gorgeous! 🙂
Just in time for summer bbq’s!
I think I’ve purchased hamburger buns twice in two years 🙂
And great minds think alike – I used this recipe this past weekend for chipotle buns. It’s great!
My husband asks “can we have a hot dinner tonight? Or do you have to take pictures for your blog?” I need to buck up and make my own buns, it’s about dang time. These look great!
They look perfect!
I made these a few years ago and had forgotten all about them…thanks for reminding me!
I think that the pictures of the burgers are fantastic! You definitely have me craving a burger and it’s only 8 am! Homemade buns are really just the best.
I’ve been wanting to make hamburger (and hot dog) rolls, but haven’t tried it yet. Packaged rolls are so blah!
Your shot of the burger looks wonderful. I’ve tried to photograph burgers before and they looked so awful I couldn’t bear to put the shots on my blog!
I have these marked at the KAF site to try…they look so wonderful, thanks for the reminder. Really love your photo…wish I had one right now. LOL on needing photos and to put on blog…guys here echo the same thing daily. We are nuts, aren’t we????
This recipe is really simple,healthy and fun to make.Even perfect when you are in a hurry to make dessert to put on the table for guests.I`m sure hamburger lover loves this idea
Tracey, I made your homemade hamburger bun recipe today, and they were delish! Thanks for posting. I will be making these again and again. Like you, I just didn’t want to go to the grocery store today…so…made homemade buns for the first time! Perfect! 🙂 Thanks again!
These look wonderful. I am embarking on a program of breadmaking. It is good for the soul as well as for the budget and good health. Have you tried a whole grain variety?
i need to keep hamburger buns on hand in my freezer. there are just times when i want a spur of the moment burger. LOL. these look yum!!
These look wonderful – I’m trying them this week using King Arthur Organic Bread flour…perfect compliment to some grass-fed ground beef I’ve got in the freezer! Thanks for the recipe!
These look wonderful – I’m going to try making them with some King Arthur Organic Bread flour this week! Should be a nice compliment to the grass-fed ground beef I’ve got in the freezer – thanks again for the recipe!
We tried this recipe a couple of nights ago – oh, my, what tasty rolls! Would you mind if I posted this recipe on my blog – I’ll give you full credit, of course… 🙂
@snausysnacks – So glad they turned out well for you. You can absolutely post them on your blog! I can’t take any credit though – these are from the genuis minds over at King Arthur Flour 🙂
Thanks again, Tracey – I’ve put a link to this post on my blog! My wife has been making these regularly – we don’t buy “store-bought” any more…and we’re using the King Arthur Organic flour which keeps them nice and healthy. 🙂
We all love burgers! They can be served as light snack or meals, depending on their sizes and side dishes. Fortunately, there are countless varieties that we can come up with and your lentils version is indeed something worth trying out!