Chinese Cocktail Buns

Description

These cocktail buns are like the ones you get at Chinese bakeries. They are filled with a creamy coconut filling. Yum!

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup softened butter
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg, beaten (Optional)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, or more if needed
  • ¼ cup softened butter
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup finely grated fresh coconut
  • 1 egg (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Place 1/3 cup sugar and milk in a small saucepan
  2. and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup softened butter
  3. and gently warm the mixture until the butter melts and the mixture is warm but not hot (no warmer than about 100 degrees F (40 degrees C). In a large bowl
  4. stir together the yeast with 2 1/2 cups flour until well blended
  5. and pour the milk mixture into the flour-yeast mixture. Stir in 1 beaten egg
  6. and mix until the mixture forms a sticky
  7. wet dough.
  8. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface
  9. and knead for about 10 minutes
  10. gradually kneading in 1 cup of additional flour or as needed to make a smooth
  11. elastic dough. Form the dough into a round ball
  12. place into an oiled bowl
  13. and turn the dough around in the bowl a few times to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with a cloth
  14. and allow dough to rise in a warm place until doubled
  15. about 1 hour.
  16. Cream 1/4 cup softened butter with 1/2 cup of sugar in a bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy
  17. and stir in dry milk powder
  18. 1/2 cup flour
  19. and the coconut until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Set the filling aside.
  20. Working on a floured surface
  21. punch down the dough
  22. and cut into 2 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 8 equal-sized pieces (16 pieces total). Form each piece into an oblong bun
  23. and flatten the bun with a floured rolling pin. Scoop up about 1 tablespoon of filling with a spoon
  24. and place in the center of a bun. Pull and pinch the edges of the dough together to enclose the filling in the bun. Repeat with all dough pieces
  25. and place the filled buns
  26. seam sides down
  27. onto the prepared baking sheets. Cover the buns with a cloth
  28. and allow to rise in a warm place 1 hour.
  29. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  30. For a glossy coating
  31. beat 1 egg in a bowl
  32. and brush each bun with a little beaten egg. Sprinkle each bun with a few sesame seeds.
  33. Bake in the preheated oven until the buns are golden brown
  34. 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 25 mins

Servings: 32

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