The BEST Homemade Whole Wheat Buns!!

OH MY!!  Did I ever find the best recipe EVER!  And it is so simple!!  This recipe comes from the Prairie Homested blog website.  I had tried hamburger buns in the past with mixed results.  They were good but my husband wasn't a big fan.  So, if he isn't happy . . . chances are, they won't get eaten and either the dogs or the chickens will be eating them . . .

Trust me, these buns won't end up in the chicken house!!  They are so GOOD!!

Honey Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns

Ingredients

1 cup milk

1/4 cup butter (I always use unsalted)

1/4 cup honey

1 egg

2 1/2 teaspoons yeast (or one packet)

2 to 3.5 cups of whole wheat flour 

Sesame seeds or rolled oats (optional--for garnish)

Instructions

In a small saucepan, add the honey, butter and milk and heat until the butter is slightly melting. (Do not boil or simmer this mixture - you want it barely warm)

Add the yeast into your mixing bowl..

Pour the lukewarm honey/milk mixture into the bowl with the yeast and stir well. Add the egg.  Slowly add the flour, mixing as you go.

Once the dough gets to the point where it is forming a ball, let it  rest for 2-3 minutes. The whole wheat flour tends to soak up liquid over time, so giving it a few minutes allows the flour to soak up liquid and helps to prevent you from adding too much.

After this resting period is complete, add more flour if needed.

Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and onto a floured counter top. Knead for 6-7 minutes, adding flour as needed. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover the with saran wrap and place in a warm place to rise for about an hour.  My oven with the oven light on works wonders!

Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 portions (12 if you like smaller buns). Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten the ball with the palm of your hand.

You want to flatten them close to the size that you want your finished buns to be -- during the rising process, the buns will mostly rise up, not out.

Cover the buns and allow them to rise 30 minutes in a warm place (again the oven with the oven light on)
Bake at 375 degrees in a preheated oven for 12-18 minutes.

A minute or two before the buns are done, you can remove them from the oven, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle on sesame seeds or rolled oats. Then return the buns to the oven for the additional one or two minutes.

These buns are best if served on the same day they are made.


The Recipe:

Honey Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns

Ingredients
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (I always use unsalted)
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast (or one packet)
2 to 3.5 cups of whole wheat flour (see note below)
Sesame seeds or rolled oats (optional--for garnish)

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, add the honey, butter and milk and heat until the butter is slightly melting. (Do not boil or simmer this mixture - you want it barely warm)
2. Add the yeast into your mixing bowl..
3. Pour the lukewarm honey/milk mixture into the bowl with the yeast and stir well. Add the egg.  Slowly add the flour, mixing as you go. 
4. Once the dough gets to the point where it is forming a ball, let rest for 2-3 minutes. The whole wheat flour tends to soak up liquid over time, so giving it a few minutes allows the flour to soak up liquid and helps to prevent you from adding too much. After this resting period is complete, add more flour if needed.
5. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and onto a floured counter top. Knead 6-7 minutes, adding flour as needed. Place the dough into a greased bowl and cover the with saran wrap and place in a warm place to rise for about an hour.
6. Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 8 portions (12 if you like smaller buns). Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten the ball with the palm of your hand.
7. You want to flatten them close to the size that you want your finished buns to be-- during the rising process, they will mostly rise up, not out.
8. Cover the dough circles and allow them to rise 30 minutes in a warm place.
9. Bake at 375 degrees in a preheated oven for 12-18 minutes.
10. A minute or two before the buns are done, you can remove them from the oven, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle on sesame seeds or rolled oats. Then return the buns to the oven for the additional one or two minutes.
11. These buns are best if served on the same day they are made.

VERDICT:

We have a winner here!!  My husband loved these.  Definitely a keeper recipe.  As I said before, they are so easy to make - you can whip them up in matter of minutes. 

ENJOY!!!