Whole Wheat Bread Machine Sesame Seed Buns

After trying my hand at whole wheat bread, I felt I had to master whole wheat buns. When Ben and I were still getting to know the Houston area, and trying to meet people, we reveled in having new friends over for dinner. Perhaps it was just me, but I think Ben liked it too! Ben met a dear friend of ours, Jorge, who is from Spain, through a tennis-player’s website. We had Jorge, his friend Ignasi (also a Spaniard), and Ignasi’s girlfriend over for a potluck dinner. I attempted an all-American main dish, and made my own burgers to go with these hearty buns. They are a perfect pair and were gobbled up. Just like the bread recipe, these are 100% whole wheat, but you can certainly go ½ and ½, using white flour if you prefer.

Yield: 10 rolls

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (see NOTE*)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 ½  teaspoons salt
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup sesame seeds
• 1 packet active dry yeast

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the ingredients into the bread baking pan in the order listed. When adding the yeast, make a well in the flour and pour the yeast into it.
2. Use the DOUGH cycle setting on your bread machine.
3. To hand shape the roll once the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough to a lightly floured cutting board. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces and form into the shape you would like your buns. Keep in mind that they will rise. Cover with a piece of wax paper and a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place for about 15-20 minutes (I preheat my oven to 200°F and then turn it off, and place the rolls inside on a pan to rise).
4. Bake the rolls at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until browned on the tops.
5. Once cool, cut them in half for your burgers. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers.

NOTES

If you measure the oil first, then when you measure out the honey and molasses the two latter ingredients will slide off easily into the bread machine pan.

Adapted from food.com