Best Crusty Buns Recipes

CRUSTY BUNS

Steps:

• In measuring cup, dissolve sugar in 1/2 cup lukewarm warm.
• Sprinkle in yeast and let stand for 10 minutes.
• In large bowl, blend flour and salt.
• Using fingers, rub in lard until well blended.
• Stir yeast mixture vigorously with fork and stir into flour mixture.
• Gradually mix in remaining 1 1/2 cups luke-warm water to make stiff dough.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
• Gather into ball and place in lightly greased bowl, turning to grease all over.
• Cover and let rise in draft-free place for 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch down dough and divide in eighteen pieces.
• On well-floured board, using palm of hand, lightly flatten pieces into 3-inch rounds.
• place side of hand down center of dough; press firmly without seperating dough.
• Fold sides in to center and pinch ends to form slight points; arrange about 2 inches apart on well-grease baking sheets.
• Dust with flour.
• Cover and let rise in draft-free place for 45 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.
• Bake on sheet at a time on top rack in 500F oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until buns are well browned and sound hollow when tapped on bottom.
• Transfer to wire racks.

CRUSTY WHITE BREAD / BUNS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
• 2. In 4-5 quart mixer bowl, combine warm water & yeast, stir to mix & let set until yeast proofs (gets foamy).
• 3. Put dough hook on mixer head. Stir in sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour. Beat on lowest speed of mixer until well blended.
• 4. Add in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well on low speed after each addition. Only add enough flour to make dough easy to handle & not sticky. Turn dough onto floured surface & knead 5-10 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. (I use my KitchenAid mixer on #3-#4 speed to do the kneading)
• 5. Place dough into oiled bowl, turn to coat it all over. Cover with cloth & let rise in warm place for about 45 minutes, until doubled in bulk. When you push your finger in center, impression should remain. When doubled, punch it down by pushing your fist into the center of dough, then work it to remove as much air as possible. Form back into a ball.
• 6. Cover & let rise again until doubled in bulk (orig. recipe says 1 hr but mine took about 30 min). The orig. recipe calls for brushing tops of dough with a little oil, but I do not do this.
• 7. Put pans in oven, mist bread/buns with cold water right before you close the oven door. Use rack in middle position of oven, keep pans from touching. Also, I switch the pans and turn halfway through to ensure even baking.
• 8. Bake loaves for 35 minutes, buns about 20-25 min. When tapped, they should sound hollow and you should be able to shake the pan & bread/buns will be loose. Immediately remove to racks to cool. They will look a little dull on top but that's the crusty part!