Lady Bug Burger Buns Recipes

SOFT-N-FLUFFY HAMBURGER BUNS

Steps:

• Place the water, canola oil, flour, sugar, salt, vital wheat gluten, and yeast into the pan of a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer, select the Dough cycle, and turn on the machine. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• When the cycle is finished, remove the dough to a lightly oiled work surface, and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Cut the dough into 12 equal-size pieces, and roll the dough into balls by cupping your hand, with open fingers, over each piece of dough. Roll gently, with just a little pressure, to form a dough ball with a silky surface. Place the dough balls onto the parchment-lined baking sheets, and flatten each dough ball gently into a bun. Cover with a cloth and let rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake the rolls in the preheated oven until the tops are golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on racks before slicing.

LADY BUG BURGER BUNS

Steps:

• Supplies:.
• Circular pastry cutters in a variety of diameters. I found all mine at a cake supply shop and even used a straw for the smallest cut outs.
• Large red skin was cut using a 7-inch diameter cutter.
• Small black dots were cut using a 1/4-inch diameter cutter.
• Face was cut using a 1" diameter cutter and then cut down using a razor.
• Top of spine black dot was cut using a 1/2-inch pastry cutter.
• Straws to cut out eyes.
• Soft pastry brush in several sizes for details and egg wash.
• 1 teaspoon edible black powder paint (for pupils, lines on teeth and line going down spine).
• Vodka to mix powder paints.
• Egg wash (1 egg whisked with a tablespoon of water).
• Red Lady Bug Dough Directions:.
• In a glass bowl combine food color, water, milk and sugar. Whisk vigorously.
• In a separate bowl combine flours and salt. Pour dry ingredients, wet ingredients and butter into a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low roughly five minutes until dough forms. (If dough is too dry and you see crumbs not incorporated after five minutes, you can add a tablespoon more of milk or if it's clearly too sticky you can add a tablespoon of flour.).
• Once the dead dough (Just a way of calling dough free of leavening agents) is mixed, place in a zip lock bag in a cool place until ready to use.
• Black Dough Directions:.
• Repeat Red Dough Directions.
• White Dough Direction:.
• Repeat Red Dough Directions.
• Decorative Direction:.
• Rollout red dough and cut with 7-inch circular cutter. Using a 2-inch circular cutter, cut out shoulder and neck area. At the top of the spine, cut out the red with a 1/2-inch cutter and replace with some of the rolled out black dead dough. Then repeat the process with the smaller 1/4-inch cutter over the back keeping your dots balanced on both sides. This is tricky to describe so please see instructional photos.
• After creating each skin and face, seal or cover in an airtight container until ready to apply.
• Brioche Buns Direction:.
• In a glass bowl combine water, sugar and yeast. Allow to rise at least five minutes before using. In another glass bowl combine milk, eggs and food color, whisk vigorously until well mixed. In a medium mixing bowl combine flours and salt.
• Place butter, flour mixture and milk and egg mix into a large stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Begin mixing on low and add yeast mixture. Allow to mix on low speed for five minutes or until black dough ball forms. Remove from mixer and place in a butter grease steel bowl and cover with a damp cloth in a 75-80 degree F area. (Away from heat, but not cold) for one hour. After an hour you can punch down risen dough, knead on counter and cut into slightly larger than a golf ball, but not as big as a tennis ball shapes. Pinch the edges underneath creating a perfect ball (This is kind of tricky, but just keep manipulating until the smoothest shape is achieved. Place on an individually cut 5X5 inch piece of parchment paper and cover immediately with a large upside-down bowl. Allow each to rise about 45 minutes before covering with lady bug skin.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• When your black brioche buns have risen, place one at a time onto a baking sheet and gently place skin over the top and delicately tuck the edges underneath. Use egg wash to adhere anything that isn't sticking. Brush the back of your lady bug face in egg wash and place directly onto to bun below the spine cutout.
• Note: In the images I cut a shallow line down the spine before going into the oven. You can do this, but I found the buns held a better shape by not doing this and just painting that line afterward with the powder paint.
• Bake one at a time for 16 minutes. Allow to cool before decoratively painting on the pupils, lines on teeth and line going down spine.
• Once all are done they can be cut and served immediately (the tastiest way) or placed in a Ziploc bag and frozen until ready to be thawed and used.

SOFT BURGER BUNS

Steps:

• Put the milk, butter and 100ml water in a pan and gently heat until the butter is melted. Set aside to cool until just warm.
• Tip the flour, sugar, yeast and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl and gradually work in the milk mixture, then the egg, until you have a smooth dough. Tip the dough onto a floured surface or into a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead until elastic and shiny. Divide into 12 (about 80g each) pieces and roll into tight balls. Transfer to baking trays lined with baking parchment, leaving plenty of space between them, and put in a warm place to prove for 30-45 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Press the rolls down gently using your hands, then brush over some milk and scatter over the sesame seeds, if you like (or, dust with some flour). Bake for 10-12 mins until risen and lightly golden. Leave to cool completely, then serve. Make up to two days ahead and keep in an airtight container.

40-MINUTE HAMBURGER BUNS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 3-5 minutes. Do not let rise. Divide into 12 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Preheat oven to 425°., Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Bake until golden brown, 8-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.