Bierocks

Total Time Prep: 30 min. + rising Bake: 30 min.
Yield 24 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
You don't have to head to the Midwest to experience the savory, meat-filled buns known as bierocks—you can make them at home!

Ingredients

  • DOUGH:
  • 10 to 11 cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 package (1/4-ounce) active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2-1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup butter, cubed
  • 2 large eggs
  • FILLING:
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 2 pounds (8 cups) shredded cabbage, cooked and drained

Directions

  1. For dough, in a large bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well and set aside.
  2. In a saucepan, heat water, milk and butter just until butter melts. Remove from heat and cool to 120°-130°. Combine with flour mixture; add eggs. Using an electric mixer, blend at low speed until moistened then beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. By hand or with a large stand mixer, gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a firm dough.
  3. Knead on a floured surface about 10 minutes, or in stand mixer with dough hook. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down; let rise again until almost doubled.
  4. Preheat oven to 375°. For the filling, brown beef with onion, salt and pepper; drain. Mix together with cabbage; set aside. Divide the dough into fourths. Roll each piece into a 15x10-in. rectangle. Cut into 5-inch squares. Spoon 1/3 to 1/2 cup filling onto each square. Bring the four corners up over the filling; pinch together to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Place on greased baking sheets.
  5. Bake until browned, 30-35 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 323 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 475mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 14g protein.

This is an old German recipe handed down from generation to generation, using foods grown or raised on the family farm. I remember helping my grandmother make these when I could barely see over the kitchen table!—Ellen Batt, Hoisington, Kansas
Recipe Creator

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