Sourdough Hamburger Buns From Scratch

Sourdough hamburger buns are an easy, from scratch recipe perfect for any summer cookout or family weeknight meal! Here's our easy, homemade recipe.

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Homemade burgers are one of my favorite meals to serve when we host people. They're so simple to make and usually a hit for all! If I'm short on time I'll just serve the homemade burgers with store-bought buns, but if I'm really on top of my game I love to serve sourdough hamburger buns!

In all reality, this sourdough hamburger bun recipe doesn't take much prep, it's just a matter of starting it early enough. The sweet, tangy sourdough flavor marry's so well with a juicy, ground beef burger patty. Ooo, add some pickled red onions too for extra zest and call it a day!

Of course these are called sourdough hamburger buns, but they could be used for other things too! Chicken salad sandwiches, french dip sandwiches, creamy egg salad sandwiches,

Well, feed your sourdough starter so that in a couple of hours you can start your own batch of these fluffy sourdough buns! We love them and I promise that you will, too!

Sourdough Hamburger Bun Ingredients

4 tbs room temp unsalted butter

4 tbs pure maple syrup

warm water

all purpose flour or bread flour

1 ½ teaspoon salt

½ cup fed sourdough starter active and bubbly

Tools You'll Need

Large mixing bowl or stand mixer

Bowl cover cloth bowl cover, plastic wrap, or cling seal

Baking sheet

Parchment paper

How To Make Sourdough Hamburger Buns

In the bowl of a stand mixer mix together active sourdough starter and warm water until the sourdough starter has dissolved into the water and formed small bubbles.

Next, add the softened butter, maple syrup, flour, and salt. Use the dough hook attachment to bring the dough together and knead it until a slightly sticky and elastic dough forms. Alternatively, you could mix together the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Once the dough comes together, knead it on a lightly floured surface for about 5-7 minutes.

Then it's time for the bulk rise. Place your kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the bowl with cling seal and let it sit at room temperature for about 8-10 hours. You'll know the dough is ready to be shaped once small bubbles start forming around the top. Be very careful to not let the dough over ferment as this will result in wet, sloppy dough that's unable to rise when you bake it.

After the bulk rise, shape the dough into 8 sourdough hamburger buns.

How To Shape Sourdough Hamburger Buns

First, roll the piece of dough you're working with into a rough ball shape.

Second, lightly flour a work surface. Place the dough ball on the surface and push it away from you using your palm.

Next, curve your palm and fingers around the back of the dough ball and pull it towards you to create tension. Repeat this 2-3 times until a tight ball has formed.

Finally, flatten the top of the dough ball a bit to create a bun shape.

After shaping the buns, let them rise for another 1-2 hours in a warm space (such as on top of the stove or in the oven with the light on) to get puffy.

Bake these sourdough hamburger buns in a 350 degree preheat oven for about 12-15 minutes, until they are golden brown on top. For more browning, create an egg wash by whisking up an egg to lightly spread on top of each bun.

Sourdough Buns FAQs

Are sourdough buns good for burgers?

These sourdough buns are the perfect homemade burger buns! Fluffy texture paired with sweet sourdough tang pairs so well with a juicy, ground beef burger patty made from scratch!

What is the healthiest bun for burgers?

Our sourdough hamburger buns are the healthiest buns for burgers because they are long fermented which makes them gut healthy. There's also no added preservatives and unnecessary ingredients like the burger buns you'd find at the store!

Can you make burger buns with sourdough?

Make burger buns with sourdough by kneading together ½ cup active sourdough starter, warm water, 4 tbs room temp butter, 4 tbs maple syrup, flour, and salt. Let the dough rise for 8-10 hours on the counter. After that, shape the buns and let rise until puffy. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Long fermentation makes this sourdough bun recipe gut healthy and easier to digest!

95% of this recipe is hands off time. Most of the work is the dough doing its thing by rising on the counter! This recipe is great for busy mamas who want a delicious homemade burger bun without constant time in the kitchen.

This sourdough hamburger bun recipe uses maple syrup which is a natural sweetener. There's no processed sugar or unnatural ingredients!

Burger buns from scratch are made with pantry staple ingredients, only 6 to be exact! The usual bread baker should have all of these ingredients on hand, saving you a trip to the grocery store.

Ingredient Swaps, Substitutions & Suggestions

Unsalted Butter-Butter is not optional in this recipe, however the kind of butter you use can make a difference! I prefer to use organic unsalted. Another delicious option is Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter.

Maple Syrup- Maple syrup can be substituted with honey if you wish. I'd use 3 tbs of honey rather than 4 as it slightly alters the taste and has a more pungent taste.

Flour-I prefer to use organic unbleached all purpose flour! One of my favorite brands is King Arthur Unbleached Organic All Purpose Flour.

Salt- The BEST salt out there is Redmond Real Salt! In my kitchen it's used for literally everything.

More Easy Sourdough Recipes

Sourdough Fried Chicken - Use up sourdough breadcrumbs to make the most tender, crispy, oven baked fried chicken!!

Sourdough Tortillas - Taco Tuesday? No problem! Mix up a batch of these sourdough discard tortillas and you'll be good to go!

Strawberries And Cream Sourdough Cookies - A seriously delicious, melt in your mouth kind of cookie! They're genuinely one of my favorites and such a treat whenever I make them.

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