Vegan Hot Dog Buns

Light and fluffy, these vegan hot dog buns add a homemade touch to your next family hot dog dinner. Serve these with your favorite vegan hot dogs!

This vegan hot dog bun recipe is amazing, especially when served with these baked vegan hot dogs!

Two vegan hot dogs have hot dogs inside with toppings like ketchup and mustard.

I grew up in a small town, needless to say, I enjoy a good hot dog. Of course, these days all my hot dogs are vegan. The trouble has been finding vegan hot dog buns to go with those vegan hot dogs.

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • These hot dog buns are so easy to make
  • A secret ingredient makes for soft, delicious buns every time
  • There’s time involved with this recipe, but most of it is hands-off
  • Homemade buns make your dinner so special!
Two hot dog buns have hot dogs inside with lots of toppings, such as ketchup and mustard. There's a plate with more buns behind it and a plate with potato chips.

What You Need

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here’s a list of the ingredients for this recipe:

  • Soy milk — I prefer using soy milk because of it’s protein content, but any plant-based milk will be fine.
  • Sugar — We’ll add a bit of sugar to interact with the yeast
  • Dry yeast  — You can use active or instant yeast here.
  • Vegan butter — A little bit of fat helps make these buns tender. I used Earth Balance.
  • Salt — Every dough benefits from salt, so we’ll add some here for flavor.
  • All-purpose flour — You could get by with only using all-purpose flour, however, combined with the next ingredient, makes for the best buns
  • Vital wheat gluten — We’ll add just a bit of vital wheat gluten to increase the protein content, making lighter, fluffier buns!
Looking down on several baked buns on a baking sheet.

Marly’s Tips

Don’t have vital wheat gluten? Substitute whole wheat flour to boost the protein level slightly, creating soft and tender rolls.

How to Make Vegan Hot Dog Buns

Here’s a synopsis of the steps involved to make vegan hot dog buns with a stand mixer:

  1. Proof the yeast by sprinkling yeast over warmed milk and sugar. The mixture should bubble, letting you know the yeast is active.
  2. Stir together dry ingredients in a large bowl. 
  3. Make the dough by pouring the yeast mixture in with the flour. Add the dough hook attachment to the mixer and mix on low speed (kneading the dough) for 5 minutes. 
    A hand holds a pyrex measuring cup full of a yeast mixture. It's being poured into a flour mixture.
  4. Let the Dough Rise by covering the bowl, and set it aside in a warm place until the dough has doubled, about an hour.
  5. Make Buns by rolling the dough into 8 balls. Then roll them into a cylinder shape and place them on a prepared pan and let the buns rise for at least 30 minutes.
    Two rows of unbaked hot dog buns sit on a pan lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake the Buns for 15 minutes. Use an oven mitt to move the pan to the top rack and turn on the broiler. Broil for 1 to 3 minutes, until a golden crust is achieved. Remove pan from oven and use tongs to place buns on a wire rack to cool.

Vegan Egg Wash

You don’t have to use a vegan egg wash with these buns, but it does help create a lightly browned crust. Besides, I love adding sesame seeds, and the egg wash helps them stick to the buns.

For these buns I recommend these ingredients:

  • Soy milk
  • Melted vegan butter
  • Agave nectar.

I’m adding just a bit of sweetener because that really increases the browning, which is one thing that sets these buns apart!

Are hot dog buns vegan?

It used to be that most store-bought hot dog buns were not vegan because they included dairy. However, these days you can find some brands that make their hot dog buns without dairy. Be sure to read the label. Of course, you can always make homemade hot dog buns, guaranteeing that they’re dairy-free and egg-free.

Baked buns sit in a row on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Serving Suggestions

Slice buns and serve with veggie hot dogs. You can also use these buns to make veggie sandwiches, such as Vegan French Dip.

Here are some of my favorite toppings to add to vegan hot dogs:

Be sure to serve your vegan hot dogs with some air fryer french fries, too!

More Vegan Hot Dogs

If you love hot dogs, you don’t have to give them just because you’re vegan. You can enjoy any of these tasty vegan hot dogs recipes.

Two hot dog buns are filled with hot dogs topped with ketchup, mustard, greens, and more. There are potato chips on the plate too.

That’s it for these vegan hot dog buns. Enjoy!

A vegan hot dog bun has a vegan hot dog inside it with toppings like ketchup, mustard, and greens.

Vegan Hot Dog Buns

Light and fluffy, these vegan hot dog buns add a homemade touch to your next family hot dog dinner, whether inside or out. Simply slice and serve with your favorite vegan hot dogs!
5 from 5 votes
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 199kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup soy milk , unsweetened
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter
  • teaspoons dry yeast (1 packet active or instant)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons vital wheat gluten (see notes)

Vegan Egg Wash

  • 1 tablespoon soy milk
  • 1 teaspoon vegan butter , melted
  • ¼ teaspoon agave nectar (or maple syrup)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  • Stir together the milk, sugar, water, and butter in a microwave-safe dish. Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave. Set aside to cool slightly. The temperature should be approximately 105°F (if you don't have a thermometer, you should be able to stick your finger into the mixture and not feel a noticeable difference). Sprinkle the yeast over the top and stir together. Set aside.
  • Sift together the flour, salt, and vital wheat gluten in a large bowl.
  • Stand Mixer Instructions: Pour the flour mixture into a mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Pour in the yeast mixture. Add the dough hook attachment to the mixer and mix on low speed, stopping occaisionally to wipe down the sides of the bowl and the dough hook. Continue on low speed (kneading the dough) for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead into a ball. You should be able to press a finger in the dough and the impression you left fills back quickly. That will let you know the dough is ready.
  • By Hand Instructions: Pour the yeast mixture in with the flour mixture and using a rubber spatula, stir to combine. Once the dough has formed into a ball, transfer to a floured surface and continue kneading for 5 minutes. You should be able to press a finger in the dough and the impression you left fills back quickly. That will let you know the dough is ready.
  • Rinse out the bowl you used for mixing the dough and either spray with vegetable spray or coat with a thin layer of olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, cover with a wet dish towel or plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place until the dough has doubled, about an hour.
  • Preparing Buns: When the dough is ready, line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray the pan with vegetable spray.
  • Cut the dough in half. Then shape each half into rectangles. Cut each half into four equal pieces, to make 8 total pieces. Roll each piece into balls. Then roll the ball between your hands or between the palm of your hand and the counter, to roll it out into a cylindar that measures between 5 – 6" long. Place on prepared pan. Continue with remaining dough, place rolled dough about 1" apart on the pan.
  • Spray one side of a sheet of plastic wrap with vegetable cooking spray. Place oiled side down over the rolls. Set aside to rise approximatley 30 – 40 minutes.
  • Baking Buns: When you're ready to bake the buns, place one rack on the top level and one in the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Prepare the vegan egg wash by combining the milk, butter, and syrup in a small bowl. Gently brush the top of each bun with vegan egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  • Place the pan in the center rack and bake the buns for 15 minutes. Use an oven mitt to move the pan to the top rack and turn on the broiler. Broil for 1 – 3 minutes, until a nice golden brown crust is achieved. Remove pan from oven and use tongs to place buns on a wire rack to cool
  • Allow buns to cool for 5 minutes then they're ready to serve. Slice buns and toast before adding your desired fillings. To store, allow buns to cool, then place in an airtight container. They are best when fresh, but they can keep 1 – 3 days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the fridge. These buns can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Recommended Equipment

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Notes

If you don’t have vital wheat gluten, substitute bread flour for the all-purpose flour. So, you will use 2 1/2 cups of bread flour in place of all purpose flour combined with vital wheat gluten.
Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2019 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.

12 Responses to Vegan Hot Dog Buns

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAngela Reply

    5 stars
    I made these hot dog buns today and they turned out perfectly — nice and soft. I had to heat up my milk, sugar, water & butter mixture for an additional 15 seconds because it was still a little cool since the almond milk was cold from the fridge (and not room temp from an unopened shelf-stable container). Also, I used whole wheat flour instead of vital wheat gluten. I will be making this again. I may try shaping the dough into buns for veggie burgers sometime. By the way #7/Preparing Buns has an error and should state, “line one baking sheet” to correspond with your included photo (you accidentally have two listed). Again, thank you for sharing!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I’m so glad you liked this recipe, Angela! I love the idea of using this for veggie burger buns, too!

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyPaula Reply

    I wonder how many other people like me are making this today so that we don’t have to buy hotdog buns in plastic bags from the supermarket, and wondering, hey where’s the two tablespoons of sugar in the ingredient list go in? I’m guessing its in with the milk butter water yeast mixture. I used on Tblspoon instead of two. Will let you know how it goes!!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Ah Paula, I love your passion for reducing plastic. I feel the same way! The recipe is fixed to show the sugar.

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyErren Reply

    5 stars
    This is a great post! Love the photos and all the great tips!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Thanks, Erren! so glad you like it!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJames Worley Reply

    So, are you cooking at 350? Or 400?

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Thanks for your feedback, James. The recipe has been corrected.

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJessica Reply

    Hi, I’m making this right now and noticed that in the ingredients list it has flax seed, but in the instructions you do t say when to put the flax in…

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Jessica. Thanks for letting me know – problem is solved now!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlynarf7 Reply

    5 stars
    What’s easy about getting into your car…heading back inside because you forgot your gate key…getting back into the car…adjusting EVERYTHING because your husband drove last…avoiding mass duck/chicken populations on the drive down the driveway…heading out the gate, driving 50km to the city…taking the dogs for a walk for at least 30 minutes in the city because you can’t leave them at home because they eat the furniture…leave the dogs in the car HOPING that you walked them enough so they don’t eat the car. Next you head into the supermarket (remembering that you had to actually dress up, do your hair, fix makeup etc. to do this) and wander the aisles wasting time looking at ingredient lists and trying to remember if the gums, preservatives and additives have dairy/eggs in them…taking the rolls to the counter, working out whether or not you want to go through the self checkout or keep a checkout operator employed for a few more years…pay…get back in the car…find somewhere to buy bottled water for the dogs…drive 50km home…unpack dogs and buns and suddenly getting up, stretching…wearing whatever the heck you like with your hair in the air, no makeup, dogs within a hard stares range in case they feel like eating the furniture while you are working and that slow measuring out, baking etc. doesn’t seem so time consuming any more. Couple that with the fact that you mix the dough (10 minutes MAX) and then leave it. Off to do whatever you like in between…come back, knock it back, leave it again…go off do whatever you like. You could technically see it as a liberating force for creativity! We think we are saving so much time with aps etc. but we are cramming our days with slavetude to social media and suddenly we have no time left for ourselves, our families or just kickin’ around doing sweet nothing and enjoying our lives fully. Love this post and am going to bake bread today, you just liberated me from a Sunday full of social media contractual obligations. They will still be there Monday. Today is a “Go-Slow” day 🙂

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I think you’re right on the money! I used to make it a rule to stay off my computer on Sundays. That slowly went away as more and more things started etching their way onto my computer – like my music and books, etc. If I wanted to play guitar I had to have the computer on, so my goal went by the wayside. Maybe we should make Social-media free Sundays a thing! Or Go-Slow Sundays. I’m going to try it tomorrow to see how it goes. I’ll see you on Monday!

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