There are few things more comforting than pulling a tray of hot, golden buns from the oven. But these aren’t just any buns. The secret to these beauties lies in two things: cold butter (for the lightest flaky texture) and a final layer of cheese. While most recipes bake the cheese on top, only to watch it melt into an oily puddle, this recipe uses a trick: bake the buns first to set the base, then sprinkle the cheese and blast them under the broiler.
The result is a bun that is fluffy and buttery on the inside, with a crispy, lacy, savory shell of golden cheese on the outside. They are perfect for breakfast, a side for soups, or just eaten straight off the pan with a pat of butter.
The Recipe: Fluffy Cheese-Topped Buns
Prep time: 20 minutes
Rest time: 30 minutes (optional, for fluffier buns)
Cook time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8 buns
Ingredients
For the Dough:
· 3 cups (375g) All-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
· 1 tablespoon Baking powder
· 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
· 1 teaspoon Salt
· 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder (optional, for extra savoriness)
· 1/2 cup (113g) Cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
· 1 1/4 cups (300ml) Cold Buttermilk (or whole milk mixed with 1 tbsp lemon juice)
· 1 1/2 cups (150g) Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
· Note: Grate the cheese from a block yourself—pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly.
For the Topping:
· 1/2 cup (50g) Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (this is the extra for the final topping)
· 1 tablespoon Melted butter (for brushing)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Oven & Pan
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a cast-iron skillet (which gives those perfectly toasted edges).
Step 2: Make the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and garlic powder.
Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized butter lumps remaining. (This is what makes them flaky!)
Step 3: Add the Cheese and Liquid
Stir 1 cup of the shredded Cheddar into the flour mixture. Pour in the cold buttermilk and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overmix—it should look rough.
Step 4: Shape the Buns
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it 3 or 4 times just to bring it together. Pat it into a circle about 1 inch thick.
Use a round biscuit cutter (or a drinking glass) to cut out circles. Gather the scraps, gently press them back together, and cut out more circles until all dough is used. You should get about 8 buns.
Step 5: First Bake (Setting the Base)
Place the buns onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.
Step 6: The Golden Cheese Topping (The Magic Step)
Remove the pan from the oven. Brush the tops of the partially baked buns with the melted butter.
Generously sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the top of each bun, covering them fully.
Turn your oven to Broil (High). Return the pan to the oven (keeping a very close eye on it!). Broil for 2–4 minutes, rotating the pan once, until the cheese is bubbly, deeply golden, and forming the lacy crust you see in the photo. Warning: Don’t walk away—cheese burns fast!
Step 7: Rest and Serve
Remove from the oven and let them rest on the pan for 5 minutes (this allows the cheese shell to set so it doesn’t slide off). Serve warm!
Tips for Success
· Cold is King: Just like pie crust, keep your butter and buttermilk as cold as possible. If your dough gets warm, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes before baking.
· The Broiler Watch: The broiler does the heavy lifting for that beautiful crust. If your oven has an uneven broiler, rotate the pan halfway through the broiling time to ensure all buns get evenly browned.
· Mix up the Cheese: While Cheddar is classic, you can substitute half of the cheese with Gouda, Gruyère, or Monterey Jack for a different flavor profile.
Enjoy your bakery-quality buns!