Okay--so I was in a bind the other day. I desperately needed a nice looking bun. Stop with the snickers. I needed a hamburger bun.  At any rate, I did what any normal person does and I stopped at the grocery store. Since it was so late, however, there weren't any good buns left. What to do?  Well, I made my own of course!

I feel serious eye rolling from the audience. I get it. Why would you make your own buns when you can buy perfectly good ones from the store and/or bakery? For starters,  they are damn good. And, while you may not believe it, they are easy to make with a few simple ingredients.

Homemade Buns

They may not be easier than the ones from the bakery...but they are so good!

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 envelope yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 1/2 - 4 cups flour
• 1 egg, room temperature, slightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg yolk, slightly beaten
• poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or caraway seeds for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Whisk together the water, yeast, sugar, and 1/2 cup of the flour in the bowl of a stand mixer. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. Add the egg, butter, salt, and an additional 3 cups of the flour. Use the kneading attachment to knead the dough for 5 minutes, or until it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl but is still a bit tacky to the touch. Add additional flour, tablespoon at a time, if the dough is too sticky.
2. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover loosely with a damp towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft free spot until doubled, about 90 minutes to 2 hours.
3. Gently deflate the dough. Cut into 12 pieces (18 for slider size) and form into hamburger and/or hot dog shapes. Place on baking sheets lined with a silpat or parchment paper, cover loosely, and allow to rise until puffy, about an hour. In the mean time, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Beat the egg yolk with 2 teaspoons of water. Lightly brush each bun with the yolk and sprinkle with desired toppings. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until golden brown. Move to a wire rack to cool completely.

The dough should just start to pull away, and feel just a bit tacky to the touch.

Once risen, the dough will be satiny and soft.

Sprinkle liberally with seeds of your choice....

I especially like a little caraway seed and sea salt.

Fill with whatever you desire....Pulled Pork with Poblano Ranch Dressing? Yes!

Even a simple hot dog will seem special with a homemade bun.

What do you put on your buns?