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The Flavor Bender Recipes Courses Bread Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns

11 hrs 10 mins
Easy
Bread
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
21.3Kshares
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Author: Dini K.
Posted: 7/7/2015
Updated: 5/4/2020
These Easy to make Homemade Hot Dog Buns, are perfectly soft and delicious! This dough is versatile enough to be hot dog buns, subs, or hamburger buns, and absolutely easy to make! #HotDogBuns #BurgerBuns #EasyBreadDough #SummerRecipes

These Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns are perfectly soft and delicious! The dough is super versatile and can be used to make hot dog buns, subs or hamburger buns. I have provided tips and explained the basics to help you get perfect results every time, with this hot dog bun recipe!

Step by step instructions to make soft, perfect Homemade Hot Dog Buns.

Updated: April 2018

These Easy to make Homemade Hot Dog Buns, are perfectly soft and delicious! This dough is versatile enough to be hot dog buns, subs, or hamburger buns, and absolutely easy to make!

A softer, more buttery and milky variation of this – the New England Hot Dog Buns recipe can be found right here. 

There’s a saying that the noblest of all dogs is the hot dog, because it feeds the hand that bites it. It may also be the most popular dog in America this time of year. Although hot dogs were not on our menu this past fourth of July weekend, we enjoyed quite a few the week before, with these delicious, soft, easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns that I made. I think that being able to handle and bake dough that’s versatile enough to be hot dogs, subs or hamburger buns is a basic yet fantastic skill to have. That’s why I’m so excited to share this recipe with you guys!

So, to all my American readers, how was your fourth?

These Easy to make Homemade Hot Dog Buns, are perfectly soft and delicious! This dough is versatile enough to be hot dog buns, subs, or hamburger buns, and absolutely easy to make!

Store-bought vs homemade hot dog buns

It’s easy to find hot dog buns anywhere, but not all of them taste the same. Supermarket hot dog buns are generally,

  • Too hard or dense
  • Collapse and disappear in your mouth
  • Have too many chemicals to increase shelf-life
  • Have an artificial taste

I do love my bread buns to be soft, but no one wants buns that are so flimsy that they simply dissolve in your mouth?

After a particularly disappointing experience with magical, disappearing hot dog buns at a local chili dog establishment, I started making my own hot dog buns at home. And thanks to my husband’s killer chili, and good sausages, we’ve never been disappointed in chili dogs or hot dogs ever since!

Why these homemade hot dog buns are better than store-bought

These hot dog buns are soft, but not too soft that they just collapse after that first bite. And the best part is you can make the buns as big or as small as you like. Make them small enough for small hot dogs, or big enough for larger and thicker sausages.

This hot dog bun dough is so versatile. You can use it to make buns for subs, New England style hot dog buns, or even hamburger buns!

Homemade hot dog buns are also excellent because YOU made them! So you know exactly what went into the dough and you can be confident that there are no artificial ingredients or chemicals.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - The dough for these buns is soft and sticky. It's best made in a stand mixer.

I’m going to show you how to shape these hot dog buns in TWO different ways.

The first is a cutting method – where the dough is shaped into a slab and then cut into hot dog buns.

The second is the shaping method – where you individually shape each hot dog bun into the desired shape.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - The bread dough after an overnight proof in the fridge. The dough has doubled in size and is chilled.
Dough that has been proofed overnight in the fridge

But first, let’s talk about the bread dough.

Usually with dough, there are two proof cycles. This lets the yeast develop which adds air and flavor, and it also lets the gluten in the dough develop too. The dough in this homemade hot dog bun recipe does require an overnight rise. I have tried it with and without the overnight rise, and I have to say the overnight rise results in a better taste and also makes the dough easier to handle.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - The chilled dough on a lightly floured surface, so that it is easier to work with.

Another great advantage of this technique/recipe is that you can cover the dough and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake the bread. You can do this for up to 24 hours (I have kept it for up to 1 ½ days actually).

What is Gluten?

Gluten in flour is actually two molecules – Glutenin and Gliadin. These two together form the all important lattice structure of bread. Glutenin is sort of like a coil that can be stretched out and Gliadin binds to these to create the bonds. More kneading and more protein in the flour, result in a more “organized” gluten structure, which in turn results in the kind of chewy bread we all like.

How Gluten Works in Bread - and what it means to retard the dough (overnight chilling)

Proofing also gives the bread dough extra flavor. Who doesn’t love more flavor? It’s because the yeast ferments and multiplies, introducing CO2 (which creates more air pockets) and alcohol (which leads to the beer-like flavor).

By the way, do you know what the process of letting the dough rise slowly in the fridge is called?

It’s called retarding the dough. I know, right?

A colder environment (usually a fridge for us home bakers) means a slower rise due to the slowing down of yeast activity (metabolism). I do this for doughnuts as well, because it really does make it tastier and easier to handle.

How Yeast works in Bread
how yeast works in bread

And even though the yeast activity slows down in the fridge, bacteria and enzymes keep working to break down proteins to develop more flavor in that colder environment. How neat is that? 😀

What are the TWO ways in which I can prepare these easy homemade hot dog buns?

The first method of shaping the dough is the cutting method. 

After the overnight rise, the dough is rolled out to a slab. This slab is cut into 10 – 12 sections, and then each section is placed on the baking tray, proofed for the second time and baked. This method is easier and less time consuming. With this method, the hot dog buns will have rougher edges where they were cut.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Easily adapted to make subs, burger buns too!
Rolled out dough following an overnight rise

This is because the buns need be placed close to each other while baking. This way the buns support each other to rise UPWARD while baking, rather than flattening out. This will also result in the hot dog buns having soft sides as well.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Easily adapted to make subs, burger buns too!
The shaped dough before the second rise. This is the best stage to freeze the dough as well. Once frozen, you can store in plastic bags in the freezer.

The second method of shaping the dough is to portion the dough, and then shape each portion individually.

For this, the dough that was proofed overnight, is turned out on to a floured working surface and flattened to let out excess air. Then the dough is weighed, and then divided into portions equally (by weight, to ensure all will be similar in size).

For this recipe, I like dividing it into 12 portions (for smaller hot dog buns), or 10 for medium sized hot dog buns, or 8 for large hot dog buns.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Cut the dough into 12 equal portions.

Each portion is then rolled out into a flat piece that’s about 5 – 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. The dough is then TIGHTLY rolled up, and the edges are tucked in and sealed, to form an evenly shaped cylinder that’s about 5 inches long and 1 inch wide.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - One method to shape the hot dog buns is to roll out each portion until it's flat.
First roll out the individual portion of dough
Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Tightly roll up the flatten piece of dough to form a roll.
Tightly roll up the dough to form a cylinder
Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Pinch the seams of the dough and tuck in the edges to form a smooth and evenly shaped.
Pinch to seal the seams and edges for an evenly shaped roll of dough
Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - The rolled and sealed hot dog bun is ready to be kept on the baking tray.
The shaped hot dog bun is ready for the second proof

This method is more time consuming but yields neater results.

Once the dough is shaped, what’s next?

The next step is to let them proof for the second time. You can let these hot dog buns rise with good spacing between each, in order to have smooth sides. OR you can let them rise in close proximity, so that the dough sticks together as they rise and bake. This way you end up with pull-apart hot dog buns. The other option is to use a New England hot dog bun pan, which will give you soft sides, with pull apart hot dog buns.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Place the prepared rolls on a baking tray and cover with plastic wrap for the second proof.

Can I freeze unbaked hot dog buns?

After rolling out and cutting/shaping the dough into hot dog buns or burger buns (following the first overnight rise), you can freeze them (on a lined pan). Then you can store these frozen dough rolls in plastic bags in the freezer until you’re ready to bake them. However, if you do this, the second proofing at room temperature will be longer because now the bread rolls will have to defrost first and then rise.

However, this is not my preferred way to freeze hot dog buns.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Freshly baked hot dog buns on the baking tray with perfectly golden tops, and soft and fluffy insides.

What is the best way to freeze hot dog buns?

Baked and cooled hot dog buns. You can easily bake them all the way through, until they are golden brown. Once they are at room temperature, freeze the hot dog buns, and store the frozen buns in air-tight containers.

When needed, simply let them thaw out and use as normal. For an even better tasting buns, split and toast them lightly in the oven.

Par-baking the hot dog buns. You can also bake the hot dog buns, but remove them from the oven about 5 – 10 minutes before they are completely baked (when the tops aren’t completely golden brown). These buns are then frozen and stored in air-tight containers. When needed, pop the frozen buns in the oven and bake them until golden brown.

In the end, you will have perfectly soft, delicious homemade hot dog buns or burger buns that you and your family will LOVE!

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - Easily adapted to make subs, burger buns too!

What substitutions can I make in this recipe?

I often get asked by my readers about substitutions. You can substitute certain ingredients in this recipe, but please note that it can obviously change the texture and/or taste of these buns.

Can I make these hot dog buns with bread flour?

Yes you can! However, bread flour contains more gluten, and the dough may require extra milk/water to get the same consistency.

Can I use whole-wheat flour to make these hot dog buns?

I have used 50% whole-wheat flour and had good results. They are not as soft as the hot dog buns made with 100% AP flour, but they are still delicious! I’ve also had a reader, who made these buns with half whole spelt and half white spelt flour and was really happy with the results (thank you Devorah!).

How about the other ingredients?

These hot dog buns contain eggs. Specifically 1 egg. The egg adds richness and makes the bread tender and soft. These hot dog buns also contain dairy – milk and butter. Both these ingredients also make the buns soft.

Can I make these hot dog buns vegan?

While the eggs and milk can be substituted, they will change the flavor and texture of the final product.

Milk substitutions – You can absolutely use a non-dairy milk (almond, soy, coconut milk) instead of regular milk. Or in a pinch, use water instead.

Butter substitutions – For dairy-free or vegan substitutions, just add a vegan butter or oil. You can use vegetable oil so that it doesn’t add flavor to the dough. OR you could be adventurous, and add some olive oil or a flavored oil instead.

Egg substitutions – You can add extra milk or water to compensate for the liquid that the egg adds to the dough. The extra liquid can be between 3 – 4 tbsp. You could use a flax egg instead as well, which would add a different flavor to the dough. I have not tried this, however.

I love how versatile these homemade hot dog buns are!

You can cut this dough into 8 portions for larger buns or hamburger buns, and into 10 – 12 portions for smaller hot dog buns. I prefer to shape the buns into 10 – 12 portions for hot dog buns, but have my burger buns be slightly larger.

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - These buns are soft and fluffy and absolutely delicious! Perfect for hot dogs and mini subs.

This recipe always gives me ridiculously delicious and soft buns that are perfect for hot dogs, subs and hamburgers. These hot dog buns can also serve as a canvas for bigger, better and tastier creations like these curry chicken meatball sandwiches! 🙂

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns - A half eaten hot dog to show how soft and fluffy the hot dog buns are.

Do you prefer New England hot dog buns instead?

You can make New England hot dog buns with this same recipe, OR you can use THIS recipe right here for hot dog buns that are more buttery, and with an extra milky flavor!

New England Hot Dog Buns on a wire rack, with the buns separated from each other to show the soft sides.
New England hot dog buns

Other recipes you may like, 

Maine Lobster Rolls

Sri Lankan Curried Beef Buns

Classic White Bread Loaf

The softest, Japanese Milk Bread loaf / rolls

Authentic Brioche Bread

EQUIPMENT & TOOLS I USED FOR THIS RECIPE

Stand Mixer – A stand mixer will make the process of kneading much faster. You could knead the dough by hand but this will take a longer time, and can be tiring.

Small rolling pin – This is to roll out the dough portions to help shape the buns. Rather than using large rolling pins, I prefer to use smaller fondant rolling pins for small jobs like this.

Pastry brush – to brush the tops of the buns to get that shiny crust!

Half Sheet pan – to bake the the hot dog buns

Cooling rack – To help cool down the buns to avoid soggy bottoms

Looking for more recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

These Easy to make Homemade Hot Dog Buns, are perfectly soft and delicious! This dough is versatile enough to be hot dog buns, subs, or hamburger buns, and absolutely easy to make!
4.98 from 73 votes

Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns (or Burger Buns)

Author: Dini K.
Cuisine: Other, Worldwide
These Easy Homemade Hot Dog Buns are perfectly soft and delicious! The dough is super versatile and can be used to make hot dog buns, subs or hamburger buns.There is an overnight rise time in this recipe.
EASY - This is an easy recipe, but there are a few techniques that require patience - especially with shaping the dough.
US‌ ‌based‌ ‌cup,‌ ‌teaspoon,‌ ‌tablespoon‌ ‌measurements.‌ ‌‌Common‌ ‌Measurement‌ ‌Conversions‌.‌ ‌‌Weight‌ ‌measurements‌ ‌are‌ ‌recommended‌ ‌for‌ ‌accurate‌ ‌results.‌ ‌You‌ ‌can‌ ‌access‌ ‌metric‌ ‌weight‌ ‌measurements‌ ‌using‌ ‌the‌ ‌toggle‌ ‌button‌ ‌below‌ ‌the‌ ‌ingredient‌ ‌list.‌ 
Prep: 40 minutes
Proof time (including overnight): 10 hours
Cook: 30 minutes
Total Time: 11 hours 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 12 hot dog rolls
Print Rate

Ingredients:

  • 17.6 oz all purpose flour 4 US cups, measured by spoon and level method (please see notes).
  • ½ cup warm milk
  • ½ cup warm water plus an extra ¼ cup if needed.
  • 2 tsp dry active yeast
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp softened butter / oil
  • Extra oil to lightly oil the bowl
  • 1 egg for the egg wash
US Customary - Metric

Instructions:

  • In a mixing bowl (of your stand mixer), combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
  • In another small bowl, whisk together the water, milk and egg.
  • With the paddle attachment in your stand mixer or a dough whisk, mix the dry ingredients and add the water-milk-egg mixture and mix to combine.
  • Switch to the dough hook of your stand mixer, and knead the dough to bring it together. Add up to ¼ cup water, if the dough is too dry (the dough needs to be fairly wet and sticky). Knead for about 5 minutes, until you have a smooth ball of dough. 
  • Add the oil or butter and knead for a further 5-10 minutes (I knead it for about 8 minutes), until the dough is shiny, smooth and tacky to the touch. 
  • Lightly oil a big bowl and place the dough in it. Make sure the dough is lightly oiled on the surface as well.
  • For best results, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the fridge overnight (8 hours) or for up to 24 hours. Alternatively, if you want to bake it on the same day, you can cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm place, until it has doubled in size.
  • On the day you bake the bread rolls - turn the chilled dough out on to a lightly floured surface and lightly dust the surface of the dough as well. If the dough wasn't chilled, you may need extra flour on your hands and on your work surface to prevent the dough from sticking. 

FOR THE CUTTING METHOD FOR HOT DOG BUNS

  • Roll out the dough into a rectangle that's about 16 inches in length and 4-5 inches in width. Cut the dough into 10 sections and place them on a parchment paper lined baking tray, with about 1.5 inches of space between each.

FOR THE SHAPING METHOD FOR HOT DOG BUNS

  • Cut the dough into 12 (or 10) equal sections. I usually weigh the bread dough so that I know how much each section should weigh. 
  • Knead each portion for just a few seconds to form a smooth ball. Roll out each portion into a flattened piece of dough that's about 5 inches long and 4 inches wide. Then TIGHTLY roll up the dough to form a cylinder. Tuck in the sides/edges and pinch these edges and seams to seal. Place each portion on a parchment paper lined baking tray, about 2 inches apart. 

FOR BURGER BUNS

  • Cut the dough into 8 sections (for larger buns) or 10 sections (for smaller buns) and roll these portions in your hands to form smooth balls. Place them on the parchment paper lined baking tray, about 3 inches apart.

Preparing the dough for the second proofing

  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise for 45 min in a warm place, until it has just about doubled in size. In winter, this can take a little longer than 45 min, and on very hot summer days, it can take less than 45 minutes.  
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F about 30 minutes prior to baking.
  • Brush the hot dog rolls with the egg wash (lightly beaten egg) and bake in the preheated oven until they are golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped, which should take about 15-20 mins. (Optional - sprinkle sesame seeds or poppy seeds on the egg wash brushed dough before baking). SEE NOTES FOR FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS. 
  • Remove from the oven and let the buns cool down enough to be handled comfortably. Best eaten on the same day. Will keep longer in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Tips & Tricks

NOTE on the dough - Please use weight measurements for accurate results. Using cup measurements can result in the addition of more flour than intended, causing the dough to be too dry. This results in a heavy, dense bread roll, instead of the soft, fluffy roll that this recipe guarantees. 
The dough should be sticky and wet at the start, and with kneading it'll become glossy, smooth and tacky. Do NOT add more flour than the recipe calls for. 
NOTE on freezing - bake the hot dog buns until they are just starting to turn golden brown - about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the buns from the oven, and allow them to cool down. FREEZE the hot dog buns at this point, and then place them in an air-tight container (or freezer bag). 
When you're ready to bake, allow the buns to thaw out in the fridge first. Preheat oven to 350°F and place the thawed out hot dog buns on the tray and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes until the buns are golden brown on top. 

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 185kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 33g (11%)Protein: 5g (10%)Fat: 3g (5%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Cholesterol: 19mg (6%)Sodium: 318mg (14%)Potassium: 69mg (2%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 95IU (2%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Course:Breakfast, Lunch, Main Course, Snacks
Cuisine:Other, Worldwide
Keyword:Bread, Burgers & Sandwiches, Hot dog buns
Did you make this?Tag me on Instagram!I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @TheFlavorBender or leave me a comment & rating below.
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  1. Krisztina says

    April 13, 2021 at 07:06

    5 stars
    I loved this recipe! Make it all the time for my family!!! Thank you so much.

    Reply
  2. Mary Jo says

    April 12, 2021 at 22:12

    5 stars
    I will never buy buns again! We usually don’t eat all of our bun as they have no flavor, but with these we ate every bite. THANK YOU!

    Reply
  3. Ruwani Kapuge says

    April 4, 2021 at 10:41

    5 stars
    Hi Dini,

    Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made burger buns for the first time, and it turned out great.

    However, during the second proofing (45 min), cracks appeared in some (not all) of the dough balls. I was wondering if you would know what may have caused this and how to avoid it the next time. The first proofing (1 hr) turned out fine.

    Thanks, Ru

    Reply
    • Dini says

      April 4, 2021 at 18:21

      Hi Ruwani
      I’m glad the buns turned out well! 🙂
      I’m not sure what would have caused the cracks unfortunately. It hasn’t happened to me, so I can’t be certain. It is also hard to say without seeing what the cracks look like too. The reasons could range from the dough being too dry, to over-proofing, or drying of the surface of the bread.
      I would also very highly recommend proofing by feel, rather than time because the proofing times will vary greatly depending on the temperature and humidity of where you live.
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Ruwani K says

        April 4, 2021 at 22:10

        Thanks for replying, Dini. It was an extremely hot and humid day. I will check on the proofing the next time round.

        Reply
  4. Linda Klee says

    March 26, 2021 at 19:49

    Can you cut this recipe in half

    Reply
    • Dini says

      March 26, 2021 at 20:18

      Hi Linda
      You can change the serving size to 6, and get the ingredient amount for 1/2 the quantity. However, the kneading times will vary depending on your mixer bowl. It is harder to knead a small amount of dough in a bigger mixer.
      I also recommend using weight measurements to get the right consistency of the dough as well.
      Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Monika says

    March 20, 2021 at 13:43

    5 stars
    These hotdogs disappeared in less than 20 minutes by 2 kids. Great great recipe.
    I used 1/3 whole wheat flour and olive oil. And I forgot to add the egg to the dough:) But they came out beautiful, soft and delicious.

    Reply
  6. Dan Marshall says

    March 19, 2021 at 16:08

    5 stars
    I made a batch of dough yesterday and used half to make hamburg buns, they came out awesome. We used those for sausage and pepper sandwiches (we make the Italian sausage out of ground turkey). Today with the other half of the dough I am making hotdog buns to have fish frys with mangrove snapper we caught in Marathon, FL. Can’t wait! Great recipe Dini.

    Reply
  7. Nina says

    March 13, 2021 at 16:21

    5 stars
    I tried a couple of other recipes for buns and they were good, but not quite what I wanted. I thought I might like yours because of the milk and butter. Wow! They were fantastic. I love the flavor and the soft yet very sturdy texture. Great for juicy hamburgers. I noticed today that your other recipe adds some powdered milk and more butter so I just put the dough together and it is in the refrigerator for tomorrow. I do have a question though. I made hamburger buns the first time and they came out so pretty and perfectly round. The only problem was that they were too tall and not quite wide enough. We squished them down and made them work but is there a way to make them not quite as tall? I pushed them down with my hand as I was forming them but the dough kept popping back up. I am making hot dog bun this time and I don’t think it will be a problem for them. Thank you so much for this recipe and TYIA for your answer.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      March 14, 2021 at 17:26

      Hi Nina
      I’m glad that you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
      Usually the larger and more rounder the dough, the taller the burger buns are going to be.
      I like to flatten the dough balls before proofing so that they’re not tall. When the dough is softer, it is easier to flatten it. You can check my recipe for the brioche burger buns on how I shape my burger buns.
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  8. Svend says

    March 13, 2021 at 10:51

    I am from Denmark, and just tried your recipe. It vas just perfeckt, so from now on we never buy buns again.
    Just a litle funny. I was making ½ potion, as a try, but I used your amount of water, so in the end it was a full potion. The rest I used as a bread, and it was good too with butter, ham, chees or sausage.

    Reply
  9. Love says

    March 9, 2021 at 22:35

    How much of instant dry yeast I will use instead of active dry yeast?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      March 10, 2021 at 08:00

      Hi
      I haven’t used instant yeast myself, so I can’t be sure but this is the information I have found.

      Instant yeast is much more active than active dry yeast. And from the research I’ve done, there are numerous ways to substitute, but they seem to be conflicting.
      1 ) substitute 1:1, but reduce the proofing time.
      2 ) use 75% less instant yeast
      3 ) use 50% less instant yeast

      If your instant yeast brand suggests a certain ratio, then you can go with it. However because Instant yeast is more active, keep an eye on the dough during proofing, because it can proof faster.
      Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Pam says

        April 11, 2021 at 12:45

        5 stars
        Hi Dini, I’m an avid bread baker and love your recipe, it’s so versatile. In response to your answer to Love’s question about yeast, I always use instant yeast, as you can replace instant in place of active, but can not use active in place of instant, plus, no worries about having the right yeast on hand. I also buy jars or large packages, keep them in the freezer, and use as needed, your yeast will stay fresh, no matter what the expiration date is, I have always kept the measurements the same as with active with great results.

        Reply
  10. Lynn says

    March 6, 2021 at 15:57

    5 stars
    I am making these for the second time cuz they turned out so good the first time..I ALWAYS use a spoon when it comes to measuring flour in a cup, it has never failed me. By scooping a cup in, you do get more flour packed into a cup, SO BEGINNERS: USE A SPOON. Making lobster rolls for dinner and these New England buns are the best ever for lobster rolls :))

    Reply
  11. Allison says

    February 21, 2021 at 15:44

    5 stars
    These are so good! Weighing the flour is much easier than measuring cups, and the buns turns out perfectly with the recipe as written. I added some everything bagel seasoning on top of the egg wash, and that works well, too.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      February 21, 2021 at 21:56

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Allison! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Veronica says

    February 20, 2021 at 19:45

    5 stars
    These are fantastic! I have made them as written and with 50% whole wheat flour and they’re great both ways. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Dini says

      February 21, 2021 at 21:55

      That’s fantastic, thanks so much for letting me know Veronica! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Csorrick says

    February 14, 2021 at 09:26

    Your recipe is misleading when it calls for 4 cups of flour. Most of us do not have kitchen scales and trust this amount is approximately correct if not perfect. When I found I had made an excellent base for croutons and stuffing but terrible for hot dog buns I took my flour to work and used the postage scale to weigh the flour. Turns out 17.6 ounces equals 2-15/16 cups of Betty Crocker all purpose flour or about 73 percent of what your recipe calls for. I suggest you correct your instructions to read 3 cups of flour or leave all mention of the number of cups required out of the instructions

    Reply
    • Dini says

      February 14, 2021 at 10:26

      Hi Csorrick,
      I’m sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you, but I can absolutely assure you that 17.6 oz is 4 US cups. Because 1 US cup is 4.4 oz. Provided that you measure the flour with cups as indicated in the recipe, i.e. with the spoon and level method.
      On the other hand, if you use the scoop and level method, where you use the cup to scoop up the flour straight from the container, then you may pack extra flour into the cup giving you far more flour than intended. This is often the culprit for cup measurements when it comes to dry ingredients. I have explained this further in my measurement conversions section.
      I have made this recipe with both weight and cup measurements many times, so I can absolutely guarantee the accuracy of it. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Sogol noein says

    February 13, 2021 at 14:08

    5 stars
    Beautiful, detailed recipe. Thanks a lot

    Reply
  15. Anna says

    February 8, 2021 at 04:25

    5 stars
    I haven’t tried yet, but I’m going to that’s sure. You wrote such an amazing recipe I’m sure.And I love that you take care all the questions can come sb mind when try to realize a recipe. Thanks!

    Reply
  16. Vivian Howell says

    February 7, 2021 at 12:33

    5 stars
    I tried this twice and I failed Mine were hard on top and bottom and looked anemic. Please tell me what I did wrong. Yours look so beautiful.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      February 7, 2021 at 13:09

      Hi Vivian
      It sounds like your oven might be too hot or too close from the top element causing it to overbake and the bottom element isn’t as hot as it should be, because the bread isn’t browning.
      I’m not sure if you have any other settings on your oven. But you can try moving the baking tray close to the bottom element (baking it in the lower third) of the oven to compensate for the heat difference.
      I hope that works better.

      Reply
      • Vivian says

        February 7, 2021 at 14:11

        Thank you VERY much! I was suspicious of my oven. I will try again. I will let you know how it turns out.

        Reply
  17. Archibong says

    January 28, 2021 at 09:42

    hi,
    I tried your recipe and followed the process and i must say the final product and texture was on point.

    Thanks for sharing

    Archibong

    Reply
  18. Tarn says

    January 27, 2021 at 15:05

    5 stars
    These were really easy and turned out so tasty! I don’t think I’ll be buying buns in the store again. Thanks for this recipe!

    Reply
  19. Jess says

    January 3, 2021 at 04:38

    I made this and it came out bland. It just tasted like flour and salt. I followed everything. The standard amount of sugar to yeast is around 3 tablespoons for 2tsp of yeast. Why didn’t this have enough yeast?it didn’t have that bread flavor at all. Easy to make yes but lacks flavor.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      January 3, 2021 at 06:37

      Hi Jess
      Hopefully I can address your concerns. I’ve made this recipe so many times with great results, so I hope I can help.
      The recipe uses only 1 tbsp (3 tsp) of sugar. Not 3 as you mentioned. That’s why the bread rolls may have come out too sweet. I recommend following my recipe and only using 1 tbsp if you’re not looking to make sweet bread rolls. There isn’t a standard of 3 tbsp of sugar to 2 tsp of yeast, as different breads will have different ratios.

      This recipe does have enough yeast. It results in very soft, pillowy rolls. If they were dense, then it could be that the yeast you used was either not as active, OR the dough was over-proofed or under-proofed. If you use too much yeast, the bread rolls could have a yeasty, alcohol flavor. If your rolls had the right texture, then there was enough yeast, and the yeast was active.

      If the bread tasted bland, it’s more likely there wasn’t enough salt. Each person has their own preference of salt level. This is what has worked for me, my family and my friends. I recommend increasing the amount of salt for your taste, and the bread won’t be bland. The high sugar levels probably also interfered with the flavor of the bread without sufficient salt to balance the flavor.

      I hope that helps

      Reply
  20. Carol says

    December 31, 2020 at 11:26

    Can the dough be made in a bread machine with the same ingredients?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      January 1, 2021 at 09:34

      Hi Carol
      I don’t own a bread maker, so I’m not sure how well it would work. But you can try!
      I hope it works!

      Reply
    • Kevin says

      January 22, 2021 at 09:04

      Carol, my question as well, did you try it?

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 27, 2021 at 15:13

        Kevin, not sure if you tried it in the bread machine. I’m trying it tonight as we speak. I will let you know how they turn out. I use my bread machine all the time to make bread. I only process it in the ‘dough’ setting and continue the baking in the oven. I get 2 loaves of bread instead of 1 large one.

        Reply
        • MARGO says

          March 16, 2021 at 20:04

          Karen, I’m so curious how the rolls turned out using the bread machine on the dough cycle!

          Reply
        • Hollie says

          March 30, 2021 at 13:31

          Kevin! You never came back! Did the recipe work in the bread machine? I need to know! LOL!

          Reply
          • Hollie says

            March 30, 2021 at 13:32

            Correction Karen***

            Reply
  21. Kenneth N Webb says

    November 23, 2020 at 04:55

    I never made hot dog buns before from “scratch” your guidelines were amazing…especially the refresher on the role of gluten, proofing and retarding. My buns were very soft and yet versatile. I did use my own recipe but it still yielded great results.

    Reply
  22. Lynn says

    October 28, 2020 at 16:34

    5 stars
    Just made them, omg, wow. They turned out great and smell awesome. I did the overbite proof in refrigerator as well. I can tell by touching them they are gonna be so soft inside. First time too! Will make again for sure and pass on recipe to my sister. tysm :))

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 28, 2020 at 20:48

      So happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe Lynn, thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam says

        January 4, 2021 at 15:45

        Dough is tough and not kneading well.. not sure I followed exactly

        Reply
        • Dini says

          January 4, 2021 at 16:55

          Hi Sam
          Did you use volume measurements or weight measurements to make the dough?
          Measuring flour with cups can vary the amount depending on how you use the cup to measure the flour. This can lead to too much flour and result in a very dry dough.
          I hope that helps!

          Reply
  23. Karen Lynn says

    October 27, 2020 at 07:23

    5 stars
    Oh my!!!! I would like to say that I never leave comments on recipes….ever. This is my first time. I wanted to write because 80% of online recipes are awful. NOT THIS ONE!!! IT’S PERFECT!!!! PERFECT ON ALL LEVELS….SEASONING, RISE, BAKE, FLAVOR AND BEAUTY!!! I’m an old lady and I will tell you that perfect recipes are hard to find!! Thank you so much!!! And I want to mention that I live at the ocean. I was born in the mountains. The old bread and cake recipes that I’ve had all my life don’t work here at the beach. This recipe works even at or below sea level!! Thanks again! So very much!!!

    Reply
  24. Jo-Gianna Hall says

    October 24, 2020 at 17:28

    Hi. The top of mine weren’t as brown as depicted. Do you think I just needed more egg?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 25, 2020 at 09:13

      Hi Jo-Gianna
      I don’t think you need to add another egg to the dough, as it would make it too soft to work with.
      Some ovens just don’t brown the tops of the bread as much as others, but there are a few things that you could try to see if it would work.
      Bake the bread a little bit closer to the top elements of your oven during the last few minutes of baking. I bake mine in the middle usually.
      If you’re already using an egg wash, you can swap it for an egg yolk wash (1 egg yolks + 1 – 2 tbsp milk, whisked together). In the photos though, I used a whole egg wash.
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  25. Jack Darland, Jr. says

    October 23, 2020 at 12:55

    you mention an egg for egg wash, but I did not see how/when to use it…am I just supposed to know what an egg wash is and how to use it? Me corn-fuse…Jack from Iowa

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 24, 2020 at 09:11

      Hi Jack
      The instructions on what and when to use an egg wash are already stated in the recipe. See “preparing the dough for the second proofing”. I hope that helps.

      Reply
  26. Michelle says

    October 21, 2020 at 21:57

    5 stars
    Great recipe and super easy

    Reply
  27. Jessie says

    October 8, 2020 at 12:54

    I’m looking forward to trying these instead of buying rolls to have with our hotdogs.
    Quick question: I want my rolls to sort of stick together and pull apart for soft sides. I saw you mentioned this as an option in the description… is the 1.5-2″ spacing between rolls listed in the recipe for rolls that pull apart or ones that are separate? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 8, 2020 at 17:22

      Hi Jessie
      Buns with a soft side need to be kept closer together. When they have proofed, they should have doubled to be in contact with the hot dogs on either side.
      The best way to get soft sided hot dogs that will keep the best shape is to have a New England hot dog bun pan, or make one that is similar with a baking pan and foil.
      I have made these hot dog buns here as well, but you can use this recipe to make them too. Let me know if you have any other questions!

      Reply
  28. Connie says

    October 8, 2020 at 00:15

    Terrible. Dough did not come together at all. Threw out.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      October 8, 2020 at 08:06

      Hi Connie,
      This is very unusual as this dough is very foolproof and thoroughly tested (as per the 100s of reviews on this recipe).
      When you say it’s not coming together, was the dough too wet? or too dry? Did you use a stand mixer or mix the dough by hand? How did you measure the flour (weight or cups?). I’d love to help you figure out where you went wrong, if you could let me know, Thank you!

      Reply
  29. Teabag says

    September 24, 2020 at 16:29

    5 stars
    Fluffy, delicious, perfect cut. I love it!

    Reply
  30. Nicolle says

    September 8, 2020 at 21:18

    5 stars
    My family loved this! I can’t wait to use it in other interesting ways. I can’t thank you enough! I will keep this recipe close at hand forever! (Probably hand it down to my children for many generations)

    Reply
    • Dini says

      September 9, 2020 at 12:35

      Haha, I’m really glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe Nicolle! Thanks so much for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
  31. Bronwen McKean says

    September 4, 2020 at 17:26

    5 stars
    This recipe was easy to follow and turned out really well! Thank you

    Reply
  32. Steve Browning says

    August 27, 2020 at 17:02

    I’m thinking about making this recipe but adding jalapeños to the dough

    Reply
    • Vickie L Brown says

      September 18, 2020 at 15:24

      I have added the jalapenos and chedder cheese. Turns out great and you can bake in a cast iron dutch oven. Just be sure to line the dutch oven with parchment paper before putting the dough in it.

      Reply
  33. Linda says

    August 26, 2020 at 18:12

    5 stars
    I’m not allowed to buy store bought buns ever again!

    Reply
  34. Jess says

    August 9, 2020 at 12:31

    How long can I store the buns?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      August 9, 2020 at 12:33

      Hi Jess
      These will keep in an air tight container for about 2- 3 days at room temperature. About 5 days in the fridge. However we prefer to freeze the buns on a baking tray, and once frozen we keep them in freezer bags in the freezer. The frozen buns can last at least 3 months.
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  35. Harry says

    August 5, 2020 at 16:01

    I try the racipe my family loved it.they bake buns and rolls everyday.

    Reply
  36. Linda says

    August 2, 2020 at 16:46

    OMG, these buns are the bomb. I’m never buying store bought buns again. I get so many compliments when I serve them. Thank you very much for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  37. Merilee says

    July 28, 2020 at 16:47

    We are planning a Disney Zombies birthday party. Can gel food coloring be used to color the buns?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 28, 2020 at 18:39

      Hi Merilee
      Yes you can use gel food coloring! 🙂
      A zombie party sounds awesome!

      Reply
  38. Petra says

    July 27, 2020 at 14:21

    5 stars
    This is my go to recipe for hot dog buns. They turn out perfect every time!

    Reply
  39. Susan A says

    July 21, 2020 at 14:32

    Not bad. I found that the yeast didn’t dissolve, so there are little yeast flecks throughout the buns. It seemed to rise okay. I’m wondering if instant yeast may be a better option than the traditional.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 21, 2020 at 14:59

      Hi Susan
      If your active dry yeast granules are larger, then I recommend activating the yeast in some of the warm liquid first. This will dissolve them in the dough better, and will also let you know how active the yeast is.
      Instant yeast can also be used if preferred.

      Reply
  40. W. A. P. says

    July 19, 2020 at 16:18

    Dear Sir or Madam:

    The official web site called “The Flavor Blender” has a recipe for making fresh hot dog buns; but, it requires sugar and yeast. Most people have to avoid sugar and yeast.

    Do you know a way that people can make frankfurter buns *without* any table sugars or yeast? If you have the answer, please let me know whether you have the instructions or will work on them.

    I thank you for your attention.

    Best regards,

    W. A. P.

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 19, 2020 at 17:07

      Hi W. A. P.
      Unfortunately I haven’t baked bread without yeast. I think you might be looking for a recipe for quick bread which uses baking soda or baking powder – these aren’t true bread recipes and will have a more crumbly texture than yeast leavened bread. Yeasted bread recipes are the more common types of bread available.
      The sugar in this recipe serves to act as food for the yeast, so without sugar the yeast will not be as active.
      I hope that helps.

      Reply
    • Tesy says

      October 30, 2020 at 17:44

      So i realli LOL’d at this… Jus cuz of how it was presented anywho.. Sir/Madame… You may want to try your hand at wild yeast AKA sourdough which is a a healthy yeast.. better for your gut as well as broke down nicely n the intestinal track… Baking with sourdough u will have minimal traces of sugar if at all by the time those awesome lil beastie yeasties get ahold of it… The world of sourdough offers many wonderful limitless baking opportunities… U literally can use it for sooo many things… As stated if using no form of yeast to make “yeast” breads the dough will b a quick bread and not yield the desired results… Think…muffins and banana bread etc… So i would definitely get you a sourdough starter going.. look online its super simple to do and u will b on ur way to gloriously delish breads without all the commercial yeast that is not good for you and very minimal to no sugar breads… Good luck!

      Reply
  41. Anne Lantz says

    July 12, 2020 at 20:26

    I’ve always made my breads by hand, I don’t own a stand mixer. Any specific suggestions you may have for this method?

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 13, 2020 at 08:35

      Hi Anne
      You can knead this dough by hand. The rule of thumb is that the dough should be kneaded by hand twice as long as required by a machine. This dough is also a little stickier than other doughs (at least until the gluten develops properly). You might be tempted to add more flour to make it less sticky, but this will make the dough drier and you will end up with tough buns.
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  42. Marta says

    July 12, 2020 at 16:49

    Hi, I am about to try this recipe for the first time for both hotdog and burger buns, hope they will turn out delicious! I bought the manitoba flour that is supposed to make all even more fluffy, cant wait!
    I was wondering about one thing regarding the nutrition info – is it per 100g or one bun? 🙂

    Reply
    • Dini says

      July 13, 2020 at 08:37

      Hi Marta
      The nutrition info is based for a serving – which is for one bun 🙂
      Also, you can absolutely work with Manitoba flour, but manitoba flour has a higher gluten content which will result in a chewier bun. You MIGHT need a little extra liquid to keep the softeness level the same (high protein flour absorbs more water than AP flour).
      I hope that helps!

      Reply
    • Nata says

      September 13, 2020 at 21:39

      5 stars
      This is absolutely THE BEST recipe for hot dog buns everrrrr! Thank you so much!

      Reply
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