Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Chinese Cocktail Buns


Jess was working late tonight so I decided to make her a treat for when she got home. I was going to make her some of her Nonna's bread but it is a pretty big recipe. I have been craving coconut filled Chinese Cocktail Buns for a while and we had a bag of coconut in the cupboard so I went for it.
My dad used to bring cocktail buns home when we were growing up and I remember devouring them as quickly as I could. We don't live too far from China Town and I would have no problem picking these up cheap but I never seem to carry cash and all the good places only take cash.
These turned out way better than I could have hoped. They looked and tasted like the real deal and nothing can replace how great something is fresh out of the oven.
If you cut a bit of the sugar out of the dough recipe I think you would have and awesome burger or hot dog buns. I made six buns between 6pm and 9pm.

Dough

Ingredients:

For the Yeast starter
  • 1/3 cup warm water (hot shower warm)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 tsp dry active yeast
For the rest:
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup boiling water
  • 1 egg (lightly beaten)
  • 3 - 4 cups flour
Directions:
  1. Activate the yeast in a medium bowl by mixing the warm water, sugar, and yeast (set aside for 10 mins).
  2. In a stand mixer or large bowl mix the sugar, salt and oil.
  3. Add the boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolved.
  4. Add 2 cups of the flour, the yeast mixture and the egg.
  5. Start mixing with the dough hook and slowly add more flour until a dough ball forms.
  6. Knead for around 10 min.
  7. Set aside in a greased bowl, covered with plastic wrap and a tea towel, until it doubles in size (1 hour).
  8. Prepare the filling.
Filling 

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut flakes
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 large egg (separate the yolk from the whites)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp water
  • roasted sesame seeds to top
Directions:
  1. In a food processor blend the coconut and sugar until fine.
  2. In a small bowl mix the coconut/sugar, yolk and melted butter.
  3. Punch down the dough and divide into 6 pieces.
  4. Stretch and pat out the dough into ovals large enough to hold a large spoon of the filling.
  5. Fill the dough and pinch it together to seal.
  6. Put the filled buns seam side down on a parchment covered baking pan.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel and let rise (another hour)
  8. Mix the egg whites with 1 tbsp water.
  9. Brush the buns with egg wash.
  10. Sprinkle with seasame seeds.
  11. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 min.
  12. Broil on low for a couple minutes until they are a nice brown color.
  13. Mix the honey and other tbsp of water.
  14. Brush the warm buns (outside of the oven).
 




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