• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • PORTFOLIO
  • CONTACT

Lion's Bread logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • PORTFOLIO
  • CONTACT
  • ×

    May 28, 2025

    Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-6
    Jump to Recipe

    very delicious and simple fluffy Sourdough Hamburger buns that can be made with discard or active bubbly starter 

    This post contains affiliate links – thanks for supporting the brands that make Lion’s Bread possible.

    Let’s get right to it: making hamburger buns from scratch has to be worth it! They have to be light and fluffy, kind soft and rich but never mushy!  I know this sounds crazy, but they can’t be too bread-y or dense.

    That is exactly what these Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns are. They quite literally check all of my boxes, and they had better because I’ve tested this recipe several times. My children are my harshest critics, and they were totally obsessed, so that’s that.

    Also, FWIW, better than any store-bought bun, even potato buns (gasp!).

    Want more artisan bread recipes? Check out:

    Sourdough English Muffins

    Cinnamon Brown Sugar Sourdough Bread

    Sourdough Baguettes

    How to make Sourdough Hamburger Buns 

    • In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine the warm water, sourdough discard, dry active yeast, granulated sugar, avocado oil, and the large eggs. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients together.

    • With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour and salt to the bowl. Mix the dough for 8-10 minutes on medium low speed. The dough will be quite tacky and will still stick to the sides of the bowl, that is ok!

    • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or a disposable shower cap, and let the dough rise at room temperature for about an hour until it has doubled in size.

    • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Pour the dough out onto a well floured work surface, and use a bench scraper to divide the dough into 10 equal pieces.

    • With lightly floured hands, shape the buns: bring the edges of each piece of dough into the center, and pinch together creating a round circle. Place the ball of dough onto the work surface, seam side down. Use the palm of your hand and fingertips to roll the dough around in a circle. Place the shaped bun onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pieces of dough.

      Use the palm of your hand to flatten out the buns slightly into a disk for that signature hamburger bun look.

    • Lightly dust the tops of the buns with flour, and loosely place a clean tea towel over the buns. Let them rise at room temperature for about 1 hour until they are puffy. Preheat the oven to 350℉.

    • Brush the tops of the risen hamburger buns with the beaten egg, and generously sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Bake the buns for 25-27 minutes until they are deeply golden brown. Allow the buns to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Enjoy with any of your favorite burgers, chicken sandwiches, egg or tuna salad sandwiches, or even a pressed panini sandwich.

      fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-1

      divide the dough – a kitchen scale will help get them equal in size

      fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-2

      shape them into rounds for hamburger buns or 6″ long rope for hot dog buns

      fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-3

      proofed and ready for egg wash

    Can you also make hot dog buns from this dough?

    YES! I knew you’d ask! You can absolutely shape this dough into 6 inch long ropes, and voila! you’ve got homemade fluffy sourdough hot dog buns. 

    BREAD BAKING TOOLS I USE

    It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway! Having the right tools for the job makes the job so much easier and gives you a better end result. 

    AND, having the correct tools definitely encourages you to bake more often – a win win!

    I’ve put together a list of some of my Essential Baking Tools, and they’re all available HERE on Amazon (love it or hate it, Amazon can make sourcing these tools much simpler).

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-4

    egg washed and ready to bake

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-5

    fire up the grill, invite some friends, they’re ready!

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-7

    very fluffy, super delicious

    IF YOU LOVE IT, SHARE IT!

    If you make these beautiful Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! I love to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.

    And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3

    Without further ado, here is your Homemade Hamburger Bun recipe! Be sure to save this recipe and Pin It to your favorite Bread recipe board!

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-8

    look at that crumb

    Happy Baking xo LeAnne

    fluffy-sourdough-hamburger-buns-6
    Print

    Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns

    the fluffiest sourdough discard hamburger buns! they can also be shaped into hot dog buns

    Course bread, dinner
    Cuisine American
    Keyword buns, hamburger buns
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    rise time 2 hours
    Servings 12 burger buns
    Author LeAnne Yaakubov

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup water, warmed to 90℉ 235 g
    • ½ cup sourdough discard 120 g
    • 2 teaspoons dry active yeast
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar or maple syrup, honey, agave, 50 g
    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or any neutral oil 26 g
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 ⅔ cups unbleached all purpose flour or bread flour 460 g
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt 17 g

    egg wash

    • 1 egg beaten
    • 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, for topping

    Instructions

    1. In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine the warm water, sourdough discard, dry active yeast, granulated sugar, avocado oil, and the large eggs. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients together.

    2. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour and salt to the bowl. Mix the dough for 8-10 minutes on medium low speed. The dough will be quite tacky and will still stick to the sides of the bowl, that is ok!

    3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or a disposable shower cap, and let the dough rise at room temperature for about an hour until it has doubled in size.

    4. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Pour the dough out onto a well floured work surface, and use a bench scraper to divide the dough into 10 equal pieces.

    5. With lightly floured hands, shape the buns: bring the edges of each piece of dough into the center, and pinch together creating a round circle. Place the ball of dough onto the work surface, seam side down. Use the palm of your hand and fingertips to roll the dough around in a circle. Place the shaped bun onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pieces of dough.

      Use the palm of your hand to flatten out the buns slightly into a disk for that signature hamburger bun look.

    6. Lightly dust the tops of the buns with flour, and loosely place a clean tea towel over the buns. Let them rise at room temperature for about 1 hour until they are puffy. Preheat the oven to 350℉.

    7. Brush the tops of the risen hamburger buns with the beaten egg, and generously sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Bake the buns for 25-27 minutes until they are deeply golden brown. Allow the buns to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Enjoy with any of your favorite burgers, chicken sandwiches, egg or tuna salad sandwiches, or even a pressed panini sandwich.

    Recipe Notes

    This recipe was tested using a 1:1:1 ratio sourdough starter.

    If you want to omit the dry active yeast and make them 100% sourdough buns, use active bubbly starter that has been fed about 8-10 hours prior. The fermentation time of the first and second rises will take longer, about 2-3.5 hours for each rise.

    Storing: once the hamburger buns have cooled completely, place them in an airtight bag to keep them fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month in an airtight bag/container.

    The post Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns first appeared on Lion’s Bread blog.

    « Sourdough English Muffins
    The Blueberry Cheesecake »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    LeAnne

    I'm LeAnne, artisan baker, writer, weenie lover, and sourdough enthusiast with a lifelong passion of teaching you all how to bake. Lion's Bread is full of everyday deliciousness that's meant to be shared - let's bake some memories together!

    More about me →

    Featured In

    FeedFeed

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Freshly Baked

    • blueberry-cheesecake-1
      The Blueberry Cheesecake
    • sourdough-english-muffins
      Sourdough English Muffins
    • blueberry-cream-brioche-buns_lions-bread-8-blog-2
      Blueberry Cream Brioche Buns
    • marbled-chocolate-meringue-cake_lions-bread-9-2
      Marbled Chocolate Meringue Cake

    Find a REcipe

    • Bread + Pastry
    • Breakfast
      • Muffins
    • Brownies + Bars
    • Cakes
    • Confections
    • Cookies
    • Doughnuts
    • Drinks
    • Ice Cream
    • Pies + Tarts
    • Puddings + Mousse
    • Resources
    • Savory

    Looking for something?

    AS FEATURED IN

    FeedFeed

    Subscribe

    FRESHLY BAKED

    • The Blueberry Cheesecake
    • Fluffy Sourdough Hamburger Buns
    • Sourdough English Muffins
    • Blueberry Cream Brioche Buns
    • Marbled Chocolate Meringue Cake

    Footer

    lions.bread

    all things artisan baking
    🌳 Pocono Mountains, PA
    slower living • mom of 4 🪬 • equestrian
    🔗 RECIPES BELOW ⬇️


    Finally! 100% Sourdough English Muffins are so del
    Finally! 100% Sourdough English Muffins are so delicious and veryyy simple to make! 💫 Tap the link 🔗 in bio for the full recipe + tutorial or go to https://www.lionsbread.com/sourdough-english-muffins/
.
#sourdough #breadmaking #bread #breadstagram #bakinglove #artisanbread #bakingfromscratch #englishmuffin


    i’m so proud of these 🥹🥯 Spring Comfort Fo
    i’m so proud of these 🥹🥯 Spring Comfort Food - Ep 2: Easy Homemade Sourdough Bagels 💫 soooo satisfying to make and super delicious! What’s more comforting than a warm toasty fresh bagel? I’ll save you the time - nothing! 
Tap the link 🔗 in bio for the full recipe: https://www.lionsbread.com/easy-sourdough-bagels/
.
.
#bagels #sourdoughbread #sourdough #artisanbread #breadmaking #bakingfromscratch #breadbaking #bread


    pretty good is good enough 🌸🌻🌺 i’ll do
    pretty good is good enough 🌸🌻🌺 i’ll do anything except take those window boxes down 😅 stay tuned for how they fill in over the next couple months!
.
#gardening #gardeninspo #inmygardentoday #flowers #flowerstagramer #homestead #naturetherapy #poconomountains


    Spring Comfort Food: Ep 1 Blueberry Cream Brioche
    Spring Comfort Food: Ep 1 Blueberry Cream Brioche Buns - pillowy sweet brioche topped with sweet vanilla cream cheese, blueberry preserves and fresh bluebs 🫐 a must on your next brunch table! tap the link 🔗 in bio to get the FULL RECIPE https://www.lionsbread.com/blueberry-cream-brioche-buns/
.
.
#brioche #pastry #homemade #bakingfromscratch #bakinglove #artisanbread #breadmaking #breadbaking


    saving this here so i always remember how this new
    saving this here so i always remember how this new phase of Trampoline Mom feels - out of the baby phase, we play and read music, we jump and flip, stand tall and sing proud, eat the food we’re growing and celebrate milestones with friends that feel like fam 💫✨


    disrupting the spurtle space 💥 master craftsman
    disrupting the spurtle space 💥 master craftsmanship by my friend @lark_woodworks 🙌 This hand hewn custom bread-making spurtle+spoon is exactly what i need when mixing dough and my sourdough starter all in one! Send Michael a DM to order yours 🤎
.
#woodworking #bakinglove #homemadebread #artisanbread #breadmaking #bakingfromscratch #homestead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #sourdoughstarter


    sourdough starter: explained! here’s how you bri
    sourdough starter: explained! here’s how you bring it back to life after a looong break ✨ 
we’re getting granular because once you understand how to keep your starter happy, your bread baking will be sooo much better!
.
#breadbaking #homemadebread #bakinglove #breadmaking #artisanbread #bakingfromscratch #sourdoughbread #sourdoughstarter


    We’re making these lacey Almond Cottage Pancakes
    We’re making these lacey Almond Cottage Pancakes on repeat this week 🥞 they’re actually GF, light and creamy and perfect for a spring brunch 🌼 one bowl and a few pantry staples and they’ll be on your plate in no time - FULL RECIPE below 👇 
Almond Cottage Pancakes  Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes  Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk cottage cheese
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup whole milk, or any nut milk
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups almond flour, finely ground
1/2 cup tapioca flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
zest of 1 medium sized lemon finely grated
Coconut oil or butter for frying
1 pint blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries  In a medium sized bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, cottage cheese, milk, sour cream, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Whisk until well combined. 
To the same bowl, add the almond flour, tapioca flour/starch, and kosher salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk well to incorporate.
Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle pan. LIGHTLY grease the pan with coconut oil or butter, not too much or the pancakes spread out too thin. Spoon the pancake batter into the preheated skillet into 3-inch size pancakes. Cook for about 2 minutes on the first side until small bubbles begin to form on the surface of the pancake. Flip, and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
Keep the pancakes warm by placing them on a baking sheet lined with a cooling rack in a preheated oven (at 200 degrees F) until ready to serve. 
Serve the pancakes with salted butter, maple syrup, and plenty of fresh berries. Enjoy!  #pancakes #passover #kosher #kosherfood #glutenfreerecipes #flourless #bakingfromscratch #bakinglove



    follow me @lions.bread


    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Portfolio

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Recipe Index

    Copyright © 2025 Lion's Bread, All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer