Soft & Sweet Hotdog Buns (Store-Style Recipe)

These homemade hotdog buns are soft, slightly sweet, and have that iconic store-bought texture—light, fluffy, and with no crusty edges. Perfect for picky eaters and BBQ season!

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Recipe

Servings: 8 buns

Calories per serving: 205 kcal

Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes (includes rising time)

Soft & Sweet Hotdog Buns (Store-Style Recipe)

Ingredients

• 3 ¼ cups (410g) all-purpose flour

• 2 tbsp (25g) granulated sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 ¼ tsp instant yeast (1 packet)

• 1 large egg

• 1 cup (240ml) warm whole milk (about 100°F / 38°C)

• 3 tbsp (45g) unsalted butter, softened

• Optional: 1 tbsp nonfat dry milk powder (for extra softness)

Instructions

1. Mix the dough

In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer), combine flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast. Add the warm milk, egg, and softened butter. Mix until a soft dough forms.

2. Knead until smooth

Knead by hand for 8–10 minutes or use a dough hook for 5–6 minutes on medium speed, until the dough is smooth and elastic. It should be slightly tacky but not sticky. If needed, dust with a tiny bit of flour.

3. First rise

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size—about 1 to 1.5 hours.

4. Shape the buns

Punch down the dough and divide it into 8 equal pieces. Roll each into a log about 5–6 inches long. Arrange them side by side on a parchment-lined baking sheet, so they’re just touching or nearly touching. This gives that soft, connected edge.

5. Second rise

Loosely cover and let rise for 45–60 minutes until noticeably puffy.

6. Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 15–18 minutes, until just lightly golden on top. Avoid overbaking—this keeps them soft.

7. Steam-finish (for ultimate softness)

Immediately after baking, brush the tops with melted butter and loosely cover with foil or a clean kitchen towel for 10 minutes. This traps steam and keeps the crust ultra-soft.

Nutrition Facts (Per Bun)

• Calories: 205

• Protein: 6g

• Fat: 7g

• Carbohydrates: 30g

• Sugar: 3g

• Fiber: 1g

• Sodium: 230mg

Storage Instructions

Let buns cool completely. Store in an airtight bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep longer, freeze in a zip bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds.

Mix the dough

First rise

Shape the buns

Second rise

Finish baking

Steam finish and butter brushing

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Prompt

No complicated prompt, really. I just wanted really soft store bought-style hotdog buns. So I asked ChatGPT:

I want hotdog buns like in the store. Soft, no crust, sweet. Help with recipe

Scroll to the top or click the link below to get to the recipe.

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