Honey Free Soft Hot Dog Buns

Total time2 hr 15 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time20 min

4.6

(22)

Homemade hot dog buns are one of those small upgrades that make a backyard cookout feel genuinely special, and this recipe delivers the soft, pillowy texture that store-bought buns promise but rarely achieve. The dough comes together with pantry staples — milk, flour, egg, butter, and a touch of granulated sugar — so there's no need to scan labels for hidden sweeteners like honey or agave that sometimes sneak into enriched bread products. The butter gets worked in gradually during kneading, which is the secret to that tender, slightly rich crumb that holds up to a juicy hot dog without falling apart. A final brush of milk before baking gives the tops a beautiful golden color that looks like it came straight out of a bakery case. Shaping the logs is easier than it sounds, and because the buns proof side by side on the pan, they develop those soft, pull-apart edges that make them even more satisfying to eat. Let them cool just long enough to handle, then load them up however you like — these are the kind of buns that make people ask where you bought them.

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Ingredients

8 servings

For the dough

¾ cup whole milk, warmed to 110°f (43°c)
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp fine salt
1 large egg, room temperature
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

For brushing

2 tbsp whole milk, for brushing

Instructions

1
Combine the warmed milk, 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 — this confirms the yeast is active.
2
Add the flour, salt, 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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