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From Dinner Rolls to Top-loading Buns

Top-loading buns, which are good for lobster rolls and hot dogs can be hard to find outside New England. Here's how to make them.

Top-loading buns, which are good for lobster rolls and hot dogs, are likable because their sides can be toasted. Since they can be hard to find outside New England, we figured out how to make them using our Fluffy Dinner Rolls recipe.

1. Prepare dough as directed in recipe through step 4. Pat and stretch dough into rectangle, then divide rectangle into eight 3-ounce portions.

2. Press each portion into 5-inch square, roll into cylinder, and pinch seam.

3. Arrange cylinders seam side down in 2 rows of four in greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

4. Bake on middle rack of 375-degree oven until rolls are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let rolls cool for 3 minutes in pan, then transfer to wire rack and let cool completely.

5. Once rolls have cooled, gently pull them apart at seams. Using serrated knife, slice each roll lengthwise, stopping three-quarters of way from bottom.

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