This was originally a recipe for bread sticks. If that is what you want, just roll them a little skinnier and shorten the cooking time by 2-3 minutes. For hamburger buns, roll them into small baseballs and press them flat to about 1/2 inch thickness – they will rise and thicken. I frequently roll them into a sheet about 3/4 inch thick, and use a 3 inch biscuit cutter to make the buns. They end up being about 3.5 inches in diameter.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 package (or 1 TBL) active dry yeast
- 2 TBL sugar (split in half for use at two different times)
- 1/4 C warm water – very warm to the touch, but not hot
- Three-quarter C milk
- 1/4 C dried (instant) milk powder
- 1 tsp Xanthan gum
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 C soft shortening or lard (bacon grease)
- 3 C sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 C spelt or whole wheat flour
- 1 egg, beaten
- (optional) 1/4 C sour dough starter
STEP BY STEP
- ACTIVATE YOUR YEAST
Mix your yeast, water, and half your sugar in a small glass bowl
Stir to mix
Set aside - SCALD YOUR MILK
Put into microwave for a minute
Set aside to let it cool
Put your lard, salt and the rest of your sugar into the milk - PREPARE HALF OF YOUR FLOUR
In a large mixing bowl…
Add your sourdough starter if you are using it
Add the milk mixture and 1/2 cup flour.
Add the yeast mixture, dried milk, xanthan gum and everything else
Mix in bread maker at medium speed until smooth, scraping the bowl occasionally. 100 strokes if by hand. - FINISH YOUR DOUGH
Add more flour, a little at a time, until dough leaves the sides of the bowl, and surface of dough springs back when pressed. Dough should not be sticky.
You may not use all of your flour (or you may need more)
Turn dough onto lightly floured board.
Knead until smooth and elastic: 4-8 minutes.
Place in lightly oiled bowl.
Turn dough over to oil the top also.
Cover and refrigerate overnight for a more complex flavor
When ready to make the buns, cover and let rise in warm place for about 30 minutes. - SHAPE YOUR BUNS
Form your buns on a greased baking sheet, keeping in mind that they will increase in size by about 125%
Let them rise for about an hour in the (not turned on) oven - BAKE YOUR BUNS
Pull the trays of buns out of the cold oven and turn oven to 350º
Brush the tops of your buns with melted butter
Sprinkle with sesame seeds or lightly with coarse sea salt if you wish
Bake at 350º for about 10-12 minutes or until browned
Let cool 10 minutes before removing from tray
