Transform Leftover Turkey with Easy Homemade Buns This Holiday

As the holiday season approaches, many are left with a common culinary challenge: what to do with leftover turkey. A solution lies in a tried-and-true recipe for homemade buns, ideal for creating delicious sandwiches to enjoy after festive meals. This recipe, featured in the 1985 church cookbook titled The Joy of Sharing, is attributed to Phyllis Blohm and promises to elevate any leftover turkey into a delightful meal.

Baking bread at home has transformed significantly since the days of pre-sliced, flavorless white bread. While such bread served its purpose as a vehicle for various fillings, the modern home baker now has access to a plethora of recipes and techniques that celebrate bread as an essential component of the meal. The joy of warm, homemade bread has become a cherished experience, especially during holidays.

To embark on this bun-making journey, it is essential to understand the basics of yeast bread. The recipe begins with activating the yeast, which is then combined with milk, eggs, sugar, oil, and salt in a stand mixer. Care must be taken to add the yeast away from the salt to ensure optimal activation. This step marks the beginning of a delightful process that culminates in soft, airy buns perfect for sandwiches.

Adding flour gradually helps form a soft dough. Once the dough is well-mixed, it is kneaded for four minutes with a stand mixer or ten minutes by hand. This kneading process is crucial for developing the dough’s structure. After kneading, the dough needs to rise in a lightly oiled bowl, where it will double in size over the course of one hour.

After the initial rise, the dough is punched down and allowed to rise again. The next step involves forming the dough into individual buns. This can be done by rolling the dough into balls or using a cutter to create uniform rounds. The recipe suggests letting the formed buns rise for an additional two hours before baking.

Once the buns have risen, they are baked until golden brown and reach an internal temperature of approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Brushing them with melted butter adds an appealing finish, enhancing both flavor and appearance. The end result is a batch of buns that are slightly chewy yet light, offering a beautiful open crumb.

These homemade buns can be enjoyed in numerous ways — on their own, with a spread of butter, or as the perfect base for leftover turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches. The versatility of this recipe makes it an excellent addition to any holiday menu, whether for breakfast, dinner, or as a creative way to repurpose leftovers.

Reflecting on the evolution of bread-making, it is evident that modern conveniences, such as electric mixers and probe thermometers, have simplified the process. In the past, home bakers relied heavily on experience and intuition, as evidenced by the straightforward instructions found in church cookbooks like The Joy of Sharing. Despite the lack of specific flour recommendations, insights from culinary experts like James Beard suggest that bread flour, due to its higher protein content, yields the best results.

The resurgence of interest in home baking has been fueled by the desire for quality and the satisfaction of creating something from scratch. As the holiday season approaches, many will look to incorporate Phyllis Blohm’s bun recipe into their celebrations, ensuring that the enjoyment of homemade bread remains a cherished tradition. Embracing this recipe not only enhances holiday meals but also fosters a connection to the past, celebrating the art of baking that has been passed down through generations.