Homemade Hamburger Buns

My 4-yr-old just walked up to me super excited with a plain fettuccine noodle in his hand and said, "Mom you've gotta try this!" 

I bent over and tasted it and thought, "Oh, it tastes like a boring, plain (and cold) fettuccine noodle"

....but of course I gave him the response he was looking for...

"mmmmh!" I said enthusiastically. 

He gives me a big smile and says, "See, it tastes like smoked noodles!" 

Oh...my mistake! 

Well I guess not all of our tastes are the same. He is definitely what my husband calls a "connoisseur of fine foods", even if only in his mind. :)

Since we're talking about sprouts this week, I wanted to share a recipe that you can use your fresh sprouts on to make them healthier and even more delicious - homemade hamburger buns (or veggie burgers if you prefer).

In our culture it seems like one of the favorite fast food sandwiches of all time, that's universal from McD's to BK is the hamburger. It's like pure american food! But honestly I can't even stomach the thought of eating a burger from McD's or BK or any fast food joint anymore. They are in simple terms, just plain disgusting, every way you look at it. So I've solved that problem for you by sharing here a recipe for homemade hamburger buns that you can make very simply in less than an hour! They freeze well so you can make a big batch and pull them out when you need one of those quick, easy (fast food) dinners. They are much healthier and tastier than their store-bought counterparts so I hope you enjoy!

Update Feb 2013: Once you make these you are not going to want to go back to store bought buns ever again. My husband raves about them each time I make them and they have become a favorite recipe.

Hamburger Buns

Printable Recipe

*Makes 12 buns

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 Cup powdered milk *See Note below
2 Cups VERY warm water, microwave on high for 2-3 minutes ( >110 F)
1/4 Cup oil
2 Tbsp. honey
2 eggs
2 tsp. salt
1/4 Cup gluten flour
5-6 Cups of whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp active dry yeast
egg wash (1 egg + 2 Tbsp. water)
sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:
In a stand mixer combine (in this order) powdered milk, warm water, oil, honey, eggs, salt, gluten flour, 2 Cups of the whole-wheat flour with the yeast on top. Turn on the mixer and add enough whole-wheat flour until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl. The dough should just clean the sides of the bowl, but still be a little tacky to the touch - you may not need all the flour. Mix for 6 minutes to develop gluten.

Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and form into buns. I made balls and flattened them slightly. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg wash (mix 1 egg and 2 Tbsp. water) and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Preheat oven to 350. Let dough rise about 20 minutes then place in hot oven and bake 18-20 minutes.

*Note: If you don't have powdered milk you can heat up 2 Cups milk (any kind) in the microwave in place of the powdered milk and 2 Cups water

*This recipe freezes well. I like to double the batch and freeze what I don't need.

*Recipe Source: Adapted from Be Practical Today

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