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4.57 from 16 votes

The Best Light Air Buns Recipe

These Light Air Buns are so much better than any typical bun you'd find at the grocery store. They are the perfect addition to Thanksgiving dinner or any special occasion where you really want to impress your guests.
Prep Time2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time2 hours 45 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 35 buns
Calories: 121kcal

Ingredients

YEAST MIXTURE

  • ½ cup warm water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 package traditional active dry yeast

FOR AIR BUN DOUGH

  • ½ cup butter or margarine melted. And more for brushing over the buns once they're fresh out of the oven
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp white vinegar
  • 3 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 eggs
  • 9 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

ACTIVATE THE YEAST

  • Warm the water on the stove or add lukewarm water from the tap. If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast, if it's too cold it will not activate the yeast. Should be around 115 degrees F, and warm to the touch.
  • In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in the water. Then sprinkle the yeast on the top of the water mixture. Do not mix.
  • Put the bowl in the oven with the light on (without heat) or in another warm place and let stand till foamy. If it does not foam up, throw away and start again.

BEGIN MAKING THE DOUGH

  • Add melted butter to a large mixing bowl. Then add the sugar, salt, white vinegar, and warm water. Once water has cooled slightly, add eggs. You do not want to add the eggs while the water is hot or it could cook the eggs. Then add yeast mixture.
  • Begin adding one cup of flour at a time. Once you have added about 5 cups, the dough may be too sticky and tough to mix with a spatula. Switch to mixing with your hands, and begin to knead the dough. Knead for approximately 8 minutes or until the dough looks smooth and doesn't fall through your fingers while holding it.

LET DOUGH RISE

  • Grease a large bowl all around the sides (bowl should be at least 3 times the size of the dough). Put a clean tee towel over the bowl and put in the oven with the oven light on (again, no heat). Let rise for 1.5-2 hours or until doubled in size.

MAKE DOUGH BALLS

  • Cut off small pieces of dough, about the size of an egg, and shape them into small balls. Then place them in a greased baking pan. You want each dough ball approx 1 inch apart. Then cover and let rise for another hour or so.

BAKE THE AIR BUNS

  • Bake at 400F for 14-18 minutes until top are golden brown. Watch closely as temperatures may very from oven to oven. Remove from oven and brush with more melted butter. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g