Ingredients for Chinese Cocktail Buns recipe
1/3 cup white sugar
1 cup milk
1/4 cup softened butter
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour, or more if
needed
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup finely grated fresh coconut
1 egg (optional)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for
garnish (optional)
Directions
Place 1/3 cup sugar and milk in a small saucepan, and stir until the
sugar is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup softened butter, 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, stir together the yeast with 2 1/2 cups flour until well blended,
and pour the milk mixture into the flour-yeast mixture. Stir in 1
beaten egg, and mix until the mixture forms a sticky, wet dough.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and knead for about
10 minutes, gradually kneading in 1 cup of additional flour or as
needed to make a smooth, elastic dough. Form the dough into a
round ball, place into an oiled bowl, and turn the dough around in
the bowl a few times to coat with oil. Cover the bowl with a cloth,
and allow dough to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Cream 1/4 cup softened butter with 1/2 cup of sugar in a bowl until
the mixture is light and fluffy, and stir in dry milk powder, 1/2 cup
flour, and the coconut until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Set the filling aside.
Working on a floured surface, punch down the dough, and cut into
2 equal pieces. Cut each piece into 8 equal-sized pieces (16 pieces
total). Form each piece into an oblong bun, and flatten the bun with
a floured rolling pin. Scoop up about 1 tablespoon of filling with a
spoon, 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, and place the filled buns, seam sides down, onto the
prepared baking sheets. Cover the buns with a cloth, and allow to
rise in a warm place 1 hour.
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking
sheets with parchment paper.
For a glossy coating, beat 1 egg in a bowl, and brush each bun with
a little beaten egg. Sprinkle each bun with a few sesame seeds.
Bake in the preheated oven until the buns are golden brown, 10 to
15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.