What’s a better bread vehicle for a burger or spicy fried chicken sandwich than a soft, squishy golden bun? Well, a cute, tiny version of that pillowy bread — aka a slider bun!
Ingredients
3 ounces full-fat cream cheese
1 cup whole milk
1 (1/4-ounce) packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 3/4 cups bread flour (13 ounces), plus more for rolling
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado, plus more for the bowl
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking spray
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup white sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
Form each piece into a round ball by pushing down with the heel of your hand (lightly flour your hand but not the work surface if the dough is sticky) while moving your hand in a circular motion, then cupping the ball toward the end (here are step-by-step photos). Place them on the baking sheets, spacing them evenly apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your hand until about 2-inches wide.Cover the buns with plastic wrap or damp kitchen towels. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds and heat the oven to 375ºF. Place 1 large egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and whisk with a fork until fully combined. If you want to be fancy like a pro chef, strain it through the fine-mesh strainer into another small bowl to remove any stringy parts of the egg.Uncover the buns and brush with the egg wash. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup white sesame seeds. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets before splitting them open and stuffing them with your favorite filling.
