Honey Free Classic Hamburger Buns

Total time2 hr 13 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time18 min

5.0

(25)

Soft, golden, and just sturdy enough to hold up to a towering burger, these homemade buns are the kind of thing that makes you wonder why you ever bought the packaged kind. Many store-bought buns sneak in honey or high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, which can be a real headache if you're avoiding those ingredients — here, plain granulated sugar does the job beautifully, giving the yeast exactly what it needs to bloom without any unwanted additions. The dough comes together with pantry staples: flour, butter, egg, and salt, all kneaded into a smooth, elastic round that rises into something genuinely impressive. An egg wash brushed over the top before baking gives each bun that glossy, bakery-style finish, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a satisfying little crunch if you're feeling fancy. The result is a pillowy, slightly rich bun with a tender crumb that toasts up perfectly and holds its shape under all your favorite toppings. Once you've made a batch of these, going back to the grocery store version is going to feel like a serious downgrade.

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Ingredients

8 servings

For the dough

1 cup warm water (105–110°f / 40–43°c)
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 ½ tsp fine salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg

For the egg wash

1 large egg, beaten
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl). Stir briefly and let stand for 5–8 minutes, until the surface is foamy and the mixture smells yeasty.
2
Add the flour, salt, softened butter, and egg to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook (or stir with a wooden spoon) until a shaggy dough forms, about 2 minutes.

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