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Baking Great Bread at Home - Golden wheat logo representing artisan bread bakingBaking Great Bread at Home

Rich, Golden-Brown, and Decadently Buttery

Intermediate

Brioche HamburgerBuns

by Henry Hunter Jr.

Perfect for burgers, sandwiches, or sliders

Fermentation

Overnight + 3 hours

Bake Time

20 minutes

Yield

8 hamburger buns (125g each)

Brioche Hamburger Buns - finished bread
Henry Hunter Jr., professional baker and recipe author

Perfection is not required

"Rich, golden-brown and decadently buttery—these {{brioche}} buns make any burger feel like a special occasion."
Henry Hunter Jr.

By Henry Hunter Jr., founder of Crust & Crumb Academy and Baking Great Bread at Home.

Authentic Flavor

These buns are worth every minute of prep. The overnight cold retard develops incredible flavor while making the butter-rich dough easy to handle.

Equipment Needed

Ingredients

Scale Recipe:

Dough

Cold ingredients help control the butter incorporation

All-purpose flour425g
5g
Kosher salt8g
Large cold eggs240g (5 eggs)
Cold milk40g
Sugar65g
Cold unsalted butter225g

Glaze

For that beautiful golden finish

Large egg, beaten50g (1 large)
Sesame seeds (optional)as needed

Pro Tip

Keep all ingredients cold—especially eggs, milk, and butter. Cold butter creates the rich, tender crumb.

Mix

Mix the Dough

Combine the base dough ingredients before adding butter. This is an that requires careful butter incorporation.

Progress
0/3

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1

Combine dry ingredients

Combine flour, , and salt in mixer bowl.

2

Add wet ingredients

Add eggs and milk.

3

Knead and add sugar

7 min on speed 1-2. Gradually add sugar over 5 min.

Precise Timers

Use these interactive timers to track your stages.

Initial Knead

07:00

Sugar Addition

05:00

Butter

Incorporate Butter

The key to is properly incorporating cold butter.

Progress
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1

Prepare butter

Pound cold butter until pliable but still cold.

2

Add butter

Add butter to dough in pieces.

3

Knead until smooth

10-15 min until smooth and elastic. Test with the .

Pro Tip

Keep the butter cold but pliable—pound it with a rolling pin if needed.

Precise Timers

Use these interactive timers to track your stages.

Butter Integration

15:00

Rise

First Rise

A helps strengthen this rich .

Progress
0/3

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1

Prepare for rising

Place in oiled bowl, cover.

2

Rise with fold

Rise 1 hour at room temp with one at 30 min.

3

Refrigerate

Refrigerate overnight for a .

⏱ Wait Time

Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight

Precise Timers

Use these interactive timers to track your stages.

First Rise

1:00:00

Stretch & Fold

30:00

Proof

Final Proof

Final proof until puffy and nearly doubled.

Progress
0/2

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1

Cover

Cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap.

2

Proof

Proof 2-2.5 hours until puffy and nearly doubled.

⏱ Wait Time

Until puffy and nearly doubled

Precise Timers

Use these interactive timers to track your stages.

Final Proof

2:30:00

Shaping

Shaping

Tight, round shapes ensure even baking and beautiful buns.

Round Buns

Classic hamburger bun shape—tight and round for even baking.

Recommended
0/3

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1

Divide evenly

Divide dough into 8 pieces (125g each).

2

Shape into balls

Shape into tight balls, tucking edges underneath.

3

Place seam down

Place seam side down on parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing evenly.

The Final Step

Bake the Buns

Bake until golden brown with that signature brioche shine.

Bake Time: 20 minutesOven: 350°F / 180°CInternal Temp: 190°F / 88°C

Baking Methods

Bake until golden brown and internal temp reaches 190°F.

Equipment: Baking sheet, Parchment paper, Oven

1

Preheat

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

2

Egg wash

Brush with egg wash and add sesame seeds if desired.

3

Bake

Bake 20 min until golden (internal 190°F).

4

Cool

Cool 5 min on pan, then transfer to wire rack.

"Internal temp should reach 190°F (88°C) when done."

Nutrition Facts

Per 1 bun (about 85g)8 servings per recipe

Calories340
Carbohydrates38g
Protein8g
Fat17g
Saturated Fat10g
Fiber1g
Sugar8g
Sodium290mg

* Values are estimates based on standard ingredients

Storage

Room Temperature

Store in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 2 days. The buns stay soft thanks to all that butter.

Frozen

Freeze individually wrapped buns for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or split and toast directly from frozen.

💡 Refresh slightly stale buns in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes, or split and toast for best results.

Your Feedback

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Troubleshooting

Baker's Notes

Common questions and solutions for perfect results

If you're serious about scoring, you need the right blade in your hand. Wire Monkey makes handcrafted bread lames from black walnut — built to last, balanced in the hand, and sharp enough to glide through cold dough cleanly every single time. No dragging, no hesitation marks. Just a clean cut.

Wire Monkey handcrafted wood scoring lames — handmade in Connecticut from real wood

Wire Monkey Handcrafted Bread Lames

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Baking Great Bread at Home - Golden wheat logo representing artisan bread baking

Baking Great Bread at Home

Happy Baking!

Henry Hunter Jr.

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