Cheddar Cheese Onion Buns

Getting ready for that Memorial Day barbeque?
Need buns fast?  These take just minutes to mix, especially if you use your food processor and instant yeast.  They take about an hour and a half from start to finish, and most of that is waiting time. 

I weigh my ingredients right into the processor bowl, so I don’t have to measure much, and I let the dough rise right in the covered work bowl so I only have one bowl to wash. 

This dough is very easy to handle, and I shaped them into 10 buns, about 3” across for medium buns.

I buy my cheese powder at our nearby Amish store in bulk; you can substitute ¾ cup or 3 ounces of finely grated regular cheddar cheese. 

These buns come out light and fine-grained, delicious and perfect with grilled burgers.

                        Cheddar Cheese Onion Buns

  2        tablespoons  Butter -- softened

  3        cups  Bread Flour -- 15 ounces

  1        teaspoon  Sugar

  1        package  Instant Yeast

  2        ounces  Cheddar Cheese Powder (about ½ cup)

  1        Teaspoon  Onion Powder

  1        teaspoon  Salt

  1        cup  Water (heated to 125°)

Fit food processor with metal blade. 

Add butter (cut into smaller pieces), flour, sugar, yeast, cheese powder, onion powder and salt to work bowl.

With machine running, pour water through small hole in feed tube in a steady stream, about 45 seconds.  Continue processing until mixture forms a ball and starts to clean the inside of the work bowl, then let machine run 60 seconds to knead dough.

Scrape down bowl, let dough rise about 20 minutes right in covered bowl in warm place.

Punch down dough and divide into 3 ounce portions, about 8, for larger buns or 2 1/2 ounce portions, about 10, for smaller buns.  Shape each piece into a bun, either for hamburgers or hot dogs, place on greased or parchment lined baking sheet, and let rise until doubled, about 25-35 minutes.  Can be shaped into 2 ounce dinner rolls, about a dozen and baked about the same time and temperature.

Preheat oven to 375° while dough is rising.  Bake rolls until golden brown, about 20 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.  Brush with softened butter if desired.

*You can prepare your dough by your favorite method, by hand, in a mixer or in a bread machine on the dough cycle.