honey bean bread

How to Make Sweet Red Bean Bread: A Comprehensive Guide

Sweet red bean bread, a beloved treat combining soft, fluffy bread with sweet adzuki bean filling, is surprisingly easy to make at home. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting this delicious pastry.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g bread flour, 30g sugar, 3g salt, 8g instant yeast, 1 egg, 120ml warm milk, and 30g softened butter. For the filling, use 200g cooked adzuki beans, 2 tbsp sugar, and a pinch of salt (adjust to taste).

Steps:

1. Prepare the dough: Mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add the egg and warm milk, knead until smooth. Incorporate softened butter and knead for 10–15 minutes until elastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1–2 hours until doubled.

2. Make the filling: Mash cooked adzuki beans, add sugar and salt, and cook over low heat until thick. Cool completely.

3. Shape the bread: Punch down the dough, divide into 8 equal portions. Flatten each, place a spoonful of filling in the center, and seal edges tightly. Roll into balls.

4. Proof and bake: Arrange dough on a baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes. Brush with egg wash, bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15–18 minutes until golden.

Tips: For extra flavor, add a dash of vanilla to the dough or sprinkle sugar on top before baking. Enjoy fresh or lightly toasted!