Homemade Burger/Sandwich Buns

I know, homemade burger buns sound awfully pretentious, don't they? But you know what, they're way better than store bought, and if you're not intimidated by yeast, they're very easy to make too. They have the rich yeasty-ness of a good bread and soak up the juices of a grilled burger or a batch of barbeque just right. They're good enough that I've eaten them toasted, with butter, for breakfast.

If you don't have a stand mixer, I've made these by hand without a problem, just a little more of a bicep workout. Adapted from Gourmet.


ingredients:
2 cups whole milk, scalded and cooled (105–115°F)
1/4 cup warm water (105–115°F)
2 (1/4-oz) packages active dry yeast
1/4 cup plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar, divided
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into Tbsp pieces and softened
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon salt
6 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 large egg mixed with 1 Tbsp water for egg wash
sesame seeds for dusting (about 1/4 cup)
Equipment: a stand mixer with paddle and dough-hook attachments; a 3-inch round cookie cutter (an overturned small bowl or large cup also works)

1. Stir together warm water, yeast, and 1/2 tsp sugar in mixer bowl until yeast has dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn’t foam, start over with new yeast.)
2. Add butter, warm milk, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar to yeast mixture and mix with paddle attachment at low speed until butter has melted, then mix in eggs until combined well. Add salt and 4 cups flour and mix, scraping down side of bowl as necessary, until flour is incorporated. Beat at medium speed 1 minute.
Switch to dough hook and beat in remaining 2 cups flour at medium speed until dough pulls away from side of bowl, about 2 minutes; if necessary, add more flour, 1 Tbsp at a time. Beat 5 minutes more. (Dough will be sticky.)
3. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled large bowl and turn to coat. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled, about 2 1/2 hours. (If you run out of time here, you can let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight, or let it rise partially on the counter and then refrigerate it until you are ready to continue. Allow to come fully to room temperature before continuing.)
4. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Punch down dough, then roll out on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 14-inch round (about 1/2 inch thick). Cut out as many rounds as possible with floured cutter and arrange 3 inches apart on baking sheets. Gather and reroll scraps, then cut out more rounds. Loosely cover buns with oiled plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until they hold a finger mark when gently poked, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
Brush buns with egg wash and sesame seeds and bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until tops are golden and undersides are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped, 14 to 20 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool completely.

Cooks’ notes: If you don’t have a stand mixer, stir ingredients together in same sequence with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. Knead dough on a floured surface, incorporating just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, 7 to 8 minutes. Buns can be frozen, wrapped well, up to 1 month.