It’s been too long since I’ve baked bread without using the bread machine. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it and how the smell of fresh bread baking is just…heavenly. This recipe feature will be used as a premise for future posts that will make good use and presentation by making our own mini homemade appetizer buns.
The holiday season may seem far away, but they’re really just around the corner. Entertaining and creating nibbles for self-hosted gatherings or potlucks. I’m dreaming of cooler weather and year-end comfort foods. Happy hours and small bites {sigh} seem like a lifetime away.
These smallish mini homemade appetizer buns will take some planning to allow for rising times, so plan accordingly. I’ve used both all-purpose and whole wheat flour to the dough.
It’s a good recipe that I’ve tested four times during the last week. They smell fantastic when they’re baking and have a good texture. Fill these breads up with tasty ingredients or salads and pair them with an appropriate wine. They make a fun and interesting presentation when served on a platter with dozens of these small bites enticingly arranged .
Stay tuned for my future post on making slider buns with a different recipe!
- When mixing the warm water and yeast together, if it doesn’t foam, start over again with fresher active yeast.
- Other add-in ideas to consider adding to batter: thyme, diced and caramelized onions, cheese powder…
- I also tried baking these small appetizer buns in a mini-sized whoopie pan. The results were the same with regards to the shape so it’s not necessary to use a special pan.
- Planning a party or entertaining and need these appetizer buns? Bake them up a day ahead.
- Use the same size cutter you used for the dough to cut out rounds of cheeses, meats, vegetables and other creative includes for smaller appetizer-type tasty tidbits. In the images of these smallish sandwiches, I used a small roma tomato, which fit perfectly!
Makes about 40-46 1 1/2-inch appetizer buns
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons warm water
1 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus additional for rolling dough)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
sesame or poppy seeds
olive oil to season bowl
In a small saucepan, bring the milk and cream to a simmer and remove from heat.
In a stand mixer bowl, stir the water and yeast and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
Fit your stand mixer with a dough hook. Add the warm milk/cream mixture, sugar, flours and salt to the mixer bowl and set the mixer to low speed. Scrape the sides of the bowl to fully incorporate. When the dry ingredients have incorporated, increase to medium speed and beat for at least 6 minutes. The dough consistency will be sticky. Rub some olive oil on your hands and transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to lightly coat dough. Cover with a non-terrycloth, kitchen towel and let dough rise in a room temperature, draft-free environment until it has doubled, about 2 hours.
Line two baking sheets with silicon baking mats. Punch down the dough and roll out on a floured surface to 1/2-inch thick. Using a 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 round floured cutter, cut out dough rounds. Place on baking sheet and set about 2-inches apart. Reroll scraps once and cut dough rounds with any leftover.
Lightly oil plastic wrap to cover the baking sheets and set the dough rounds on the baking sheets in a warm, draft-free environment for about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Brush the tops of the buns with egg wash and sprinkle either sesame or poppy seeds on the top of each. Before placing pans in the oven, turn the oven down to 350 degrees and immediately set baking sheets to the oven. Bake for 6 minutes and then rotate the baking sheets (move the bottom one to the top, etc.). Bake another 6-7 minutes (for a total of about 12-14 minutes). Do not overbake.
Transfer the buns to a cooling rack to completely cool before slicing horizontally for mini appetizers.
Store buns in an air-tight container or freezer bag.
Homemade Mini Appetizer Bun next to a grape tomato.
Demonstrating the smallish size of these buns.
Aimee says
Omg! They have to be the cutest things I have ever seen! Looks real tasty too 🙂 🙂
5 Star Foodie says
Wow, these are really tiny! So adorable!
Tiffany says
ADORABLE! They remind me of pao de queijo (mini Brazilian cheese breads!) YUM!
Monet says
Could these be anymore preciuos? I think not! I love serving sliders, but I’ve never made my own mini buns. I need to change that as soon as possible! This would be perfect for a party I’m hosting later this week. Thanks for sharing!
wok with ray says
I think baking is something I will be very reluctant to do and this should be left to experts such as you. Even just tiny appetizer buns that you made look great! Thanks for sharing the recipe Cristina!
Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet } says
Hello! How cute are these little tiny buns and you made them from scratch – impressive!! I just put my old bread maker in storage, since I had not used in a very, very, very long time. You have inspired me to make homemade bread. Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hi Cristina! Congrats on top 9! Sorry for my late congrats, but I want to say your mini sliders are so beautiful and amazing!!! They are perfectly shaped and almost too cute to eat (but of course I’d love to eat them..hehee). I’ve tried making bread twice in the past (french baguette) and it was so time and energy consuming that I’m putting it off until kids are a little older…but looking at how dough raises… I’m so tempted to play. I love these pictures so much!
Magic of Spice says
These are so adorable…minis are the best! I am looking forward to fall as well 🙂
Kathy says
These are soooo cute!! I just want to make these just to stare at them, plus they’ll probably be a huge crowd pleaser in my family since we never see the cute ‘unusual’-ness of food ^^
spiceblogger says
Precious! I’m not a bread maker, but I’m building my courage to start trying.
Thanks for the recipe. And Congrats on Top 9!
Lee says
I wanted to copy this for my files like I often do, but it won’t copy. I wonder why–this has never happened in months of using Foodbuzz. So frustrating. Ah, well.
Viviane Bauquet Farre / Food and Style says
Christina, Your buns are just adorable… I want to take a bite right now! Gorgeous photos too… You’re so right, the holidays are around the corner… I see you’re ready for the festivities!
briarrose says
Beautiful job. I’ve never thought to use heavy cream in a bread….what a neat idea.
Juliana says
Cristina, your little buns look so cute, light and sooo soft. I too, love the smell of the bread in the oven.
Hope you are having a fantastic week 🙂
alyce says
Homemade bread is the best.
Sandra says
Cutie patooties!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Those are adorable and can be used with so many things!
Annette | Bucket List Journey says
Those are adorable! They sound like they would go perfectly with a lamb slider. Yum!
Lilly says
These are wonderful! Can’t believe you made them that small. They are really one bit and there gone type of bun. I will make these for lunch with my gf…she’ll love them!
Ana Helena Campbell says
My boys love mini burgers, but I feel intimidated to make the mini buns. You shared a great recipe, and I really want to try it.
Suzi says
These are perfect little bites. I am truly going to give these a try, I have been working on bread making lately, these will fit right in. Thanks
Suzi
RavieNomNoms says
Oh those are just too cute and they just look like perfection! Nicely done my dear!
Clarkie @ Beloved Green says
That dough looks absolutely amazing. So good!
Parsley Sage says
Great nibblies! I’m not a baker but nature but I do appreciate a perfectly cooked bun 🙂 Especially when they’re minis! Buzzed
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
These are the sweetest things!! I love little portion bites. I would so much rather eat a little bite of something (or a few) than a whole plate.
The possibilities with these are endless!!!
btw – I love your little Teeny Notes icon and section – adorable.