Chinese Cocktail Buns or Coconut Buns 1

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

Ingredients

• For Dough:
• 1/3 cup white sugar or brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 2 teaspoons instand yeast
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps. of wheat gluten
• 2 egg, beaten
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, or more if needed

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• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1) Place 1/3 cup sugar and 1 cup 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). 

2) In a large bowl, stir together the 2 tsps yeast, 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/4 tsp salt until well blended, and pour the milk mixture (from 1) into the flour-yeast mixture. Stir in 2 beaten egg, and mix until the mixture forms a sticky, wet 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 wet warm cloth, and allow dough to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

• For Filling:
• 3 tbsp softened butter
• 1 cup finely grated fresh coconut (or frozen unsweetened coconut flakes)
• 5 Tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 egg yolk 
• • 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder (optional)
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• While the dough is rising, prepare the coconut filling by adding 1 cup coconut flakes, 3 tbsp sorted butter, 5 tbsp honey, and 1 egg yolk into a food processor. Then add 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder in the coconut, and stir until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Set the filling aside.
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Making the party:

1) 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 tbsp 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.

2) Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

3) For a glossy coating, beat 1 egg and 1 tbsp water a bowl, and brush each bun with a little 

beaten egg. Sprinkle each bun with a few sesame seeds.

5) Bake in the preheated oven until the buns are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool 

before serving.

• Honey wash: Combine honey and hot water in separate small cup. Brush over warm baked buns. Serve warm.
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• Cook's Notes

• For bread to rise, warm oven to 150 degrees F (70 degrees C). When oven is warm, turn it off and place the covered dough into the oven for 1 hour to rise.