Bolo Bao

Name: Bolo Bao
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2.5 cups bread flour; 1.5 tsp instant yeast; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 0.5 tsp fine salt; 1/2 cup whole milk; 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened; 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened; 2 egg yolk, beaten; 1 cup cake flour; 1/3 cup powdered sugar; 0.5 tsp baking powder

Hong Kong style bakery buns featuring a soft, sweet dough topped with a golden, lattice-patterned cookie crust.

55 minMediumServes 8310 cal/serving

ChineseBreakfastOvenVegetarianHalal-friendlyKosher-styleNut-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeShellfish-FreeLow-SodiumNightshade-Free

Ingredients

2.5 cups bread flour
1.5 tsp instant yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
0.5 tsp fine salt
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 egg yolk, beaten
1 cup cake flour
1/3 cup powdered sugar
0.5 tsp baking powder

Instructions

1

Mix 2.5 cups bread flour, 1.5 tsp instant yeast, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 0.5 tsp fine salt in a bowl.
2

Pour in 1/2 cup whole milk and half of the 2 beaten egg yolk, then knead into a smooth dough.
3

Incorporate 2 tbsp softened unsalted butter into the dough, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
4

Cream 4 tbsp softened unsalted butter and 1/3 cup powdered sugar, then stir in remaining 2 beaten egg yolk, 1 cup cake flour, and 0.5 tsp baking powder.
5

Divide dough and topping into equal portions, drape topping over dough balls, and score a grid pattern.
6

Bake at 375F for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Questions

Can I make Bolo Bao dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened, 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened. Swap the milk for unsweetened oat or soy milk; the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Bolo Bao gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2.5 cups bread flour, 1 cup cake flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Bolo Bao keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Can I halve or double Bolo Bao?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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