Nice buns…
So we’ve touched on my coconuts (wow, that was bad) but lets move on to my best assets (yes, again, bad)… my buns. 
I can’t help it. I love getting new readers, so I need to keep F interested.
But in all seriousness (if I can even do that), I was in the mood to bake some bread. And I wanted a recipe that didn’t use the mixer. See apparently, it has been pointed out to me, that I have weak wrist. And I need strong ones for a better shot.
Not really my fault. I’m a girl. And well, we just don’t have strong forearms/wrists like guys. I mean, men get to ummm, *build* up their wrist strength on a more consistent basis (depending on their social life, or lack there of). So they have a slight advantage. Or disadvantage depending on your outlook.
Anyway, back to the bread. I figured it was best if I, you know, built up my wrist strength in a more appropriate manner. 
So why not knead bread?
Except, hardly anyone does that anymore. While Googling for brioche buns (I was making pulled pork sandwiches), Deb came up. Pretty much everyone knows Smitten Kitchen, if you don’t, you should. And since Smitten Kitchen is a reliable recipe site (as in, stuff I make from there turns out), I decided to give her buns a try….especially since you don’t use a mixer.
As far as bread making goes, these here buns were pretty easy to make (though I realize that some fear yeast). Other than having to knead them by hand for about 8 minutes, there is very little effort to put into these. Well that and just sitting around watching the dough rise. The key is to remember that this dough is a little on the sticky side. If you add too much flour and you will get tough buns (so use flour sparingly when kneading). Firm buns are good for the gym, but bad for a pulled pork sandwich.
All in all, two good things came out of this. The buns. The other is of course, my well developed wrists that will no doubt help improve the rocket that is my shot (any and all people who play hockey with me are now rolling on the ground laughing).
Light Brioche Burger Buns
Makes 8 4 to 5-inch burger buns
3 TBSP warm milk
2 tsp active dry yeast
2 ½ TBSP sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp salt
2 ½ TBSP unsalted butter, softened
Sesame seeds (optional)
In a glass measuring cup, combine one cup warm water, the milk, yeast and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about five minutes. Meanwhile, beat one egg.
In a large bowl, whisk flours with salt. Add butter and rub into flour between your fingers, making crumbs. Using a dough scraper, stir in yeast mixture and beaten egg until a dough forms. Scrape dough onto clean, well-floured counter and knead, scooping dough up, slapping it on counter and turning it, until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. The dough will be on the sticky side so it can be a bit messy, but keep in mind that the more flour you knead in, the tougher the buns will get. Try to leave them tackier than you would a round loaf.
Shape dough into a ball and return it to bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, one to two hours. (In my freaky, warm apartment this only took an hour.)
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using dough scraper, divide dough into 8 equal parts. Gently roll each into a ball and arrange two to three inches apart on baking sheet. Cover loosely with a piece of plastic wrap lightly coated in nonstick spray and let buns rise in a warm place for one to two hours. (Again, this only took one hour in my apartment and I suspect, you’ll also only need an hour for a second rise.)
Set a large shallow pan of water on oven floor. Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in center. Beat remaining egg with one tablespoon water and brush some on top of buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Bake, turning sheet halfway through baking, until tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
From Smitten Kitchen who adapted it from Comme Ça restaurant in Los Angeles, via the New York Times
41 Responses
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January 26th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I’ve made these before for the Fourth of July. They were so good. They were perfect as hamburger and hot dog buns. So perfect that my guests and I raved on and on about the bread more than the meat.
January 26th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Now see, this was my intent last week when I made burgers. I wanted to make brioche hamburger buns but I was kinda of lacking my bread baking mojo. I used an Artisan Bread in 5 Min a Day recipe for brioche but I don’t think I did it correctly so my buns ended up in the garbage. I’ll have to give this a try soon because they came out beautifully! (I’ve missed your blog but now I have time to catch up on all your kitchen happenings!)
January 26th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Those look insanely good! I haven’t made bread in so long I wonder if I still can. You’re making me hungry!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
I just made pulled pork myself (recipe from Epicurious), while delicious, I sure wish I had these buns to eat it on!
January 26th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Wow, those are nice buns
January 27th, 2010 at 2:38 am
The steaming hot piece of bread is just beautiful!!! I like your buns!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 5:42 am
wrist strength!! LOL!!! Another great post, another great recipe, i will be trying this out soon.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:41 am
Those buns are irresistible! I love that 2nd picture!
cheers,
Rosa
January 27th, 2010 at 7:19 am
U got me laughing so hard when I saw ur updated post link on my blog. U’ve got some hot buns there that F must be sweating to see.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:44 am
You got some delicious looking buns Peabody!!
January 27th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Better be careful F will bring all his buddies over to your site. You could have a whole alphabet of “F types”. Nice buns indeed.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Beautiful buns! (I bet you hear that all the time). Nice to have a recipe that’s all by hand for those days when I can only fit in a kitchen workout.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
You are bad.
But the buns are nice! Making these is on my goals list. I’ll have to give this recipe a try, too.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
yum I LOVE fresh bread!
January 27th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I made these not so long ago and fell absolutely in love. Yours look fantastic! So fluffy.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Don’t you just love Smitten Kitchen? Girlfriend, you are on a roll…too funny. I always enjoy your post. You are a great storyteller and your food is good too:)
January 27th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
my, my, those are some nice buns you have *winkwink*
January 27th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I’m so impressed that you were able to get them so smooth and perfect kneading by hand. Well, in Manila at least, the temperature would turn all the rich goodness into melted slag
Really tough to handle! I should give this a shot, though, cos they look GOOD.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
These last two posts have been great! I’ll have to try those buns soon.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Like your buns!
I fiddled around a few months ago making some brioche, finally got it right after a couple tries.(And I do believe they were SK’s too. Dulce de leche brioche.) So perhaps I’m ready for these buns. Because your photo is making me drool- I can almost smell them baking!
January 28th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Hey babe, nice buns! Those look great. I love making bread and rarely use the mixer — it’s just more fun to get your hands (and wrists ) into it!
January 28th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
i love these buns…i make them often. though, i upped the butter to 4 tablespoons…i live in the desert, we need the extra moisture in our buns
January 28th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
LOL – another great post with sufficient double entendres for any curious Google searcher.
January 29th, 2010 at 4:22 am
Looks fluffy and soft! Absolutely great buns!!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:36 am
been a while since I’ve visited… those buns looks awesome!
January 29th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Love your buns — especially the steamy one! You Rock!!!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Gorgeous buns! I’m really impressed with the texture of this bread. The air bubbles are small and dense enough to provide a firm enough texture to hold up to all the fillings. Wonderful job – I’m going to need to check this recipe out.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
January 29th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Has your stat counter rocketed?
With your lovely coconuts and nice buns, I am sure you are pulling!
Those buns look good enough to sink my teeth into. Loverly.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I remember seeing this recipe on smitte kitchen and thinking they looked like they were worth a try but had since forgotten about the recipe. Your buns look awesome
January 30th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Now that’s dedication…making your own buns. Mine would go directly to my hips and not my buns:D
January 30th, 2010 at 9:09 am
HAHAHAHA! Awesome – love it! I just read on to your coconuts post and I am hooked – must become a subscriber LOL! Also must try this buns recipe using Kamut Khorasan Wheat for the flour – awesomeness thank you!
January 30th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Peabody.
I think we should make buns together.
Then we could say we’re bun buddies.
January 30th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I’ve made these! They are easy and awesome, which is pretty much my favorite combination.
January 31st, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I love a nice warm bun….:)
February 1st, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I appreciate your humor. A few weeks ago I posted a recipe for venison meat balls, which I titled “Deer Balls.” My husband was appalled. My mother – of all people – thought it was hilarious.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:16 pm
hehe. Nice buns. These ones look like they have a texture something like the Macrina brioche buns, of which I am a fan…got to keep this one on file!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Tried burger buns on my own…big msitake! These look just perfect…and they have been pretested by the best. Surprised you didn’t say that if you used too much flour you’d get a hockey puck
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 am
woot-woot!
Seriously cool, I was a yeast-fearer but am tackling it for 2010. I have been on a huge focaccia kick, but loved that one of your readers recommended using these for hamburgers and hot dog buns. WONDERFUL!
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Wrist excercise, rockets, and buns. Wow! The laughter you provided alone will get me through 8 minutes of kneading.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:44 am
I’m lovin’ those buns!!! I’ll have to keep these in mind next time I want to have some sensational buns.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Love your buns!