When Memorial Day kicks off summer on the Outer Banks, then we’re kicking it off the best way we know how—with a homemade sourdough burger bun.
These buns are soft, golden, flavorful, and have just the right touch of sourdough tang to make your cookout feel a little more homemade and a whole lot more special.
We’ve been having fun experimenting with our starter (who’s hanging on strong, by the way!), and this recipe is quickly becoming a favorite. It’s simple enough for beginners but feels like such a fun accomplishment when you take that first bite of a burger stacked on a bun you made from scratch.
Why We Love These Buns
- Soft & pillowy: Light and airy inside with just enough structure.
- Flavorful: The sourdough adds a depth that store-bought buns just can’t match.
- Customizable: Make them larger for big burgers or smaller for sliders.
- Prep ahead: Let them rise overnight and bake fresh the next day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup active sourdough starter (fed and bubbly)
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour for a chewier texture)
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
- 1 egg (for the dough)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)
- Optional: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or everything bagel topping
Instructions
- Mix the dough
In a stand mixer or large bowl, combine the starter, milk, butter, honey, egg, and salt. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time until a soft dough forms.
Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 5–8 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Bulk ferment
Cover and let the dough rise at room temperature for 4–6 hours, or until roughly doubled in size. (Ideally, cover and place in the fridge overnight.)
- Shape the buns
Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Shape into smooth balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each. Gently press them down to flatten slightly.
- Final rise
Cover loosely and let rise again for 1–2 hours, until puffy.
- Bake
Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with your toppings of choice. Bake for 18–22 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool completely before slicing.
Tips
- These buns pair perfectly with burgers or High Cotton pork BBQ.
- Make sure your starter is extra bubby! Ours wasn’t the first time we made them and the buns turned out a little denser than we would have liked.
- Our sizes didn’t come out very uniform. We had a couple that looked like sliders, a few regulars, and then some jumbo buns! So if you’re wanting them all to be the same size, pay more attention than we did when shaping them.