Chinese Coconut Buns

This is by far my most favorite soft buns to buy from the Chinese Bakery. I will always get a few to last me for a week. I am a fan of coconut and anything with coconut in it I will eat it. The coconut bun is very popular in Hong Kong. It is a soft sweet bun and with rich buttery coconut filling in it.

 

Ingredients for the dough:

400 gram flour
7 gram dried yeast
60 gram sugar
30 gram milk powder
½ tsp salt
1 egg
50 gram soft butter
150-160 ml luke warm water (more or less)

Egg wash:

1 egg – beaten

Ingredients for the coconut filling:

1 ½ cups sweeten desiccated coconut
1 1/2 tbsp custard powder
3 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp melted butter
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp milk (used 1 tbsp first, if the filling is too dry add in another tbsp)
1 egg

 

Directions:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl or mixer with a dough hook attachment, combine the flour, milk powder, yeast, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Add the egg, follows but the lukewarm water. Add the water in slowly and the amount of water depends on your flour. You might need more your maybe less.

 

 

Step 2: Mix and knead with a dough hook on low for a minute, and then high for 2 minutes. Then add the softened butter and knead on a medium high for 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth. If you are kneading by hand it will take much longer.

 

 

Step 3: Cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow the dough to rise for 50 minutes to an hour or until double in size. While the dough is resting, prepare the coconut filling.

 

 

Step 4: To prepare the filling, just mix all the filling ingredients together in a bowl and set it aside.

    

 

 

Step 5: After the dough is proofed, punch out all the air and divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll them into balls, cover and let it rest for 15 minutes

 

 

Step 6: Flatten each piece of dough with your hands into a rough oval shape, about 4 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Place 1 tablespoon of the sweet cocunut paste in the center of your wrapper and seal the wrapper together.

Turn the buns over so that the sealed surface is underneath.  Fold all the buns one by one by repeating the steps above.

 

 

Step 7: Roll out each bun into oval shape again.  Use a knife to make 4 slices.

 

 

Step 8:  Hold onto two ends and twist three times.

 

 

Step 9:  Pinch two ends together.

 

 

Step 10: Place onto the sheet pan, cover and let rise again for another hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and brush the buns with egg wash. Bake it for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on cooling rack.