Homemade Hamburger Buns – Classic & Big Mac “Club”

13Jun
by Alejandro Ramon

Why make your own Hamburger Buns when you can just go to the store and buy them?

The recipe for my Homemade Hamburger Buns came out necessity. I wanted to recreate “Big Macs” at home but couldn’t find store-bought buns that would work. Either too small or too big. All of which had loads of ingredients that I don’t have in my pantry or want to feed to my family or friends.

I wanted a bun that could hold up to my vision of a “Big Mac Sesame Seed Bun.” Tall enough to split into 3 even layers (the crown, the club, and the heel), sturdy enough to hold up to all fillings, and tender enough to not get in the way of the texture of the 2 beef hamburger patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, onions, and pickles. Allowing the marriage of all the parts to come together for a delightful dining experience. Check out my blog post “Homemade “Big Mac” – Including the Special Sauce! to make your own.

The ingredient and their proportion are key to creating a Hamburger Bun that has the right flavor, texture, and body. I recommend with all baking recipes to use a scale to weigh out the ingredients. That ensures your success when baking. Also note: “THIS IS A STICKY DOUGH!” So don’t panic and add any extra flour. The dough will develop strength as you knead, stretch, and fold it.

I looked for baking forms for the Big Mac “Club” Bun online. All were too small and cost way too much for this endeavor. Luckily there is “YouTube.” After some research, I found “ChefSteps” YouTube channel which showed how to make your own Aluminum Foil Forms. Click here to check out their video “Foil Rings.” Making my Foil Rings taller and larger in diameter to hold the 125 grams of dough. I also lined the Aluminum Forms with Parchment Paper Collars. Making it easy for the buns to release from the pan and forms.

UPDATE: I have found the perfect size baking pans for baking the Big Mac “Club” Buns in. Here is the link to purchase them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JJBxwj

As with all baking recipes I recommend you weigh the ingredients for the Homemade Hamburger and Big Mac “Club” Buns. Weighing ensures you have a consistent dough each and every time. As bakers, we are always striving to remove any variables from the process of baking.

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Equipment: (Shop my Amazon Page for Ingredients & Equipment)

Hamburger Buns  (yields 12)

  • Measured        Weight          Grams         Ingredients
  • ¾ cup                  0.38 lb.            180 g.         Water (room temp.)
  • 2 tsp.                   0.02 lb.                 8 g.         Instant Yeast
  • ¾ cup                  0.38 lb.            180 g.         Whole Milk (room temp.)
  • ¼ cup                  0.15 lb.              70 g.         Canola Oil (or vegetable)
  • 4 each                  4 each            227 g.         Eggs (large, room temp.)
  • ¼ cup                  0.12 lb.              55 g.         Granulated Sugar
  • 5-¾ cups             1.73 lb.            800 g.         Bread Flour (King Arthur)
  • 2-½ tsp.               0.04 lb.              18 g.         Sea Salt (fine)
  • ¼ cup Natural Sesame Seeds for Topping the Buns

Mixing the dough:

  1. In the mixing bowl combine the water, instant yeast, whole milk, canola oil, eggs, granulated sugar, and half of the bread flour.  Using a rubber spatula, stir the ingredients together until it forms a thick batter.
  2. Add the remaining bread flour and sea salt mixture to the mixing bowl and fold the ingredients together until the dough become a shaggy mass.
  3. Scrape down the spatula and the sides of the bowl with a plastic scraper. Scrap the dough out of the bowl and on the work surface. The dough will be sticky. Do not add any flour to the work surface while kneading.
  4. Knead the dough with one hand while using your plastic scrape to gather the dough from the work surface and your hand. Kneading for 4 minutes to incorporate the ingredients and develop the gluten.
  5. After 4 minutes of kneading the dough will be strong enough to start stretching and folding using the plastic scrape.
  6. Stretch and fold the dough for 6 – 8 minutes or until the dough become smooth and elastic.  The dough should be strong enough to pull away from the table in one piece. The dough will be slightly sticky at the end of the kneading process.
  7. Lightly spray or coat the mixing bowl with vegetable oil.
  8. Form the dough into a ball and place it into the oiled mixing bowl.  Turn the dough over in the oil to lightly coat the dough.
  9. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 1 hour at room temperature 70°F-76°F (21°C – 23°C).  The dough will grow 1 time the original size.
  10. Uncover the bowl and turn the dough onto a lightly oiled work surface.
  11. Fold the dough in 3rds from top to bottom and left to right.
  12. Place the folded dough back into the bowl that has been lightly sprayed or oiled. Lightly spray or oil the top of the dough.
  13. Cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 1 hour at room temperature 70°F-76°F (21°C – 23°C). The dough will grow 1-½ times the original size.

Pre-shaping, Final Shaping, and Proofing the buns:20130908_140650

  1. After 1 hour. Uncover the bowl and turn the dough onto a lightly oiled work surface. Deflate the dough lightly with your hands.
  2. Using a bench scraper divide the dough into 12 pieces each weighing 125 grams.
  3. Shaping each piece into a tight round ball, place on a lightly oiled surface and lightly coat the tops with oil, and loosely cover the dough with plastic wrap. You can use a half sheet tray for this step if you don’t have the counter space.
  4. Rest and ferment the pieces of dough at room temperature for 15 minutes. (The resting period is import to allow the final shaping of the buns into a tight round without tearing the surface)
  5. After 15 minutes, uncover the rounded dough and lightly sprinkle the tops with flour.
  6. Reshape each bun into a tight round and place 6 buns on to a half sheet tray that has been lined with parchment paper. Leaving at least 4 inches of space between the buns.
  7. For Big Mac “Club” Buns Aluminum Forms click this link to the video. Making each ring 1-½” tall by 4-½” diameter (4cm x 11.5cm).
  8. Evenly space the Aluminum Forms on the parchment paper and line each form with a parchment paper collar. Place the remaining 6 buns into each form.
  9. Lightly spray with oil and loosely cover with plastic wrap.
  10. Proof the Hamburger Buns for 1-½ hours or until tripled in size.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes before baking

Topping with Sesame Seeds and Baking:

  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup Natural Sesame Seeds
  1. Using a pastry brush. Lightly brush each Hamburger Bun with water.
  2. Sprinkle the tops evenly with Sesame Seeds.
  3. Bake the Classic Hamburger Buns first. Leave the Big Mac “Club” Bun on the counter uncovered.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 14 to 16 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Turning the pan if necessary to get even browning.
  5. Remove the Classic Hamburger Buns from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
  6. Bake the Big Mac “Club” Buns next.
  7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 14 to 16 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Turning the pan if necessary to get even browning.
  8. Cool the Hamburger Buns completely before using it.

Hamburger Bun Storage and Shelf Life:

  1. The Hamburger Buns can be eaten fresh or store cooled Hamburger Buns in an airtight plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  2. The Hamburger Buns can be frozen in an airtight plastic bag for 2 months. Thaw the Hamburger Buns in the airtight plastic bag at room temperature.
  3. Split and griddle each Hamburger Bun before using it. Big Mac “Club” Bun is split twice before griddling. This creates the crown, the club, and the heel.

256 thoughts on “Homemade Hamburger Buns – Classic & Big Mac “Club””

    1. Alejandro Ramon

      Hello Jim, It is my pleasure to meet you. Yes, you can use an electric mixer to mix and knead the Homemade Hamburger Bun dough. I would recommend using speed 2 to mix and speed 3 to 4 to knead. The mixing and kneading time will be about the same as mixing by hand. Please let me know if you should have any other questions. Thank you for taking the time to write. Have a great day and Happy Baking! 🍔😋

      Reply

      1. Jim

        Thank you so much! I have one more dumb question. I notice that you add the eggs, milk, sugar and water at room temperature. Will the yeast still activate? I always thought the water should be around 80-90 degrees for the yeast to activate? (I just don’t want to do all this work and not have the dough rise. LOL) Thanks in advance for your help. I can’t wait to try this recipe!

        Reply

        1. Alejandro Ramon

          Hi Jim, I appreciate you waiting for my response. Using Instant Yeast rather than Active Dry Yeast we don’t need to use warm water to activate the yeast. The Instant Yeast will fully hydrate and activate using room-temperature liquids. This is why I prefer to use it in my yeasted baked goods. It removes the extra step of hydrating and blooming the yeast. I’d love to hear about your baking adventure making the Homemade Hamburger Buns! Thank you again for writing and waiting for my response. Have a wonderful day!

          Reply

  2. Angela Muhammad

    I am a new baker and I just love this recipe! I’ve used it about 4 or 5 times. Can I make this honey whole wheat hamburger buns?

    Reply

    1. Alejandro Ramon

      Hello Angela, It is my pleasure to meet you. I appreciate you waiting for my response as I have been traveling. Yes, you can use the Honey Wheat Bread recipe for hamburger buns. I would recommend weighting the final dough and dividing it by 12 to get the weight for each bun. This will be about the same size as the Homemade Hamburger Buns. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and ask your question. Have a great day!
      P.S. I’d love to hear how your Honey Wheat Buns turn out for you. Happy Baking!

      Reply

    1. Alejandro Ramon

      I’d love to know how the recipe worked out using this potato yeast starter. Happy Baking!

      Reply

        1. Alejandro Ramon

          Hello nestleatplay, I don’t know how strong this yeast is so would not be able to tell you how much to use. Was there a recommendation from the recipe you use to make the Potato Yeast Starter on how much to use?

          Reply

        2. Alejandro Ramon

          Hello Nestleatplay, Here is her instructions listed on the recipe post:

          To Use:

          Use this yeast as you would any store-bought yeast. 2 Tbsp potato yeast = 1 Tbsp store-bought yeast

          One big difference though, you can expect rise times to take 2-3 times longer with home cultured yeast unless it happens to be very warm in your house.

          Reply

  4. Tony Komer

    Alejandro,

    GREAT RECIPE!!!

    It seems you have made a recipe that is a hybrid of Challah and Brioche. The main difference between tge two us oil and water for Challah but milk and butter for Brioche. You use the oil of a Challah and no butter but part milk of the Brioche but also water. Your own unique recipe pulling from both….Awesome!

    If you can recall, what was the diameter of the buns without the rings? They seem to be a bit larger in diameter and obviously not as straight walled in height as the jumbo big mac ring buns. My guess is about 5″?

    I ask as that is the size and shape bun I need. I am looking for a bun a bit denser than a Brioche but not as dense as a pretzel bun. I make a double stack patty that has become popular. It’s cooked diameter is a hair over 5″ so a 5″ bun is perfect. Its two thin patties, cheese on both.. Patties are 4oz each for a 1/2 lb total. The issue is even toasted the standard recipe Brioche is too soft and tends not to hold up when it’s that diameter. At the same time the pretzel buns are too dense and cause the patties to slide out especially with condiments. I am looking for a good enriched dough bun with a density somewhere in between. Thinking your recipe might be it. Using the higher gluten of the bread flour vs the all purpose of Brioche but still being more enriched than the pretzel may be the answer. Will be making it this weekend..

    I am excited as I have used the best ingredients I can for this burger. I have our own cows butchered and grind the meat fresh for the burgers 50/50 chuck/brisket. It’s not frozen once we grind it. We grow all the toppings in our garden and greenhouse for yr round. The stumbling block has been hitting the bun. You may have answered that for me. I’ll be reporting back once I try it. I may make some very low height rings to keep consistent diameter and form.0.5″ height 5″ inside diameter. Much like the hamburger bun sheet pans are setup.

    Reply

    1. Alejandro Ramon

      Hello Tony,

      It is my pleasure to meet you. I appreciate your kind comments.

      In the recipe, I recommend scaling the dough into 125 grams (4.40 oz) for a Big Mac Style Buns made in rings that are 1-½” tall by 4-½” diameter (4cm x 11.5cm). I have found a source for the exact size baking pan from “Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Pans. Here is the link: https://amzn.to/3HUvLnd

      If you like to make 5″ diameter buns I would recommend using 160 grams (5.60 oz.) of dough for each bun. This should fill the baking ring and proof to be a nice size and shape for your final buns.

      I’d love to hear more about your baking adventure and where you are located.

      Thank you for taking the time to write and ask your questions. Have a great day!

      Alejandro Ramon, Just One Bite, Please?

      Reply

    1. Alejandro Ramon

      Hello NESTLEATPLAY, It is nice to meet you. Yes, here is another video showing how to make the aluminum foil rings for the Big Mac Buns:

      https://youtu.be/9PE-_CGKelM

      UPDATE: I have found the perfect size baking pans for baking the Big Mac “Club” Buns in. Here is the link to purchase them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JJBxwj

      I’d love to hear about your baking adventure when you make your Homemade Hamburger Buns! Thank you for writing and have a great day!

      Reply

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