How to Make the Perfect Gluten Free Hot Dog Bun at Home

Recipe Video

These Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns are everything you'll ever want. Soft, fluffy, bread with zero intrusive "gluten free" flavour, they're so easy to stuff with your favourite fillings. This simple recipe will become a firm family favourite! These Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns are also dairy free and can be easily converted to vegan as well.

Gluten free hot dogs are one of those things I've rarely seen available, if ever. Even buying a hot dog bun by itself is pretty darn difficult here in Australia! But never fear, if you or your loved ones are missing this delicious saucy treat, the wait ends now! I can happily promise that these gluten free hot dog buns are just as good as their wheat-y counterparts!

Here's how to make my Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns:

Mixing the Dough

the process for mixing this dough is very approachable. As always, we get the yeast and psyllium ready first, mixing them individually with some of the water and sugar and setting them aside while we measure everything else. This is a relatively soft dough, which helps to get that incredible fluffy texture, so I recommend using a stand mixer if you have one. If not, you can use a a rubber spatula to start mixing the dough and then go win with your hands to make sure it's really well mixed.

First Proof

I coat my doughs in oil to make sure they don't dry out during proving. We just need to drizzle about a tablespoon around and on top of the dough to coat. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, then choose a warm spot if you have one, but regular old room temperature is fine too.

Shaping

Shaping these hot dog buns is lovely and simple. It's just a matter of smoothing out a piece of dough so it has no creases in one side, then flattening it, smooth side down, on your work surface. Then we just fold in all the sides, pinch to adhere, and give it a bit of a roll back and forth until we have a sausage shape about 15cm long.

Second Proof 

The second proof is a bit important for these Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns. It takes a bit of experience to get to know when gluten free bread dough is ready to go in the oven, but I do have some tips. You're looking for your bread dough to be full of little air bubbles and feeling soft when it's ready to bake. I always take note of how my dough feels when I've just shaped it - it'll feel pretty dense. Then I just periodically give it a gentle prod during the second prove, and if it feels light and airy at the top, bottom and along the sides of the first and last rolls I shaped then they're ready to go!

Baking

Preheating the oven a bit hotter to 240ºC and then reducing the temperature to 220ºC once the hot dog buns go in is the best way to get an even bake on all the buns - it helps to account for the heat lost when you open the door to put the hot dog buns in. Just make sure you remember to turn the oven down! I also bake these buns with a dish of hot water in the bottom of the oven. This creates a steamy environment to help a lovely light crust form.

Watch How to Shape Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns

How to store Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns

Like all homemade bread, these hot dog buns will be at their best on the day they're made. However, any leftovers will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days, or they freeze really well too. Refresh the buns in a 180ºC oven for 5 - 10 minutes or until warm, or in the microwave for about 20 seconds.