Bacon Cheddar Buns Recipes

Steps:

• For the dough: Warm the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over low heat until it is about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees F). Remove the saucepan from the heat, and sprinkle the yeast over the the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top, and set aside without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the butter and egg yolk.
• Whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until you have a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Add the dough ball, turning to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough ball on the plastic and note the time. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl, and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form it into a ball, and return it to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap, and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with the rest of the plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the dough proof.
• For the filling: Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a small bowl, and remove all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to medium heat. Whisk the flour into the bacon fat, and cook, whisking, until light brown, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk, and continue whisking until thickened, about 1 minute more. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl, add the egg yolk, Cheddar, chives, cooked bacon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir to combine. Let cool completely. (The filling will firm up a bit, but if it's too warm, it will be difficult to form the buns.)
• To fill and form the buns: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with 2 tablespoons softened butter. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and press it flat. Roll it into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long edge facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on the side opposite you. Starting from the side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight roll. Lightly brush the 1-inch border with water, and continue rolling to seal the roll. Fold the ends in just a bit, and if any spots look thicker than others, even out the roll with your hands.
• Cut the roll every 1 1/2 inches with a serrated knife, to make 12 buns. Place the buns cut-side down (except for the end pieces) in the prepared pan, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover the buns loosely with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place to rise until the buns double in size, leaving no gaps in between, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• For the topping: Stir the butter, chives and Parmesan in a small bowl; set aside.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns until they're golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed lightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread the topping evenly over the buns, and return them to the oven for 5 minutes more. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• For the dough: Brush a medium bowl with bacon fat and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the water, sugar and yeast until dissolved. Add the bacon fat and egg and whisk to combine. Add the salt and 2 cups of the flour and stir to combine. Add 1 more cup of the flour and stir until the dough comes together in a rough ball, adding the remaining flour 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead briefly; the dough does not have to be totally smooth.
• Place the dough in the prepared bowl and turn to lightly coat it in the bacon fat. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour. Gently deflate the dough and turn out onto a clean work surface. Portion into 12 equal pieces.
• For burger buns, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cupped hand, roll each portion into a smooth ball then transfer to the prepared baking sheets and gently press down on each to form a 2 1/2-inch-wide disk.
• For hot dog buns, line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll each portion into a tight 5-inch-long log. Arrange the logs lengthwise in 2 rows of 6, parallel to the short ends of the sheet, leaving a few inches between the short sides of the sheet and between the rows.
• For either bun, cover the baking sheet(s) with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• For finishing: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, pepper and mustard powder. Brush onto the tops of the buns. Sprinkle with the Cheddar and bacon.
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let the buns cool on the baking sheets.

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook bacon and onion over medium heat until bacon is crisp and onion is tender; drain on paper towels., Prepare roll mix according to package directions. Turn the dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes., Divide dough into 18 pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece into a 5-in. circle. Top each with 1 tablespoon of bacon filling. Fold dough around filling, shaping each piece into a small loaf; pinch edges to seal. Place seam side down on greased baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap coated with cooking spray. Let rise in a warm place for 20-30 minutes., Brush egg over buns. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and allow to cool slightly, then finely chop. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese and scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
• Unfold the pastry sheets on a lightly floured work surface. Lightly roll each piece of pastry into a 10-inch square. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the entire surface of each piece of pastry, leaving a slight border around the edges. Sprinkle the Cheddar and bacon in an even layer over the top of the cream cheese mixture. Tightly roll each pastry sheet into a log (jelly roll style), then pinch the seam closed and place seam-side down on the work surface.
• Using a sharp knife, cut both logs crosswise into 12 pinwheels each, approximately 1 inch thick. Transfer 12 pinwheels to each prepared baking sheet, spiral-side up. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon water until combined to make an egg wash. Brush the tops and sides of the pinwheels with the egg wash.
• Bake the pinwheels until puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Pour the warm milk into a mixing bowl and dissolve sugar in milk. Cool to 110 degrees F then the yeast. When the yeast is foamy, add the bacon grease/butter and 2 1/2 cups of flour and the salt and spices. Mix together and then add remaining 1/2 cup of flour if needed to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
• Knead the dough for 3 to 4 minutes, until it begins to behave as if it belonged together. Let it rest while you clean and grease the bowl. Continue kneading a further 3 to 4 minutes, until the dough feels smooth and springy. Let the dough rise until doubled (1 to 2 hours).
• Punch down and roll it out into a large rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Spread with ranch dressing and sprinkle with bacon, cheddar and green onions. Roll up tightly, pinch seam to seal and cut into 12 equal pieces. Arrange in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise until almost doubled (45 minutes to 1 hour at room temp or overnight in fridge). ***If you are doing the overnight rise, take them out in the morning to bring to room temperature 15 minutes before you preheat the oven.
• Just before baking, sprinkle the buns with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes or until nicely browned.
• SHORTCUT: Use pre-made white bread dough and start with step 3, rolling otu the dough and filling it.