dough bean paste cakes

How to Make Sweet Red Bean Paste Buns: A Comprehensive Guide

Sweet red bean paste buns, a beloved Chinese pastry, are soft, fluffy, and filled with fragrant bean paste. Here’s a detailed guide to making them at home.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 3g active dry yeast, 15g sugar, 1ml salt, 180ml warm milk (≈40°C), and 15g cooking oil. For the filling, use 200g sweet red bean paste (store-bought or homemade).

Steps:

1. Activate yeast: Mix yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm milk; let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.

2. Make dough: Combine flour, remaining sugar, and salt in a bowl. Pour in yeast mixture and oil, knead into a smooth dough (≈10 minutes). Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours until doubled.

3. Prepare filling: Divide bean paste into 8 equal portions. Roll each into a small ball.

4. Shape buns: Punch down the risen dough, divide into 8 balls. Flatten each, wrap a bean paste ball, and pinch the seam closed. Place seam-side down on parchment paper.

5. Proof & steam: Let buns rest for 15 minutes. Steam over high heat for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes before opening the lid.

Tips: For a sweeter dough, add 10g more sugar. Brush with milk for a golden crust. Enjoy these buns warm with a cup of tea!