Paraben 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 kitchen projects that deliver an outsized reward — pillowy, golden, and so much better than anything sealed in a plastic bag at the grocery store. Store-bought buns often contain preservatives and additives that can be a real concern for anyone keeping a clean, paraben-free pantry, but this recipe keeps things refreshingly simple. The ingredient list is exactly what you'd expect from a classic enriched dough: milk, egg, butter, flour, yeast, sugar, and salt — nothing hidden, nothing unnecessary. The butter goes in gradually during kneading, which gives the crumb that soft, tender pull that makes a hot dog bun worth eating on its own. A final brush of milk before baking coaxes out a beautifully golden crust without any chemical shortcuts. Once they come out of the oven and cool on the rack, you'll have eight perfectly shaped buns that are ready to hold whatever you're grilling this weekend.

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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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