1 cup milk, heated gently and cooled to about room temperature (I put the milk in the microwave for one minute)
1 cup water at room temperature
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp olive oil
2 ¼ tsp instant yeast
1 ½ tsp sea salt
4 ½ cups flour
1 egg beaten
Instructions
put milk, water, honey and oil in the bowl of your kitchenaid (or other large bowl if you are kneading by hand) and stir to dissolve the honey
sprinkle yeast and salt over the milk mixture and stir gently
stir in flour
with the dough hook attachment (or by hand). knead on low speed, adding flour as necessary until the dough is smooth and damp but not sticky, about 6 minutes (photo 1)
oil a large bowl, add dough and then turn dough over so it is completely (but lightly) covered in oil, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 hour
punch dough to knock out gas, then return dough to the bowl, cover and let sit in a warm spot about 45 minutes
using a sharp knife, cut dough into 45g portions (or larger if you are making hamburger buns)
form each portion into a tight ball (I stretch the dough over itself tightly, tucking the seams on the bottom)
place the buns an inch apart on a cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot about 30 minutes (photo 2)
meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F
put a roasting pan on the bottom shelf of the oven and fill it with boiling water 1" up the sides
brush the tops of the buns with beaten egg and sprinkle with sea salt (or sesame seeds if you are making hamburger buns)
bake in the upper third of the oven until the buns are dark golden on the top, about 20 minutes (photo 3 and 4)
Recipe by You Have Been Served at https://www.youhavebeenserved.ca/2016/03/03/milk-buns-recipe/