Sourdough Buns

Recipe by King Arthur Test Kitchen
23 Reviews 4.7 out of 5 stars

Though they look like English muffins, these big, buxom buns aren't "holey" enough for that label. They have a relatively smooth, fine-grained, moist interior, which we love. And their hint of tanginess makes them an ideal breakfast sidekick to bacon and eggs, as well as entirely appropriate for lunchtime sandwiches.

While English muffin rings make these buns perfectly round, you can also shape and bake the buns without them; see "tips," below.

Prep
20 mins
Bake
20 to 25 mins
Total
2 hrs 30 mins
Yield
eight 4" buns
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Sourdough Buns

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Mix all of the ingredients together — by hand, mixer, bread machine, or food processor — just until the dough comes together; it will remain slightly tacky.

  2. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, cover with a piece of greased plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 to 40 minutes. The dough won’t rise all that much; the goal is to just let it relax.

  3. Divide the dough into 8 pieces, roll each piece into a ball, then cover and set aside to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

  4. Meanwhile, dust a half sheet pan with cornmeal, lightly grease eight English muffin rings, and place them on the baking sheet.

  5. Flatten the balls of dough into 3 3/4" circles. Fill each ring with a piece of dough, and sprinkle the tops with cornmeal.

  6. Grease the back of a half sheet pan, and place it on top of the rings and dough, with the greased side facing the dough. Let the buns rise for 40 to 60 minutes, until they’re bumping up against the top pan.

  7. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  8. With the pan on top, bake the buns for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're lightly browned on top and bottom.

  9. Remove the buns from the oven, let them cool for 10 minutes, then turn them out of the rings onto a rack to cool completely.

  10. Store, well-wrapped, for up to 5 days on the counter. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Don’t have any starter? Here’s a recipe for homemade sourdough starter. If you're making it from scratch, you'll need to feed it for 5 to 7 days before it’s ready for baking. Want a head start? Purchase our classic fresh sourdough starter — it’ll be ready for baking soon after it arrives at your door. Looking for tips, techniques, and all kinds of great information about sourdough baking? Find what you need in our sourdough baking guide.

  • If you don’t have English muffin rings, these buns can be baked without them. Simply shape the dough according to the recipe instructions, let them rise for 40 to 60 minutes (until they’re puffy), and bake on a pan (without the addition of the top baking sheet) for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 375°F oven.

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