Stuffed Sourdough Cheese Buns
The perfect recipe for stuffed sourdough cheese buns, featuring a soft base filled with melted, gooey cheese and topped with a garlic butter sauce. These irresistible buns are perfect for any meal or snack!
Servings: 12 buns
Equipment
- 1 9x9 inch baking pan glass or metal works well
- Parchment paper
- Food scale
- Bench scraper or dough scraper
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the dough
- 360 grams bread flour
- 240 grams milk
- 80 grams sourdough starter active and bubbly
- 24 grams sugar
- 28 grams unsalted butter softened
- 5 grams salt
- 120 grams of cubed cheese of your choice I use a mix of cheddar cheese
For the garlic butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1.5 teaspoons italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup of shredded cheese for topping the buns
Instructions
Mix the dough
- Warm the milk for 20-30 seconds in the microwave and then add it to a mixing bowl. Stir in the starter and sugar until mostly dissolved.
- Next, add the flour, softened butter, and salt and mix until a rough dough ball is formed.
- Once complete, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rest for 30-45 minutes.
Knead the dough & stretch & folds
- After the dough has rested, turn it out on a lightly floured surface and knead it until it is smooth and comes together. Not much additional flour should be needed.
- Once complete, place the dough in a buttered bowl and let it rest for 45 minutes.
- Perform 2-3 stretch and folds in 45-minute increments. Then let the dough rest, covered for the remaining bulk rise.
Shape & stuff the sourdough cheese buns
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper. I have baked the sourdough cheese buns without parchment paper, but to prevent a mess & soggy bottoms I recommend using it.
- After the dough has doubled in size, turn it out on a clean work surface and have your cheese cubes handy.
- Using a food scale, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces (around 60 grams each).
- To stuff a dough ball with cheese, flatten the dough into a small circle with your hands, place a portion of cheese in the center, I found that 8-10 grams of cheese was a good amount, but feel free to add more or less depending on your preference.
- Then carefully pull the edges of the dough up and over the cheese. Pinch the edges together to seal the cheese inside, making sure there are no gaps. Shape it back into a smooth ball and place it seam-side down on your baking pan.
- After all of the cheese buns have been shaped and placed in the baking pan, cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight.*Stuffed sourdough cheese buns can be baked on the same day after they have finished their second proof.
Proof, Brush, & Bake
- The following morning remove the stuffed sourdough cheese buns from the fridge and allow them to puff up until they fill the pan (timing on this can vary, mine took 5 hours). Using a warm spot will help, but ensure they aren't resting anywhere over 80 degrees F as the butter will melt out of them.
- Once they have puffed up and are ready to bake preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan melt the butter on low and then add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook the garlic & herbs for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Liberally brush the garlic butter over each bun and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
- Bake the stuffed sourdough cheese buns for 23-26 minutes. The internal temperature should be 190-200 degrees F once fully cooked.
- Allow the buns to rest in the pan for 10 minutes before enjoying warm. Keeping them in the pan for too long will cause soggy bottoms.
Storing stuffed sourdough cheese buns
- At Room Temperature (1-2 days): Allow the buns to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Keep them in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.
- In the Refrigerator (up to 5 days): For longer storage, place the cooled buns in an airtight container or wrap each bun individually in plastic wrap or foil, and store them in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
- In the Freezer (up to 3 months): To freeze, allow the buns to cool completely, then wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap or foil. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes until warm.
Notes
Baker's schedule:
Day 1: Feed your starter the night before you mix the dough.
Day 2: Mix the dough in the morning and allow it to ferment for 7-8 hours or until doubled. Shape and stuff the buns and place them into the refrigerator overnight.
Day 3: Remove the buns from the fridge and allow them to rest for 4-5 hours or until they fill the pan and bake.
