Sourdough Discard Hot Dog Buns – Milk and Pop

February 7, 2025

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Soft, buttery, and sturdy enough to hold together, these Sourdough Discard Hot Dog Buns are easy to make and full of flavor, perfect for impressing friends and family!

Sourdough discard hot dog buns in a baking sheet.

Don’t have a sourdough starter yet? Be sure to check out how to make a starter and learn how to feed your sourdough culture.

Ingredients

Bread Flour: I prefer using bread flour for these buns as it provides structure, but you can substitute with all-purpose flour and still get a delicious result.
Sourdough Discard: These buns use sourdough discard along with commercial instant yeast (like my extra-soft sourdough dinner rolls). The instant yeast is the primary leavening agent, with the discard providing flavor, so it doesn’t need to be active or fed.

Want a fully sourdough-leavened bun? Try shaping my sourdough burger buns dough into hot dog buns.

Butter: Use melted, cooled butter — unsalted if possible. If you only have salted, that’s fine too. Just don’t add it while it’s hot, as this can affect the yeast and the fermentation process.

For full ingredient and measurements in cups and grams, check out the recipe card.

How to Make Sourdough Hot Dog Buns

This recipe doubles easily — just click “2x” on the recipe card to adjust.

Wet ingredients into a metal bowl with dough mixer.

Step 01. In a large bowl, combine the wet ingredients: sourdough starter, egg, butter, and milk.

Step 02. Then add the dry ingredients: instant yeast, salt, sugar, and bread flour. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.

Tip: A stand mixer can make handling sticky, enriched dough easier. Resist the urge to add extra flour; your dough should be soft and stick slightly to the bowl’s bottom. A wetter dough creates lighter, softer buns, while too much flour results in tougher buns. Watch the video for visual guidance.

Step 03. Knead for 8 minutes with a stand mixer on low speed (dough hook attached) or 10 minutes by hand, until the dough only slightly sticks to the bowl’s bottom.

Dough inside glass bowl, after first rise.

Step 04. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let the dough rise for about 1 hour and a half, or until doubled.

Tip: Temperature affects rising time. If your kitchen runs cold, or you’re baking during winter, allow extra time for fermentation. In warm kitchens, fermentation will be quicker. Try using your oven’s proofing function or leaving the bowl inside the oven with the light on for a consistent environment.

Step 05. On a clean surface, divide the dough into 8 large, 10 regular-sized, or 12 smaller portions. Use a bench scraper or sharp knife for clean cuts.

Step 06. Flatten each piece into a rectangle. You can use your hands or a rolling pin.

Tip: If the dough starts sticking to the counter too much, try greasing the surface with a small amount of oil instead of adding more flour. Extra flour can make the buns tougher.

Dough rolled into a log and pinched closed.

Step 07. Then roll it up tightly, and seal the edges. Don’t worry if they’re not perfect or all in the same shape.

Step 08. Place the shaped buns in a baking pan, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour, until puffy and light.

Tip: Allowing the dough to ferment properly during both rises is key to achieving fluffy texture. Don’t rush it!

Step 09. Before baking, brush each bun with an egg wash. Add your favorite toppings if desired; sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or everything bagel seasoning work great here!

Step 10. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer buns to a cooling rack for 15 minutes before slicing. You can cut them along the side or across the top, depending on your preference.

Can I use active dry yeast?

You can substitute instant with active dry yeast. Just be sure to dissolve active dry yeast in the milk and sugar before adding it to the dough.

My dough feels too sticky!

If you’re struggling to handle the dough, try flouring or wetting your hands.

Tips for Perfect Hot Dog Buns

Measure liquids with care to prevent a wet dough. Sometimes, depending of the brand of flour, altitude and even weather, your dough might feel more sticky. If your dough is too wet to work with, add ¼ cup more of flour and knead until incorporated.
If you don’t know if your dough is at the right consistency or are having trouble shaping it, check out the recipe video on the recipe card.
Want an ingredient twist? I’ve developed this recipe having in mind that most people don’t usually have milk powder in their pantry. However, if you do have some on hand, try swapping the whole milk for an equal amount of water and adding ¼ cup (35g) of whole milk powder. That’s how I make my brioche hot dog rolls — they’re a big hit at barbecues!

Storing and Freezing

These buns are safe to store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If they lose softness, reheat in a (preheated) 300°F oven for 5 minutes.

In the fridge, buns last up to a week but may dry out faster.

You can freeze this recipe. Freeze the cooled buns for up to 3 months in an airtight bag and reheat at 300°F for 10 minutes straight from the freezer when ready to serve.

Have you tried these Sourdough Discard Hot Dog Buns? Please leave a 🌟 star rating in the recipe card below, I’d love to know how it went!

📖 Recipe