Easy Homemade Sweet Buns

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Sweet buns are delicious little pillowy dinner rolls that are risen with both yeast and eggs. While the yeast rises the dough, the egg adds the airy and fluffy texture achieved when the buns are baked. If you haven’t ever made rolls or even bread, this recipe is a good place to start. Sweet buns are light on the inside and golden brown on the outside. They are a little sweet and go well with butter when warm soon after coming out of the oven.

You do need time for the rolls. Don’t let that discourage you. Most of the time is spent just waiting for the dough to rise 2 times for an hour each time. You can run errands or do your chores while the dough is proofing. I place my rising dough in a turned-off oven with the light left on. This way, it is safe from breezes, humidity, and even banging doors that can cause the dough to deflate. 

The ingredient list is simple. You will need:

  • Whole milk
  • Active dry yeast
  • Granulated sugar
  • Honey
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Egg
  • All-purpose flour
  • Oil for greasing the bowl and pan

The equipment list is also fairly standard. I make these rolls by hand because I really enjoy getting my hands into the dough. To me, kneading dough is meditative and I believe it imparts a little TLC that helps it rise better. By all means, use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment if you have one and don’t want to get your hands messy. Here is what you will need:

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Small saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Silicon spatula or wooden spoon
  • Pastry cutter
  • Plastic wrap
  • 9×13-inch baking dish

These buns aren’t overly sweet. You could have them with butter and jam for breakfast. They are also excellent for dinner with roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, or a steaming bowl of either butternut squash or crab soup. The only problem with these lovely little rolls is that they often don’t make it to the dinner table. They smell so good when they come out of the oven that everyone wants to grab a roll, slather it with butter and eat it hot. That isn’t the worst thing that can happen. Think of it as the complimentary pre-dinner bread basket you used to get at a restaurant.

Sweet Buns

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Resting Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 213kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 ½ Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
  • 1 cup whole milk warmed slightly
  • 1 packet of active dry yeast
  • 2 Tbsp raw or granulated sugar
  • 3 Tbsp runny honey
  • 1 large whole egg
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour + more for kneading
  • 1 ½ tsp neutral oil
  • 1 ½ tsp granulated sugar optional

Instructions

  • All ingredients ready? Let's begin!
  • In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Turn off the heat and proceed with proofing the yeast.
  • In a large mixing bowl, place the lukewarm milk. Gently stir in the yeast. Sprinkle the sugar over the milk and set the bowl aside for 5 to 10 minutes until the yeast starts to bubble.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the egg and 2-1/2 tablespoons of melted and cooled butter.
  • Add the honey, salt, and egg mixture to the yeasted milk and stir gently to just combine.
  • Stir the flour into the liquid ingredients. Using your hands, work the dough so that it gathers into a ball. It will be sticky. Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Turn the ball of dough out onto the work surface and knead with the heels of your hands for at least 5 minutes, adding a little more flour if needed. The dough should feel elastic and smooth. Alternatively, you can mix the dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
  • Wipe the bowl out with a paper towel. Oil the boil with a little neutral flavored oil. Place the ball of dough back in the bowl and roll it over to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Place it in a warm area, like a turned-off oven with the light on. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size for 60 minutes.
  • Punch the risen dough down gently to deflate it. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut the dough into 12 equal-sized portions. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Roll each piece of dough into a ball and place them in the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and place the dish back into the warm area. Allow the rolls to rise again for 60 minutes.
  • If the dish is in your oven, remove it. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush the tops of the rolls with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and sprinkle the sugar over the tops of the rolls, if using.
  • Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes until the rolls are golden brown. Give them a gentle tap to see if they sound hollow.
  • Remove the baking dish from the oven to a wire rack and allow the rolls to cool until easy to handle but still warm.
  • Serve while warm with butter.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg

Notes & Tips

  • It is important that the milk be lukewarm and not hot. Hot milk will destroy the yeast. If the milk is too cold, the yeast won’t bloom. The temperature of the milk should be around 90°F.
  • If using a stand mixer to make the dough, mix and knead it with the dough hook attachment for best results.
  • Be sure to proof the dough in a warm area that is free of breezes, high humidity, and loud noises. I like to use my oven with just the light left on. You can also place the dough in a turned-off microwave. If using the oven, make sure to remove the dish of risen rolls from the oven before you preheat it.
  • You might have to rewarm the remaining tablespoon of butter to brush on the rolls.

Substitutions

Butter and Milk: If you want to avoid dairy, you can try plant-based butter and non-dairy milk. You do want to choose a milk beverage that contains a little fat. I recommend nut milk or light coconut milk.

Honey: I keep a jar of raw organic honey in my cupboard. It is fairly solid, so I have to warm it for it to become runny. If you don’t have honey, you can use maple syrup or agave nectar. You could also make sweet buns with just sugar in place of the honey.

All-Purpose Flour: There really is no way to make this recipe with gluten-free flour, though I have made rolls with cassava flour that does seem to react to yeast. However, they definitely aren’t as fluffy. You can make the rolls with other gluten flours, such as whole wheat pastry flour, spelt flour, or kamut flour. For best results, I recommend using 1/2 unbleached all-purpose flour and 1/2 whole grain gluten flour.


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