Hot dogs never tasted so good as when you make homemade hot dog buns! You’ll be amazed at how much better it is. Level up your home cooked meals with homemade hot dog buns.
Whether you’re making homemade Chili Dogs or serving a Hot Dog and Sausage Buffet, this homemade hot dog buns recipe is sure to provide a better bun and a better dinner all the way around.
Bonus: they only cost 18 cents a bun to make!
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You’ve got hot dogs, but no buns.
You could go to the store.
You could do that weird thing with hamburger buns that your dad did when you were a kid and make the hot dog fit a round bun. Or worse, sandwich bread.
Or you can make homemade hot dog buns.
The investment of half an hour plus some wait time will result in most likely the best hot dog you ever ate.
Why Make This
They are delicious! It may seem totally “extra” to make your own hot dog buns, but trust me. It’s totally worth it. The flavor and texture of store-bought in no way compares to a homemade hot dog bun.
They’re more nutritious. Not only do you get a deliciously tender homemade bun, but you also get to control the ingredients. No weird ingredients, preservatives, or additives.
Ingredients
The store bought buns are going to be made with icky preservatives but these homemade hot dog buns are all made with real ingredients. Here is what you need:
milk – You can use any kind of milk you like. It makes the dough more tender. If need be, you can sub in water, but the tenderness factor will be reduced.
egg – Adding an egg to your yeast breads gives it great texture. There really is no substitute.
oil – Again, a great addition for better texture. Use whatever oil you normally use: canola, vegetable, olive, or avocado. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use butter or margarine.
sugar – It’s just a bit of sugar, but it helps the texture of the finished hot dog buns. Use granulated sugar or honey if you prefer a less processed sweetener.
bread flour – Bread flour has more gluten than all-purpose so again, it adds to the texture. However, you can use all-purpose if that’s all you have.
salt – Just a little salt goes a long way in adding texture and flavor to homemade buns. Don’t omit this.
yeast – This is what helps the dough rise; definitely a necessary ingredient. You can buy dry active yeast in packets, jars, or vacuum-sealed blocks. If you buy the latter, you’ll usually benefit from bulk pricing. Once opened, transfer the yeast into an airtight container and store in the freezer.
Instructions
- Combine the milk, sugar, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Allow to proof for five minutes.
2. Add the oil and the egg.
3. Add the flour and salt.
4. Attach the dough hook to the mixer and run the machine until the dough is smooth and elastic. (If you’re making the dough by hand, stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Then knead by hand on a floured surface.
5. Place the dough in a greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour.
6. When the dough has doubled in bulk, you’re ready to form the hot dog buns and bake them.
9. When the dough is ready, divide into 12 equal portions.
10. Form each portion into a thin loaf for hot dog buns.
11. Roll the thin loaf on the work surface to smooth the seal.
12. Place these on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat mat. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375oF. Bake for 15-22 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a rack before slicing to serve.
Bread machine instructions:
To make hot dog buns with a bread machine: Place all ingredients in a bread machine pan according to manufacturer’s instructions. Program for “dough”. Once the machine beeps, proceed with the instructions for forming and baking the hot dog buns.
FAQs
If you have a bread machine, making your own buns is quick work. If you don’t have a bread machine, that’s fine. Mix the dough by hand or in a stand mixer. Either way it will be delicious.
Other tools that I find handy include: a large cutting board for working the dough, a bench knife for easily cutting it into portions, and a silpat baking mat or parchment paper for easy cleanup. If you don’t have a sheet pan, consider getting a sturdy one like this.
Yes, you can make hamburger buns with this recipe. Just form the dough into a round instead of a long oval.
Whether you make your own or buy store buns, you can freeze hot dog buns. Make sure that your fresh baked buns have cooled completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a ziptop bag. Store-bought buns can be stored in their original packaging. Place in the freezer until ready to use. Thaw at room temperature in the wrappings prior to serving.
Recipe Costs
The dough requires only common baking ingredients. Based on non-sale prices, the costs break down accordingly:
- milk – $0.24 ($3.09/gallon)
- egg – $0.25 ($2.99/dozen)
- oil – $0.12 ($1.99/48 oz.)
- sugar – $0.04 ($1.97/4 lbs.)
- bread flour – $1.14 ($4.99/5 lbs.)
- salt – $0.04 ($2.99/26 oz.)
- yeast – $0.33 ($0.99/3-pack)
Total cost to make 12 homemade buns: $2.16 or 18 cents a bun.
If you shop the Good Cheap Eats way, that is shopping the best store, the sales, and clearance, you can easily get that price much, much lower.
Quality hot dog buns at the store run about $4 a package. You can get the cheap ones for a buck twenty-five. That makes them 15 to 50 cents a piece.
Yes, it might be a little cheaper to buy those cheap generic grocery store sponges impersonating as hot dog buns, but these are goooooood. And those aren’t.
It’s up to you, but for a really special dinner — even if it’s just hot dogs — I suggest homemade. Be sure to check out these simple BBQ ideas for easy entertaining.
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Homemade Hot Dog Buns Recipe
Equipment
- cutting board
- bench knife
- parchment paper
- heavy duty sheet pan
- stand mixer
- bread machine
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup milk , warmed
- 1 egg
- 6 tablespoon neutral oil
- 3 tablespoon granulated sugar or honey
- 4 cup bread flour
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
Instructions
To make the dough by hand or in a stand mixer:
- If making the dough by hand or in a stand mixer, warm the milk slightly. Combine the milk, egg, oil, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Allow to proof for five minutes. Stir in the flour and salt. This will form a stiff dough. Knead by hand on a floured surface or in the mixer with the bread hook until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour.
To make the dough in a bread machine:
- Place all ingredients in bread machine pan according to manufacturer’s instructions. Program for “dough.”
To form the hot dog buns:
- When the dough is ready, divide into 12 equal portions. Form each portion into a thin loaf for hot dog buns. (You can form flat rounds for hamburger buns.) Place these on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silpat mat.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°Bake for 15-22 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a rack before slicing to serve.
- To freeze: store cooled rolls in an airtight container in the freezer. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on July 31, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.
JP
This recipe sound fantastic but I live alone, what about freezing dough portions, is that doable?
Jessica Fisher
Freezing dough is a little tricky. I’d recommend wrapping to freeze and stashing away for later. We have tips on freezing bread.
JP
Thanks for your help
Elaine C
I have been wanting to make these buns for a long time! I finally made them in my bread machine and they were fabulous! The taste was 1000x better than any bun I have ever tasted! The first batch were a little smaller, as I thought they would rise more, but I shaped the second batch a bit larger, and they were perfect! I’m sure with practice, I will get better at shaping them. I did spread a bit of butter on them once they came out, and that was yummy. You can top slice them, or slice from side. I used a thermometer, and they were near 200 degrees like you suggested. They were amazing. This morning I used one for breakfast, and put egg and meat on them, and that was really really good too. Thank you for such a great recipe. It is my new go to recipe for buns!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad to hear you liked them.
beth
Great bun recipe. I have used for hot dogs and hamburgers.
Davene
Thanks so much for this recipe. Just putting my second batch in the oven. These buns are beyond awesome!
The first time I made them, I baked 12 as your recipe suggests. Although wildly delicious, I found the buns to be quite large. This time I made the recipe into 16 buns and they look pretty promising…….
Jessica Fisher
Glad you’re enjoying the recipe!
Melissa
Hi, I am deployed to Afghanistan and want to make these buns for some brats we just had shipped over. I am a novice bread maker….what does the vital wheat gluten do for the recipe and what are the consequences if I do not have that ingredient?
Jessica Fisher
Good for you, Melissa! My brother was in Jordan for awhile and I know this would have been awesome for him and his crew. You can omit the vital wheat gluten. It’s not a big deal, just makes it a bit fluffier.
Jessica Fisher
Thank you for your service!
Ted
Jessica, does your recipe use fresh yeast?
Jessica Fisher
I use the SAF yeast I buy at Costco. Amazon carries it as well here.
Joyce
I use this recipe all off the time. They freeze very well. I don’t do much other than put them in a freezer bag. I have had them in the freezer for a couple of months and they still taste very good. They texture holds well too.
Jessica Fisher
Super great to hear!
Mrs.C
I made these last night (minus the additional gluten) and they were amazing! Thanks!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! Glad you liked them!
Kathy
Hello,
I was wondering if the images you posted of the buns the ones you made with this recipe? Also did you use the bread machine method or the mixer?
Thanks
Kathy
Jessica Fisher
Yes, those are the buns I make with this recipe. I used to use the bread machine, but now I use a Kitchenaid since my bread machine broke, and I didn’t replace it.
Amber
Can I use white whole wheat flour instead of the bread flour?
Jessica Fisher
You know, I just use whatever I have. Go a little less to allow for the whole grain, and you should be good.
Beverly
I made these today. They are absolutelywonderful. So glad I found this recipe and will be making them again. I love your website and have made several meals using your recipes. Thank you so much..
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for letting me know. So glad you’re enjoying them!
Kimberly
I tried this recipe yesterday (without the vital wheat gluten) and it’s going to be our new go-too bun recipe. We have a bulk food store near us and I can get 10 lb of bread flour there for less than the price of 5 lb in the grocery store, it’s by far cheaper to make out own breads than to buy. Since I’m soon quitting my job to be a stay at home mom I’ve been making a lot more things from scratch to save money (though it’s tough to find time with a 2 month old). Thank you for this great recipe!
Jessica Fisher
Glad you enjoyed it! And YAY on staying home. I’ve never regretted that choice 17 years ago.
Jill
I have made these buns several times and they are a huge hit! I either bake them on a cookie sheet with a baking mat, or transfer them to a hot cast iron pizza pan after they’ve finished rising. With the baking mat, the bottoms are a little less done. With the cast iron, the shape gets messed up during the transfer. How do you bake them? If you use a cookie sheet without a baking mat, do you grease it first? I don’t like to grease my cookie sheets, but I’ve been hesitant to try without, as I don’t want my yummy buns stuck to the tray. Thanks!
Jessica Fisher
If I don’t use a silpat, I use parchment.
christy
Would you please post a video on how you form your buns and slice them? I have tried so many times and they never turn out well. We already make hamburger buns and would love to add this to the list of stuff we make by scratch.
Jessica Fisher
Do you know that mine rarely look as good as they did when I took this picture? lol. I’ll see what I can do. We just kinda deal with them not looking “normal”.
Carol B.
Made them today and they are FANTASTIC!! I followed your recipe exactly. Thanks so much!!
Lisa
These came out great! Had to make some substitutions (olive oil) and used 1/2 bread and 1/2 white whole wheat flour per some of the comments left. Don’t have a bread machine so I used my mixer and proofed the yeast with warm milk beforehand. Made them into mini kaiser buns after seeing the tutorial on how to make them so easily. Thanks for the recipe! I will definitely be making these again and these have joined my ranks of recipes worthy of hostess gifts!
Sarah B.
Jessica, we LOVE this recipe for hotdog and hamburger buns! We haven’t bought buns since trying these. I also watched the Kaiser roll tutorial and make mine that way and they’re so pretty! Here’s my question: have you ever shaped the dough into a loaf? I want to make my own bread to avoid the soy in all store-bought loaves and am afraid to try just any recipe. I love this bread so wonder if it might work? Would it make 1 4.5″x8.5″? I’ll go ahead and try it out this afternoon. After the 1.5 hour dough cycle, I plan to let it rise in the loaf pan about 30-45 minutes before baking. We’ll see how it turns out. Thanks again for the awesome recipe!
Jessica
I’ve never tried it, but your plan sounds like it should work. Let us know!
Sarah B
It made 2 delicious loaves of soft sandwich bread – I’m so excited! I used 2 cups unbleached white flour, 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat, and 1/2 cup regular whole wheat. I also used 3 tablespoons of honey. I greased 2 loaf pans, let it rest about an hour, then baked at 375 for 30-40 mins (didn’t time it exactly), using a foil sheet to keep it from over browning. It’s soft and tasty, just like the buns, and should make awesome toast and sandwiches! Thanks so much, Jessica! 🙂 Happy school season, by the way. I begin teaching my oldest of 4 this fall. We’re following a lot of The Well Trained Mind, as well. 🙂 I’m so encouraged by your blog as another Christian homeschooling mommy trying to eat well (real food) on a tight budget. God bless you!
Jessica
Yay! So glad that worked out for you and that you are enjoying life as mom — in all ways. 😉 Enjoy some yummy sandwiches!
Danielle
Do these buns freeze well?
Jessica
If they last long enough to freeze, yes.
Kerry
Made these for our trip to the cabin! Fantastic!!!!!! Thank you for yet another easy, no-fail recipe. I used olive oil instead of canola, and all was well. Well, except for the shapes of my hot dog buns! 😉
Jessica
Since taking that picture in the post, I don’t think I’ve ever got them looking that good.
Charyse
Have had the intention of making these for hamburgers for close to a year…finally made them and they are fabulous! Didn’t have any of the wheat gluten might be even better if I used that too!
Jessica
I just bought my first box of vital wheat gluten in years. You can totally make them without, though the texture is improved.
Cassje
I have made this recipe twice–once for hamburgers, once for sausages. It was fabulous both times. I would love to use the bread machine to make the dough for a whole wheat sandwich bread, but am having trouble finding a recipe that sounds good. Do you think I could make a loaf out of this dough?
Jessica
I think it would work just fine. Sounds yummy!